In my opinion, 'Story Engineering' by Larry Brooks is a great choice. It focuses on the fundamental elements of story architecture. It talks about concepts like character arcs in relation to the plot, and how to create tension and conflict at the right moments. It gives a comprehensive view of how to construct a plot that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
I would recommend 'Outlining Your Novel' by K.M. Weiland. It provides in - depth guidance on outlining, which is crucial for plotting. Additionally, 'Writing the Blockbuster Novel' by Albert Zuckerman gives you a peek into how to create plots that will keep readers hooked. Also, 'The Anatomy of Story' by John Truby is excellent as it analyzes different plot types and how to use them effectively.
Novelize. It is a great free option for plotting a novel. It offers templates to start with, which can be customized according to your needs. You can map out your plot, develop characters, and plan the overall arc of your story all in one place.
Well, 'Plot & Structure' by James Scott Bell is among the best. It gives insights into creating engaging plots and how to build tension. Then there's 'How to Write a Damn Good Novel' by James N. Frey. It touches on various aspects of fiction writing including plotting. Also, 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott has some valuable advice on getting your story's plot together, even though it's not solely focused on plotting.
A third alternative is Plottr. It offers a visual way to plot your multi - pov novel. You can create different storylines for each POV and then see how they all interact and connect. This can be really helpful in making sure that the different POVs are well - integrated and the overall plot is coherent.
Well, in my opinion, 'Wattpad' can be a good app for light novels. There are a lot of user - generated light novel - like stories on it. 'Webnovel' is also a great choice. It has a vast library with different genres of light novels. Additionally, 'Kobo Books' has some interesting light novel selections that you might like.
It helps in understanding the structure of different novels. By plotting the outlines, you can see how authors build up their stories, like how they introduce characters and conflicts. For example, in a mystery novel, you can see how the clues are planted throughout the plot.
Scrivener is a great app for writing novels. It has features like organizing your manuscript into sections, taking notes, and setting writing goals. It helps you keep your ideas in order and is suitable for both beginners and experienced writers. Another good one is Ulysses. It offers a distraction - free writing environment with a clean interface. You can also easily manage your chapters and export your work in various formats.
Both require a strong central idea. Whether it's a series like 'Breaking Bad' or a novel like 'To Kill a Mockingbird', there needs to be a core concept that drives the story forward. Also, character motivation is important in both. The characters need to have reasons for their actions, like the complex motives of the characters in the 'Sherlock' series and those in a detective novel.