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The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing
Daily exercises guaranteed to spark your writing! The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. Written by celebrated writing teacher and author Martha Alderson, this book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. Alderson also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts, such
Create an obstacle that interferes with the protagonist's goal and describe how that scene unfolds moment-by-moment. Provide sensory details of the story world and what your main character is doing at this very moment. Scan earlier scenes for examples of the protagonist's chief character flaw and develop it. He or she will need to overcome this flaw in order to achieve his or her ultimate goal. Show an issue or situation in the main character's life that needs attention and have him or her take the first step forward toward a course of action. Filled with daily affirmations, plot advice, and writing exercises, The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts will set your projects in the right direction--and on their way to the bestseller list!
Create an obstacle that interferes with the protagonist's goal and describe how that scene unfolds moment-by-moment. Provide sensory details of the story world and what your main character is doing at this very moment. Scan earlier scenes for examples of the protagonist's chief character flaw and develop it. He or she will need to overcome this flaw in order to achieve his or her ultimate goal. Show an issue or situation in the main character's life that needs attention and have him or her take the first step forward toward a course of action. Filled with daily affirmations, plot advice, and writing exercises, The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts will set your projects in the right direction--and on their way to the bestseller list!
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2012
88 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Martha Alderson
19 books281 followersMartha writes at an enchanted beach somewhere off the coast of California. She draws inspiration in the beauty that surrounds her.
Visit her website for more: https://marthaalderson.com
Visit her website for more: https://marthaalderson.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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March 30, 2013Writing prompts and I mix about as well as oil and water. I don’t want to do pointless exercises. Translation: if it doesn’t add words to my work-in-progress it is pointless.
When I received my copy of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts, I was skeptical. As much as I adore Martha Alderson’s Youtube videos, I just didn’t see how a book of prompts could get me moving.
Fortunately, Alderson has anticipated this kind of reaction. “While following the plot prompts in this book, no stream of consciousness writing is allowed, unless it applies directly to the advancement of the plot of your story.”
Alderson designed her book with 120 prompts divided equally among 4 sections—The Beginning, The Halfway Point, The Crisis, and the Climax and Conclusion. Let’s say you’ve already worked up the beginning of your novel. Now you’re floundering in the middle. Turn to that section. Seem to have lost all steam as you reach the Crisis? Again, turn to that section in the book.
Each prompt is actually a grouping—an affirmation, a plot prompt and a writing prompt. The affirmation is a “you go” section to help prime the pumps. Next comes the plot prompt which reminds you what you should be considering right now in terms of story development. It might have something to do with your character’s goals or the setting or even the antagonist. Last but not least is the actual writing prompt with instructions for a scene in your story.
The wondrous thing about these prompts is that they are designed to be helpful no matter what kind of story you a writing. Mine is a middle grade fantasy. Not an adult novel. Not a screen play. Not a mystery. Yet, the prompts that got me going could be used in each of these kinds of writing.
The first prompt was to write a scene in which your protagonist takes a step to achieve his goal. My character took such a step, and I pulled down 1200 words. The next day I used a prompt about setting. I always know where my stories take place but the details are hard pressed to make it into the manuscript. This prompt enabled me to move my plot along and set the story more firmly in my fantasy world, and I compiled another 1000 words.
Unlike many other programs, Alderson asks you to come up with your own goal. Planning to write a screenplay? Or a novel? See how long a comparable work is, then divide that number by 30. Write this number of words daily for 30 days and you will have a completed draft. All you need to get yourself moving are the prompts in this book. How do I know? 2200 words in two days and counting. Not bad for someone who can’t stand writing prompts.
--SueBE
Review first appeared on WOW! Women on Writing Blog, the Muffin (http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/...)
When I received my copy of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts, I was skeptical. As much as I adore Martha Alderson’s Youtube videos, I just didn’t see how a book of prompts could get me moving.
Fortunately, Alderson has anticipated this kind of reaction. “While following the plot prompts in this book, no stream of consciousness writing is allowed, unless it applies directly to the advancement of the plot of your story.”
Alderson designed her book with 120 prompts divided equally among 4 sections—The Beginning, The Halfway Point, The Crisis, and the Climax and Conclusion. Let’s say you’ve already worked up the beginning of your novel. Now you’re floundering in the middle. Turn to that section. Seem to have lost all steam as you reach the Crisis? Again, turn to that section in the book.
Each prompt is actually a grouping—an affirmation, a plot prompt and a writing prompt. The affirmation is a “you go” section to help prime the pumps. Next comes the plot prompt which reminds you what you should be considering right now in terms of story development. It might have something to do with your character’s goals or the setting or even the antagonist. Last but not least is the actual writing prompt with instructions for a scene in your story.
The wondrous thing about these prompts is that they are designed to be helpful no matter what kind of story you a writing. Mine is a middle grade fantasy. Not an adult novel. Not a screen play. Not a mystery. Yet, the prompts that got me going could be used in each of these kinds of writing.
The first prompt was to write a scene in which your protagonist takes a step to achieve his goal. My character took such a step, and I pulled down 1200 words. The next day I used a prompt about setting. I always know where my stories take place but the details are hard pressed to make it into the manuscript. This prompt enabled me to move my plot along and set the story more firmly in my fantasy world, and I compiled another 1000 words.
Unlike many other programs, Alderson asks you to come up with your own goal. Planning to write a screenplay? Or a novel? See how long a comparable work is, then divide that number by 30. Write this number of words daily for 30 days and you will have a completed draft. All you need to get yourself moving are the prompts in this book. How do I know? 2200 words in two days and counting. Not bad for someone who can’t stand writing prompts.
--SueBE
Review first appeared on WOW! Women on Writing Blog, the Muffin (http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/...)
February 10, 2013
Note from the author:
Writer's block is simply a writer not knowing what comes next in a story with a plot.
Some writers I work with have such vivid imaginations that it’s difficult to rein in all their ideas and teach them how to stay focused on one particular story at a time. Others have focus and passion but struggle when it comes to knowing what to write about and how to generate one scene after another.
I wrote this book of prompts in an attempt to lure writers away from the endless cycle of going back to the beginning and starting again, writer's block, confusion and despair.
Rather than left with stacks of journals or piles of scrap paper filled with short snippets, lovely descriptions, and clever word pairings that all add up to . . . a whole bunch of words, follow the prompts in the Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. You'll write just as many words or even more; only with my method, you’ll be left with a meaningful story from beginning to end—a book with a plot.
Today I write.
Writer's block is simply a writer not knowing what comes next in a story with a plot.
Some writers I work with have such vivid imaginations that it’s difficult to rein in all their ideas and teach them how to stay focused on one particular story at a time. Others have focus and passion but struggle when it comes to knowing what to write about and how to generate one scene after another.
I wrote this book of prompts in an attempt to lure writers away from the endless cycle of going back to the beginning and starting again, writer's block, confusion and despair.
Rather than left with stacks of journals or piles of scrap paper filled with short snippets, lovely descriptions, and clever word pairings that all add up to . . . a whole bunch of words, follow the prompts in the Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. You'll write just as many words or even more; only with my method, you’ll be left with a meaningful story from beginning to end—a book with a plot.
Today I write.
June 11, 2019
I did get some good ideas for plot points in my current novel, so not a complete waste of time. But I feel like the way the prompts are structured and the events Alderson refers to in this book are very genre-specific, to either inspirational or women's lit, neither of which I have read. I write mystery, and sometimes fantasy or scifi, and I found it rather hard to find a way to apply these prompts to any genre other than mainstream.
There's also a lot of repetition, especially regarding the protagonist making mistakes, finding her true self (characters and readers are all referred to as "she" in this text, which only further supported my feeling of genre-specificity), overcoming obstacles, etc. Some prompts stole sentences from other prompts and felt nearly identical to other prompts despite being elsewhere in the book. I personally didn't find it at all helpful in the structuring of a novel, but I do think it's more helpful than generic prompt books, which might work for a drabble or a short story but not something as long and interconnected as a novel. Might work best for non-genre pieces.
There's also a lot of repetition, especially regarding the protagonist making mistakes, finding her true self (characters and readers are all referred to as "she" in this text, which only further supported my feeling of genre-specificity), overcoming obstacles, etc. Some prompts stole sentences from other prompts and felt nearly identical to other prompts despite being elsewhere in the book. I personally didn't find it at all helpful in the structuring of a novel, but I do think it's more helpful than generic prompt books, which might work for a drabble or a short story but not something as long and interconnected as a novel. Might work best for non-genre pieces.
May 31, 2022
Found it to be good and helpful in some areas of my writing.
July 6, 2025
A good book to help guide you through writing a book using prompts for every stage of the journey. Inspired many ideas.
February 24, 2015
This book has lots of inspiring exercises, and while I wasn't a big fan of the daily affirmations, the exercises were quite useful. Unfortunately you need the Plot Whisper to accompany this book of prompts and my library only had a copy of the prompts.
December 2, 2013
this was very helpful.
July 3, 2016
Very helpful & educational. Taught me a few things I really needed help in.
June 27, 2013
Another book not really completed - but will use for years (hopefully!)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews