Super Structure: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story

by James Scott Bell

Story loves structure...and so do readers! Super Structure represents over two decades of research on what makes a novel or screenplay entertaining, commercial, original, and irresistible. Contrary to what some may think, structure is not a nasty inhibitor of creativity. Quite the opposite. Properly understood and utilized, structure is what translates story into a form readers are wired to receive it. And it is only when readers truly connect with your story that they turn from casual readers into fans. The material in this book greatly expands upon the chapter on structure in Write Your Novel From the Middle. Super Structure can be considered a companion to that book, but it also stands alone in its treatment of the elements of a solid and pleasing plot. Here's more good Super Structure will work for any type of writer--those who like to outline, those who just fly by "the seat of the pants," and those who do a little of both. That's because Super Structure stresses the concept of "signpost scenes." There are fourteen signpost scenes, or beats, that can be used to create an entire plot, the skeleton of an idea, or a map to help you figure out what to write next. Every signpost is given its own chapter and explanation, along with a section called "Helpful Hints for Plotters and Pantsers," showing you how to apply what you've learned and adapt it to your own style of writing. Never write a weak novel or screenplay again. Super Structure is a proven foundation that never fails. It frees you to add your original voice and vision, all of which adds up to bestselling fiction and hit screenplays. "I need three things before I tackle a new Diet Coke, a laptop, and my dog-eared copies of James Scott Bell's books on writing craft!” - Kami Garcia, #1 NY Times & International Bestselling author

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, How To, Self Help, Audiobook

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2015

About the author

Jim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.

Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.

Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan

Reviews

[Theresa Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short book, but I found myself putting a bookmark on pretty much every page. I got it electronically, and I wish I’d bought it hard copy so I could physically flip through the pages to see my highlights and sticky notes. It’s that helpful and inspiring for fiction writers. Highly recommend.

For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog

[Jayna Baas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t always rate writing craft books, because I know how widely the writing experience varies. What works for one writer will sink another writer’s ship. But this book was a definitive five-star experience for me, so I will rate it as such and explain why it worked for me. If you notice yourself in any of the things I’m about to list, this book may be a five-star read for you, too. Here are the reasons I gelled with this book:

1. I’m a pantser who needs a little structure in her life. Unlike some structure books that assume everyone is a plotter waiting to happen, this book acknowledges plotters and pantsers and “tweeners” and makes it clear that one is not better than another. The information in the book is adaptable to any style of story planning.

2. My work is very character-driven. I plan with emotions and internal arcs in mind first, and I found that Bell’s Fourteen Signposts meshed very well with that approach. Any of the signpost scenes could start with an internal moment for the main character and develop from there. Makes my character-lovin’ heart happy.

3. I like a balance of structure and flexibility. Some structural methods leave me far too much margin for rabbit trails and losing my way. Others leave me no room for flexing and developing the story as I go. I love the flexibility of the Fourteen Signposts. As long as I have those fourteen pivotal moments, it doesn’t matter how the narrative fluctuates. I can even jump around and write scenes out of order if I want to. But if I get off track, I know exactly what signpost is coming up next. It’s guardrails for my writing. One of the greatest struggles for me was knowing what really had to be in the story to make it work. When the beginning is slow, what is really important? When the middle starts to sag, what needs to happen? This book helped answer those questions.

4. I get tired of reading craft books that are aimed solely at thriller writers or romance authors or whatever. The methods in this book can be adapted for pretty much any genre, and there’s so much room for flexibility that this structure would only make your book predictable if you made it that way.

5. The midpoint! I finally understand the midpoint! My main issue with basic three-act structure is that I could never figure out that turning point in the middle that seemed to create two middle acts. Now I get it.

Bell does acknowledge that his craft books are aimed mostly at commercial writers who want to adhere to genre conventions, so if you’re a literary author, not all of the information may apply, but there’s still great stuff here. I would have liked more explanation in Bell’s own words along with his heavy reliance on book and film examples, but the examples were explained well enough that I could grasp the concepts even if I hadn’t read or seen those particular examples. Some reviewers found Bell’s style condescending, but I didn’t notice that. It felt more conversational to me. I also appreciate that for the most part, this is one of the cleanest writing craft books I’ve read.

As I said, everyone has a different writing style, plotting style, and learning style. This book may not be for you, but if there’s any question in your mind whether you would find it helpful, please give it a try. I highly recommend it. It’s short and sweet and may be just what you’re looking for.

[Lynne Tagawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer I have benefitted from a number of different books on craft. This one is no exception. One really great thing about this particular one is that James Scott Bell doesn't look down on you for your style of writing. He says, if you're a panther, great, here's how to incorporate my suggestions. He makes similar comments for the plotters among us.

While this author's writing books tend to overlap a bit in their content, this one gives a full development of what the writer calls the 14 signposts. Within the 3 act structure, there are certain emotional / character development signposts that will create a fully fleshed out story and hook your reader. I found many of these to be intuitive, but it was helpful to have them explained and discussed. He also gives examples, usually from movies.

A short little book. I purchased a print copy, so I'd have a quick reference available.

[Hannah Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome resource with tips for plotters and pansters alike. It was a quick read too, which I enjoyed.😊

[Lake Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is:

An immense gift for any writer new to structure
Perfect for those digging deeper into the three acts
A book I wish I'd read before writing the first seven or so novels

Grab your copy, young writer, because, "The power of your story is directly proportional to the readers' experience of it, and the readers' experience is directly proportional to the soundness of the structure."

Enough said.

[Christine Zolendz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books you wished you read WAAAAYYY before you started a writing career and published some boringly embarrassing books. I've written about James Scott Bell and wishing I could clone a mini-him and keep him in my pocket when I write. I'll settle for renting him out for a few hours so he could spoon feed me all his story-structure goodness until I choke on it. I use his books as bibles now.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, James Scott Bell proves why I love his how-to books on crafting great stories. His *Write Your Novel from the Middle* remains my favorite, but *Super Structure* is an excellent addition to my library. No matter how many books you've written (my 83rd will release this year), there is always something new to learn to help you write even better. Bell explains in a way my brain can understand.

[Aimee Nicole Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy James Scott Bell’s books on writing. I like both the topics he writes about and the way he teaches them. He’s practical, wise, and witty. I highlighted the heck out of this book and will return frequently for a refresher.

[Johnnie Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read--packed with info!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the second book I read by this author. I love his simplistic style in mapping out the plot points. He has dedicated a lot of his time in studying the craft of writing. And he practices what he preaches. Another thing I like is that he doesn't sit there and used these non-fiction books to peddle his fiction novels. That is kind of refreshing. He also comes across as eager to teach and humble. That is always a plus

[Hayley (Strange & Unusual Book Club) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first third of the book only exists as an argument to convince those that write by the seat of their pants to adopt structure. This seemed redundant since only someone interested in structure would pick up this book to begin with.

The rest of the book covers Bell's structure. Some of it is stuff is borrowed from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and the rest of it is questionable. Undoubtedly, having something like his plot beat "Pet The Dog" isn't a terrible idea but I don't think it is something that an author should go out of their way to work into their book. This plot beat is about doing something nice for a new character thus bonding the reader with the protagonist. That works for heartwarming tales but not necessarily for all genres.

The book also returns to the same 4 or 5 examples throughout the book and only one or two of them are actual books. He uses movies like Casablanca, Lethal Weapon, and The Fugitive frequently. Sure they are both storytelling, but I'm not sure movies are the best examples to in a book that is about writing a novel.

Overall, there were a few good ideas in this. It is a short read, but if you are looking for a book to help you structure your novel, there are better options like Save the Cat Writes a Novel.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read James Scott Bell's "Plot and Structure" book. It was great! It has a lot of details. However, if you want a quick reference, get to the point list of plot beats, then the Super Structure is really useful. I have studied other plot structures such as The Hero's Journey by Joseph Cambell and 31 Functions by Vladimir Propp. Those are amazing to keep in hand as well. All three are different and it really helps when you're having writers block and just need some guidance on where to go next. I highly recommend this book! This is one of those books I will always keep in my writer's bag for those moments "stuck" moments.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was solid! Had some good nuggets. Was a little all over the place (ironically) and had some typos, but I didn't have a bad time.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day, another writing book. Interesting the different things these point out. Sometimes they're the same (just phrased differently), sometimes it's something new.

[hannah⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

all writers should read this bc it’s super helpful I’m so glad it was required for my class🙌🏻🙌🏻

[Paul Grubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review contains no spoilers.

I picked up this book after reading The Last 50 Pages. The author had referenced many of his signposts in that writing guide, and I figured I'd give this one a try since he was pushing it so vigorously. I'm glad I did. I prefer this one to the other book because it offers a more thorough accounting and explanation of the important parts of a quality piece of fiction (whether it be a novel or a screenplay). I enjoyed having the opportunity to reflect on these significant components and, crucially, why they are so prevalent and successful in some of the best stories. The examples provided by the author are excellent, and I found myself applying what I was learning to existing stories of mine. I have ideas for how to revise some of my finished works, and I've given some thought to how I might reorganize some of the seeds for future tales that I've considered but have not yet been able to complete. Any writing guide that can make me think about my own efforts and can offer clever insights that I feel I can immediately apply to my writing feels like a very worthwhile read.

Now...should I grab the author's Write Your Novel from the Middle and read it next? Hmm...

[Roni Loren]

I'll pretty much read anything James Scott Bell has to say about writing. HIs way of teaching and explaining things resonates with me. This was a helpful short read that gives a different take on structure and beats. Not a lot of pages but chock full of good stuff.

[Larry Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used the ideas about these milestones with some personal alterations to check the story arc of ENCHANTED, Book 2 of THINGS WE LOST IN THE NIGHT, A Memoir of Love and Music in the 60s with Stark Naked and the Car Thieves. It was useful taken into context with other writing concepts I use.

[No one · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how things were explained in this book. It really doesn't say anything new but I found it entertaining enough to read it in just one day. It is not as thorough as KM Weiland's Structuring Your Novel, but the basic information is here.
Another great read for aspiring authors.

[sohail bhatti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well some good writing advice. But to truly understand the examples the author is sharing you must read and watch the movies like Gone With The Wind, Casablanca, Hunger Games, Life is Beautiful, and many more. I haven't watched the movies or read the books so I am at a loss here.

[Jonathan H. MONTES · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely short, but straight to the point!
If you are not a person that has ever tried structure in writing, this may be a starting point for you. There is a lot of stigma that comes with which way you write, a plotter, or a pantser, but this book covers that both are important for writing. However, we should all acknowledge that structure is key to writing quickly and staying on point. James Scott Bell is not attempting to change your writing style, but he is helping you make your writing better by helping the reader understand that there are imperative elements needed in all books for them to become successful.
This book covers scenes and what makes a great scene, such as the objective, opposition, outcome, and something unexpected.
There are also some book recommendation that you may be familiar with such as The Emotion Thesaurus.
But most importantly, James shares the 14 signposts that makeup the three act structure:
1.The Disturbance
2. The Care Package
3. The Argument Against Transformation
4. Trouble Brewing
5. Doorway of No Return #1
6. A Kick in the Shins
7. The Mirror Moment
8. Pet the Dog
9. Doorway of No Return #2
10. Mounting Forces
11. Lights Out
12. The Q Factor
13. Final Battle
14. Transformation
At the end of this book there is a quick checklist reminder of all the important things that will make your writing more entertaining, which is a huge aspect of writing. If your own writing is boring you, trust me, no one wants to read it!
Great pickup for beginners of writing and understanding structure of novels.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast, easy read, particularly helpful for folks who haven't read other books like Save the Cat or Take Off Your Pants. I learned a new term --- signposting, which is apparently what I do when I write not from an outline but from the knowledge of a few key scenes scattered throughout the book.

I liked his take on stakes: "Unless it's life and death, the stakes aren't high enough.... There are three kinds of death: physical, professional, psychological."

When it came to the actual beats, though, I have to admit most of it was information I'd already internalized from other books. His Mirror Moment was the one exception...but it didn't really work for me as well as the traditional highpoint at the midpoint I usually go for.

Back in the positives camp, I found his discussion of pacing interesting. Save the Cat goes for Decision Point at 25%, High Point at 50%, All is Lost at 75%. I usually do the same, although I've found that series will move these points percentages a bit. (For example, the book I'm currently writing, the third and final book in a series, has a longer span between High Point and All is Lost because there's a lot more to lose after spending so much time with these characters.) In contrast, Bell recommends putting his Doorway scenes closer to the beginning and end of the book, which I'll have to ponder.

Overall, an interesting read...but probably not worth the price tag if you've already read several other books on structure.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are already very familiar with plot structure, this book doesn't have that much new info to offer, ultimately. However! I do think this was a very good, concise book that would work very well as a reader's first or second craft book on plot beats, or as a reminder tool for a seasoned writer. And truly it is worth a read for experienced writers as well - Bell uses some different names for plot beats than some other craft books so there's a chance these names could resonate with you more and give you new inspiration, and like I said, this is a very well made book that gives you the gist of every beat with good examples, so this book is a very useful tool to keep at hand when you're writing or editing your novel, no matter how experienced you are. It's a great safety net, I'd say.

Why not 5 stars, then? I felt like there could have been more discussion about how each beat could tie together with the theme(s) of a story. If that had been discussed more, this would have been a 5-star read for me (keeping in mind that this book is just about plot structure, so character arcs are examined - as vital part as they are - only quite superficially to the extent that is required to understand plot structure overall).

[Frida Andreasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this little book the structure of a functioning story is unfolded, explaining why it works.

The explanations are mainly given through examples, using a few books and movies to show how it works. The examples chosen were probably pretty good, meaning stories a lot of people are familiar with, especially people in the United States. Problem is, I’m not American, and I only have passing familiarity with the works used as examples. Still, I think most of the information got through. It’s universal enough. Examples that were used frequently include Gone with the Wind, Lethal Weapon and the Hunger Games.

Another thing that pulls this down to four out of five stars is the opening. It goes on for a long time. It’s there to convince the reader, who is assumed to be reluctant, that structure is needed in the telling of a story. It beats the reader over the head with this idea as if you’re a person who absolutely, no sir! Will ever want to use structure. If you pick up this book, you want to learn about structure. That battle has already been won. I don’t need more convincing in a tone that says I’m utterly unconvinced.

[Suz Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“...what is in the author's heart/ mind is meaningless if it is not communicated by the words on the page. The challenge is to make/ allow the reader to experience the meaning and emotion by reading printed words. That is the magic trick.”

I’m a big fan of James Scott Bell. I recently attended one of his phenomenal workshops and am reading several of his books to help cement that knowledge as I plot a novel.

Super Structure defines the fourteen sign posts JSB recommends for a well structured novel. There are many things I love about this book. For example, how the author includes suggestions to make his system work for plotters and pantsers and the extra nuggets of information he includes on writing great fiction.

The examples he gives in this book are similar to those provided in his other craft books, which is good and bad. On one hand it helps drive the points home in a consistent manner, and on the other, they feel recycled. Also, he doesn’t always clearly define each sign post, instead providing examples to do the heavy lifting. I got what I needed from this book, however, and I look forward to applying the information to create a strong structure for my work in progress.

[Patricia Tiffany Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Structure: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story.
The latest read resource on Structuring your story novel was delightful and compelling. A fabulous format works for those who consider themselves Pantsters as well as those novel plotters. The author crafts specific instructions for each “type” of writer style. I stayed up all night, highlighting, re-reading sections, and took time in the PART TWO of the Kindle edition to brainstorm along-side of the author, James Scott Bell. It is rare for a non-fiction instructional book to be so engaging. I found myself interacting with the instructions of the book and applying the lessons before even finishing the book. During my second writer conference in May, I will be much greater equipped to bring those first few chapters for a workshop with one of the authors he mentions within the pages. You must take a look at this resource. Download the first few pages, and you will experience the tone and conversational tempo of this powerful resource. Then you must add it to your collection. Kindle or paperback. Plotter or Pantster. Enjoy.

[Ken Heard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many books on the craft of writing take the stance of plotting out novels rather than writing and "seeing what happens." James Scott Bell offers advice for both styles of writing: The Plotters and the Pantsers.

It's a good instruction book, but it takes away the magic of the writing process by creating a firm structure. However, that structure is needed and he recognizes that plotting won't necessarily take away the creative flows of a Pantser writer. Bell, who is a Plotter, has written several successful books and has made money doing so. To follow his advice is probably a sound suggestion for money-making writer wannabes.

The writing is conversational and he uses several examples often to help convey his ideas. It's a quick read at 117 pages and, of course, it's structured well with chapters signifying each part of the super structure of a novel.

Most writers end up reading Stephen King's On Writing, or Bird by Bird. But for the nuts and bolts of actually writing, Super Structure is a good one to add to the how-to shelf of writing.

[Toni Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

MI LIBRO #300!

Bueno, después de pensar unos días, elegí está pequeño manual sobre estructura en una historia.
Es como un pequeño resumen de los puntos que se establecen en "Anatomy of Story", solo los principales. Pero incluye ejemplos más recientes a los que John Trubi o Syd Field utilizan, pero de igual forma retoma los ya clásicos( CasaBlanca, El Fugitivo, Gone With The Wind).

Escrito de forma sencilla de comprender y de manera corta. Buenísimo para repasar, si has leído manuales más completos previamente.

El resumen al final de todos los puntos importantes que el autor marca en cada capitulo es una excelente adición.

Cuatro estrellas, por la buena y corta formar de explicar los puntos principales en la historia. Si fuera el primer libro sobre estructura que hubiera leído probablemente lo habría calificado con cinco.

[Terri Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful writing toolbox in book form.

It delivers what it says on the cover. There is enough detail, addressing both planners and 'seat of the pants' writers. Each element makes sense to me, and his illustrations from popular books and movies are very helpful.

It's sexist. (Action movies are men's movies - oh, really? I don't think so. That's just the most glaring example.) I'd like any revision to correct that. I've deducted an entire star for that failure alone.

But the formula is flexible and works - you can use it to examine any novel or movie for more illustrations of how to deliver your story in ways that readers will want to read. There's no pressure to follow a set style at all, because we don't all want an audience. But if you do, this book may be your key to that end.

[Corey Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great And Practical Guide

I truly enjoyed this book on story structure because it provided a solid, practical guide to story structure. What sets this book a part in my opinion, is that not only does the author talk about story structure but he goes a step further and goes into great detail about when certain writing beats or signposts should occur and how they impact the overall story. Then, what really took it to the 5 star level in my mind was the many references to popular books, where he painstakingly points out how these beats/signposts have been used in classic works. If you’re an aspiring writer and need a guide to help with story structure, I highly recommend this book...it’s a great investment of time and money.