Hello, Plot. Are You Out There?: The No-Plot Plotting Method for Character-Driven Novels.

by Lori Devoti

Hate to plot? Think you can't plot? With the no-plot plotting method in Hello, Plot. Are You Out There? you'll have plotted your book and not even realize it. Lori Devoti is the award-winning, USA Today Bestselling author of cozy mysteries and paranormal romance. She teaches writing at the University of Wisconsin Continuing Studies' annual Write by the Lake retreat and online, and does developmental editing for small publishers and authors. You’ll love plotting your next novel using the techniques in Hello, Plot. Are You Out There? Hello, Plot. Are You Out There? takes you from character, using the Enneagram, to plot in one easy to follow roadmap. Also included, easy to use forms, character analyses using characters from current TV shows and movies, and a lot of humor to keep plotting what it should be… fun! Get Hello, Plot. Are You Out There? today and get plotting.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2018

About the author

Lori Devoti grew up in southern Missouri and attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. She, however, made it clear to anyone who asked, she was not a writer; she worked for the dark sideadvertising. Now twenty years later, shes proud to declare herself a writer and visit her dark side occasionally by writing dark, sensual paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult novels.

Lori lives in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, son, Siberian husky and shepherd/puggle cross.

Reviews

[LynneV · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book in itself isn't all that long, but it packs a lot of information. It starts out with the Enneagram, and though that in itself is interesting, it isn't where the true value of this book lies, simply because I believe you might use the Enneagram solely to deepen your already existing characters rather than starting character development by picking a type. She then goes to describe various characters from mainly television shows according to their Enneagram type and then delves deeper into laying the foundation for developing your character as well as your plot. It really is very good and very informative.

Devoti is a writer who walks the talks, since she's published numerous novels--I love her paranormal romances--and if I had to pinpoint one area where this book could be improved it would be to use more examples from her own work. For some reasons, authors don't include their own characters/plots when laying out examples--perhaps they're concerned that it reeks too much of self promotion?--but in my opinion describing into what went into developing their own characters as opposed to using fully developed characters from tv-shows, movies and novels, really elevates a craft book from good to excellent; or in this case from excellent to even more excellent.

The title in itself might be a bit too gimmicky--I bought this craft book because I knew the author and admired her work--but I can imagine that if you're not familiar with Devoti's work (or the novels of her cosy-mystery alter-ego Rae Davies) it might be off-putting. That'd be a shame, because I think this book deserves a top spot on every (aspiring) author's craft-book book shelf.

Definitely recommend.