A Tale of Two Cities Plot Review

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens has remained in print for more than 150 years.

Dickens brings alive an important turning point in world history when the poor and disenfranchised prevailed against the status quo not only through his incredible gift with words, he succeeds by showing the reader the times through the characters' relationships with one another.

Through these relationships, he provides incredible plot twists and, throughout it all, the story resonates because it, too, stays true to the Universal Story.

The character who is most transformed by the dramatic action in this story -- though mostly by his love of Lucie -- is Sydney Carton.

1st Energetic Marker 
The End of the Beginning scene hits at the 1/4 mark (off by 8 pages of my softcover book) when because of Carton's help, Charles Darnay is acquitted by the jury (NOTE: that Charles is first introduced during the trial is fitting and serves as terrific foreshadowing for the more intense trials he is subjected to much later in the story). At this point in the story all the major elements are established: major characters introduced, the theme established, and every single major scene to come foreshadowed.

2nd Energetic Marker 
Carton's recommitment scene could easily be considered the moment when after Darnay and Lucie marry, Carton declares his undying devotion to Lucie, thereby setting up the Climax at the end of the book and recommits to her even though she belongs to another. (This scene happens 14 pages off of the exact halfway point in the softcover book I'm using for my analysis).

3rd Energetic Marker 
The Crisis (at exactly the 3/4 mark) is when Darnay is, for the second time, again taken as a prisoner of the Republic and Doctor Manette has been stripped of all influence to get him released. At this point, Carton takes center stage in the story and consciously begins the profound transformation he had unconsciously been undergoing since his recommitment scene.

4th Energetic Marker 
I am not going to reveal the Climax in hopes that those of you who have never read Tale of Two Cities or read it so long ago you've forgotten the nuances that make the story truly great will read or reread it now and be as delighted as I was by the twists and turns and ultimate crowning glory.


Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

More Plot Tips:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the Plot Series on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Directory of Plot Series on YouTube

How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? was met with such an enthusiastic response that we continued filming, creating new plot series to reinforce and build on the first one. Overtime, we found that each new series seemed to bury the old ones until all the plot series became a muddled mess.

Now, having mastered the concept of Playlists on Youtube, we have organized the different series for your viewing enjoyment and to help you pick and choose the videos that will best support your writing needs no matter where you are in writing your novel, memoir, screenplay.

The Different Playlists are listed below with links to each. Also, for future reference, please find the Directory for the Plot Series on Youtube on the left sidebar of the blog.

How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay?
Quick Plot Tips
Monday Morning Plot Book Group
Glossary of Plot and Writing Terms
Plot the Thematic Significance of Your Story
Plot the Beginning of Your Story
Plot the Middle of Your Story
Plot the End of Your Story
PlotWriMo
Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

More Plot Tips:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Subplots Fall Into Place

A fantastic subplot -- both riveting and taking place in an exotic locale -- spans from the beginning of the Middle to nearly the Crisis toward the end of the Middle. Based on the proposed length of the book, she has nearly 7,000 words left to write to reach the beginning of the End.

The writer begins to integrate a minor subplot that has wandered from draft to draft without a firm place in the historical novel the writer envisions and without any real purpose. Still, the writer clutches fast and hopes this is the right place for the minor subplot.

As she writes, all the energy she's created through the fantastic subplot fades and the impact of that subplot is diminished. Yes, the minor subplot foreshadows what occurs at the Crisis. Yet, to pull the story to the Crisis with the minor subplot becomes an impossibility and deflates all the work she's already written.

In our plot consultation, I jump to the Climax and press the writer for her thoughts and ideas about protagonist's ultimate transformation in the scene she envisions at the crowning glory of her story.

Before long, the exact right place for the minor subplot reveals itself and, for the first time, the writer understands the significance of the subplot to the primary plot and its influence on the character emotional development transformation.

To begin the Middle with the minor subplot allows the writer the scenes to prepare the reader and build the energy to the fantastic subplot and also to foreshadow and inform the Crisis to come.

The writer's delight that this minor subplot has suddenly found its place in her story is evident even over the airways all the way from Shanghai. It's almost as if the minor subplot pulls off the mask it's been hiding behind and reveals its true nature and ultimate power to the overall story.

"I can't believe it takes understanding the end of the story to truly understand what comes before," she exclaims.

The End defines the Beginning and the subplots in the Middle and just about every other important aspect of any great novel, memoir, screenplay.

Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

More Plot Tips:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Interwoven Plot Lines

A writer has developed a complex dramatic action plot with terrific pacing and lots of excitement.

Often he struggles when asked why the protagonist does what he does. He becomes especially flummoxed when the probing deepens. Yes, the protagonist takes the action he takes to advance the dramatic action. What in the protagonist's character emotional development makes that action real to him and him alone?

The particular writer I mention here is a male writer writing a dramatic action-driven story and seems to be suffering what many dramatic action-driven writers and any writer does when attempting to impose action on the story.

Dramatic action for dramatic action's sole sake sin't enough.

Character emotional development for character emotional development's sole sake isn't enough. Nor is a profound meaning for meaning's sake alone.

The protagonist's pursuit of what the she wants and is having a heck of a time getting, reflects an intelligent impulse to evolve through self-awareness and points to that part of herself that struggles to transform.

The protagonist's unique actions and reactions, beliefs and thoughts point to the flawed part in her, the part that holds the key to the deeper meaning of her struggle.

The specific details of the protagonist's backstory are not nearly as important as the limitations left as a result of her backstory wound and are wrapped up in the mystery that translates into the meaning of her life and thus, all of our lives.

Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

More Plot Tips:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

A Case of Subplot Overload

Subplots reign in the Middle (1/2) of novels, memoirs, and screenplays. Developing a few is a good tip if you find yourself slogging through writing the Middle and tempted to go back and begin again.

Keep in mind: too great a proliferation of subplots confuse the splendor of the primary plot.

A character-driven story set in the exotic worlds of the Ivy League and Wall Street. Dysfunctional and self-abusive behaviors based on the archetypal back-story wound of having witnessed and taken part in the socially acceptable behavior and subtle practice of devaluating and belittling the mother by a cruel father and a pair of impressionable boys.

Each one of these elements forms a subplot that supports the thematic significance of the entire story as do the addictions that consistently take him down: bulimia, then pornography, and alcohol and drug abuse, and the steps he takes to heal.

Each of these subplots contribute to his primary plot. Contribute to... not overshadow.

Plot Tip:
Craft only the number of subplots necessary to best support the primary plot. Prioritize each subplot based on how each best contributes to the overall story.
Push minor subplots to the background or, when need-be, let them go entirely.
Remember: Not every subplot deserves a front-row seat in your story.

Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)

For additional plot tips: Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Dedicated Writing Time

The next video in the new Plot Tips series is up for your viewing pleasure and for the first time, I'm attempting to embed the video so you can watch it here without having to travel to YouTube.

A dedicated writing time is essential for anyone intent on reaching her writing goals.

Writers write. Wanna-be writers talk about writing.



1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (The companion workbook is coming this summer and available for pre-order now ~~ The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Two New Plot Series Up on Vlog

I went to upload the first video in a new Youtube plot series -- Plot Tips -- only to discover 3 videos I had filmed for a different new plot series -- Plot Glossary -- never uploaded and had completely forgotten about.

So... I'm happy to share with you two new plot series for your viewing pleasure.

My plan is to upload a new video for each of the two plot series every Tuesday.

Next week:

• Plot Tips Series covers Plotting Out Your Writing Time 
• Plot Glossary Series gives the definition of plot

Until then, check out the new plot series.

Plot Tip Series:

• First Sentence / Paragraph of a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay

Plot Glossary Series:

• Forehadowing
• Rough Draft
• Revision versus Rewrite

(NOTE: For those of you who had trouble masking out the background noise in the How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay Series and Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series, the Plot Tips series has been filmed in a quiet, indoor location. Though the first three videos in the Plot Glossary Series that are up now were filmed outside, from now on that series, too, will also be filmed indoors.)


For additional help and inspiration in turning lackluster plots into irresistible stories:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master 

2) Fill in the companion workbook: The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Do you writes in layers, one or two layer per draft? Or do you write all the layers of your novel, memoir, screenplay at once?

And what are all these layers, you ask?

Emotion: evoking a range of emotions -- positive and negative -- in the reader through the characters' show of emotion.

Conflict, tension, suspense, urgency and curiosity: shaping the dramatic action to keep the reader turning the pages to learn what happens next.

Character transformation: showing a flawed character change overtime spiritually, emotionally, physically, or mentality or all of the above.

Thematic significance: bringing meaning to the story.

Relationships: revealing the complexity and intimacy of the characters in relationship to each other.

Sensory: using senses -- auditory, visual, tactile, taste, smell -- to transport the reader deeper and deeper into the story world.

1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (The companion workbook is coming this summer and available for pre-order now ~~ The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Researching versus Writing

You've pre-plotted, or not, and have a slew of scene ideas to write. You've mastered the getting-up-an-hour-earlier-to write. Daily the words flow and you're gaining confidence in your story. You tally up your word count and find you're on track to beat the deadline you've given yourself.

In the morning, you hit a scene that demands you know how in the heck the culture you're writing about performs wedding ceremonies. You've attending enough of them to have a general sense but no idea of the actual details of who does what when. Or, you're not exactly sure how the bounty hunter really would act in the situation you've set up. Or, when exactly a young girl reached maturity back in the time period you're writing about.

You decide you can not go on writing until you've figured out the details, convinced not knowing will cost you more time in the rewrite if you write something now that doesn't fit later. Suddenly, you find yourself spending all your writing time scribbling notes and listing new scene ideas to incorporate in your story, sure your readers will love what you've uncovered as much as you do. Your productivity skids to a stop and your word count remains unchanged for one, then two, then three days as you research the necessary information.

My advice? It's simple: Use your writing time to write. Devote another time during the day to research.

To familiarize yourself with the Universal Story and basic plot tips and tricks:

1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (The companion workbook is coming this summer and available for pre-order now ~~ The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

3) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Plot for Memoir Writers

Yes, even memoir writers need a plot.

There is nothing more frustrating than to read a memoir that is simply a litany of events -- episodes that happen to the memoirist -- this happens and then this happens and then this happens. This is especially depressing when the writer has wonderful voice and insight into a moving period in history.

No matter how unique the writer's voice, without a plot, a reader's interest eventually begins wanes. Even a significant historical turning point loses its luster and impact without conflict, tension and suspense.

I'm especially cranky about one memoir in particular right now but can point to many others. For instance, Carole King's memoir falls flat and in the end the reader is left to wonder what all the events in her life really add up to. Rather than transformed by the dramatic action in her life, her life seems more out of balance at the end of the memoir than when she began.

Most readers long to be uplifted by the stories they read.

My advice? Before you spend money on a great cover and layout, publicity and marketing your story, study the craft of writing first. Just because the events happened to you does not mean that they will move and entertain and enlighten your reader.

To familiarize yourself with the Universal Story and basic plot tips and tricks:

1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (The companion workbook is coming this summer and available for pre-order now ~~ The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)

2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. A directory of all the steps to the series is to the right of this post. 27-step tutorial on Youtube
3 Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. A directory the book examples and plot elements discussed is to the left of this post.


For additional tips and information about the Universal Story and plotting a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook Plot Whisperer on Twitter