What kind of book are you writing? Do you think this template will be useful? Let me know in the comments! PS. Don't forget to grab the downloadable templates in Word, Scrivener and Google Docs: www.creativindie.com/plot-outline
Absolutely helpful! I've been looking but have been unable to find the answers to questions I had, until I found your (Derek Murphy's) videos. You have answered many of the questions I've wrestled with. Thank you!
I am trying to write a science fiction novel (series of novels, actually). The first is set in present day. The others are set in the future some in the distant future. I believe it can work out well, even though I remember you giving warning about skipping too much time, because time travel is basically discovered in one of my first couple of books. One of the books will be a historical fiction (centered very closely around factual history)/sci-fi. It'll be a prequel that shows more about how some of the oddities in the first book were originally discovered, but kept secret by the powerful and elite. I'm sorry, I wish I could share more about my plot and storyline, but I feel it is pretty unique and I'd like to be the first to tell this story. Your templates are a godsend for me. Using them I will be able to organize my story much better. I will be following them from start to finish. I work in construction, with a lot of overtime, and have little time to write. I listen to your lessons as I work, so I can't even really take notes. Thankfully, your templates can serve as the needed notes! I hadn't worked on my story/s for around a year but your lessons have sparked a flame. Thank you!
Think, "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells... only completely different. My story is based on cutting edge science and additionally a bit of forethought (fiction, at the moment).
A MUST WATCH! As a new writer, it helped my first edit tremendously! Was on point with your outline (miracle) until the ACT III, was missing two chapters. It improved my story!! ❤❤ Thanks for your guideline. Best online template!
I'm an author and have been studying story structure, narrative arc, and plot points for years....this is a REALLY good template. I can tell you've digested and synthesized more vague outlines and converted them into a more comprehensive map of the types of scenes that must happen in between the typical plot points.
For those watching. His voice seemed a little stressed/scratchy, but his points are great. Make sure to check out his description for the template. Here are a list of great visuals he used: 0:00, 2:25, 5:14, 7:55
the breakdown at 5:14 is interesting. The thing that's being corrected for, but not addressed is that if you're going to work in an 8 sequence structure, it makes a lot of sense to break your plot into 4 acts, each with 2 sequences. Then, each sequence ends with its own "set-piece:" 1. Inciting incident 2. End of the old world and start of the new 3. Pinch point one, etc.
This has been so helpful! You don't understand what this video means to me. If anyone ever asks me how I managed to write three full POV stories at once in the same book, I'll credit Derek Murphy.
I've been looking over this for a week, downloaded the Scrivener template, and now watching this video. I just gave Jessica Brody's Save the Cat a look two weeks ago. After all that, I am truly impressed with this one. Mainly because as you keenly point out, the middle is a mess. It is where I always get stuck and none of the other methods seem helpful. I also find the terminology so confusing. This one makes the most sense to me so far and I'm want to go back over my work and on it using this. I even have it clipped next to my monitor. Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge.
@@CIMaddox56 save the cat is so popular but it doesn’t do it for me. I think it’s more basic and less detailed, so it helps authors focus on the super important stuff without getting overwhelmed
Thank u so much. This is seriously the best plot structure I have ever encounter. I was able to make a first draft of my plot outline with this in less than a hour. It finally looks like I´m getting somewhere. All thanks to you!
Man this right here helped me a ton yo. It cut out most of all the nonsense that the other outlines be giving. When I put my story ideas into other outlines they seem to leave me still feeling lost, and confused with what should happen in certain chapters. But this one? I was able to connect the dots from beginning to the complete end. I had to stick to this video and study it for a week straight before I finally was able to really understand how to use this story structure completely. The middle really is the super hard part. Cuz of the transition period the hero goes through. Now after completing my story within 1 paragraph per chapter. Now I wanna either put in extra chapters, or make certain chapters longer then others in other to help the characters bond more, and have more time to go through the world I'll have to build. Because my characters are stuck in a zombie world and are trying to get revenge on the one who created the virus. But I dont want the main characters just fighting zombies. I also want then to be fighting other people too that will slow them down from reaching their goals, and being able to survive too having to hunt for food, or whatever. But thank you so much for creating this story outline. Me being able to really complete a story blueprint makes me feel so happy right now.
Oh. My. God. Derek Murphy, I've tried plotting my WIP into all these kinds of templates FOR YEARS, always feeling so frustrated that something was wrong! Every template could give me some new learning skills, but my story never fitted Save the cat, Michael Hauge or any circles and diagrams you just TOTALLY PAINTED MY STORY out for me, point by point!! I could not be more grateful! I will use this template forever, I can't wait to start my writing game up from a new point of view, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I have been on the fence with Starting a novel but did not know where to start. I would research and plan to avoid feelings of guilt from procrastination but never really started a project. With this out online I fee like any barriers have been removed. I have started writing again for the first time in years. Thank you for getting me back in the saddle.
Writing sci-fi adventure/ mystery. Man you provide so much value, this Gold is exactly what I needed. Major help sifting through noise of many other story structure and outline approaches from other youtubers. Thank you big time and happy to subscribe
Hi Derek, I have been looking for a plot structure like this for a long time! It helped me to complete a system that I'm so happy with. Thanks so much!
Wow!!! You are seriously a great teacher. I have not watched anyone more detail. Thanks so so much!!!! I look forward to going back and watching all of your videos.
I've got a modern-day scifi/timetravel novel. I've used a merged version of your template and the others you quote, with also the 8-point story structure. Being a 'pantser', these have helped me decipher at what point the characters were at, and helped steer a logical conclusion. I have concurrent charts to the plot for the character arc, and these have helped me to get into the characters more deeply through these stages. Thanks very much Derek
Where might you “break” if you were looking to do two or three books? In act two? Or would you duplicate this structure, with plot points, resolution and all, for each book in the series? Grateful for any help :)
Hope it's not to late: Yes, usually you have a plot that spans over several books, and within each book you break it down in a whole plot structure but just on a smaller scale. That's why series of three books are so common bc every book is an Act of the 3 Act Structure.
@@50kwords that actually helps, I'm kinda new to this story writing thing due to this pandemic. Don't know until when I'll stay alive. Haha the least I can do is have a book so my seemingly unimportant life have sense in a way.
@@wynterjamesguzman688 Glad it helped. :) Also, I feel you. XD I don't know how things are where you live. In my country there is a "state library" that collects everything that is published in our official language and/ or published about our country in other countries. So as long as this library exists, I will be immortalised by my humble, published stuff. lol Wish you the best you'll have your stories finished and published one day too. 👍
Great for action novels, but a bit confusing for romance with all these villains, allies and battles. Maybe you could do a break down specifically for romance? :)
When I've tried using plot outlines, it helps to think of enemies as the internal conflict that they are struggling with,emorional battles, or whatever it is that is keeping them apart.
This is an invaluable resource. Thank you Derek for making this available for free. I have a question, however. Is there any chance you could take this outline structure and use it to break down any well-known existing stories? I feel like having that would be an enormous counterpart when writing our own. I say this because what I found was that when plotting out some of my conflicts that my moments came too early and by the mid point when the stakes are supposed to be raised even higher, I have nowhere to go. So clearly I misidentified what some of the earlier struggles are supposed to look like. Thank you again
I second this ask. In the mean time, I have found the infographics (try a couple google searches to find it) that do this type of breakdown for the Pixar or Disney movies, and I think you could probably take those and match them up to this model and then go from there. I've seen Lion King breakdowns used as a plot stand in for more complex Hero's Journey breakdowns if you add the smaller scenes in yourself.
@@AdamOnTheNet thank you! I googled it just now and found the Lion King one you mention. It's definitely close enough that matching the main points to this outline and then breaking it down into chapters from there should be simple enough to build a reference template. This has me excited to get to writing!
Hi Derek - That was super useful, many thanks. I ended up doing an extract of the audio and some quick processing so I could hear it a little more clearly. Let me know if you'd like that processed audio file, so if you prefer it you can insert and re-up your video.
cool! I'm open to that but not sure I can 'replace' this version with a new version. I have a few other videos going through this chart with the right microphone
@@DerekMurphycreativindie It certainly seems possible (says a Google search) that one can re-up a video with no loss of comments, but I must admit I haven't done so myself...At any rate: I've uploaded the mp3 to a Google drive, I'll chop the link in another comment below, hopefully you'll be able to access it fine. I'll take a spin through your other videos as well, thanks for letting me know.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie Hopefully chopping the link will get it thru: Head for: drive.google.com/file/d/ and then add this straight after: 12I10RNkbOmLYj7JoCIzLx1k1CwBQyJ_n It will drop you straight at the MP3. You can play or download from there.
This is an outstanding synthesis and development of so much other work. You've really lit the light bulb for me! I've made a master mind map of this (in the SimpleMind software), and will use World Anvil to develop a world bible as my plots develop. Thank you for all the time and effort and thought, and for being generous enough to share the results.
Hi, this was super helpful. I kind of sat down and sorted out my story while watching this video. What you said about the middle act made total sense since it is the biggest part of the story, and required thorough setting. I, too, was getting stuck there, so this really really helped. If you ever get a time, can you take an already published novel and break it down with this structure?
This is the most complete and useful outline i have ever seen!! it clarify all the process to me!! i would love to read the books you wrote using this template to see it in action and clarify even more this in my thoughts! what books you wrote that are the best examples of this outline?
Thank you so much, I am loving your teachings and advice! I have a novel I am trying to write and can "tell" the story in about 30,000 words, with practically no dialogue. I believe, the needed, dialogue will expand my word count by 3-4 times, probably more. I know no one wants to be "told" a story, unless it is 5000 words or less and they are sitting around a campfire, drinking... Can you create a video/videos on how to create the dialogue for your story/novel? I've begun creating some dialogue and have advanced my story from ~30,000 words to around ~50,000 words, but most of the story is still being "told." I'm hoping you can give examples of HOW you come up with the needed dialogue. Thank you in advance.
Thank you for putting this together and sharing this video! Such helpful information!! Consider putting a link to a page on your website that only has one thing: a big donation button. Thank you!
this is great. what would be even better for me and romance writers is, if you would do a video with the 25 chapters giving a little sentence for each :)
I'm curious what about the fatal flaw/want vs need in a series, if the flaw is resolved at the end of book one, how does one continue In a series? Is another want vs need/fatal flaw created? Btw. never felt the desire to hit the thumbs up on a video, until this one.
@@SWOONCH the fatal flaw gets resolved at the very end when facing the antagonist, so it could be left for the last book on the series, the true final epic battle. I like to end my series on cliffhangers.
Hi congratulations for your best achievement god bless you, it’s a superb And am looking for that archplot structure pdf format file where I can get that you have any links for it
that's a great question; I haven't tried a dual POV yet. I think though, you'd actually have one MAIN character - the one who changes the most is the protagonist - and they would follow this. The other may follow some of this but not all.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie I'm doing a multiple-frames-within-a-frame novel, where the protagonist basically follows the hero's journey, and the other frames get pulled in to the story line through the use of techno-epistolary devices to add new information. Think Michener's The Source.
Hey Derek. Love your videos. Unfortunately, your audio is WAY too low. I'm using reasonably good earphones but even at full volume I just cant hear a word you say, while other youtube videos are perfectly audible. Im not sure if you can fix this for your already uploaded videos, but please consider increasing the volume (maybe double it) of your future videos before uploading them.
You may have covered this and I just missed it. But my question is this. If your main character joins a force and then realizes they are on the wrong side of a war and switches teams. At what point would that switch take place?
Depends on the book but generally, the midpoint is where they make a big discovery and shift their viewpoint; however I'd probably do it as a cliffhanger at the end of book one.
How would you use this in a way that the protagonist basically fails in the end? I'm planning a dystopian novel where the main character tries to bring down the government, but ends up being brainwashed and supporting it instead. Thanks in advance.
do everything till the climax part. Will they or won't they? then shock your audience by doing the opposite of what normally happens but still slowing the pace down to a stop/end. The only difference is that they fail in doimg what the rest of the book is pumped up for
Macbeth, or any tragedy helps in that. The hero starts strong, wins at start, but has not worked on their flaw so by the big climax they fail instead of succeeding. They are undone by their flaws. Basically the inverse of how hero plots work.
Just switch it up. But there has to be some sort of lesson for the reader. If the story line is going to be "Man falls in a hole and dies", then in order for the reader to get some satisfaction from it, the ending has to be along the lines of Lord of the Flies, the Donald Sutherland Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or Annihilation.
Olá, eu sou do Brasil. O vídeo é espetacular. Só um problema: meu inglês é péssimo. Se você colocar as legendas do vídeo em inglês, fica fácil para eu conseguir a tradução. Esse tipo de material é difícil de encontrar no meu idioma, o português. Obrigado, amigo. Aí vai a tradução do Google: "Hi I'm from Brazil. The video is spectacular. Just one problem: my english is terrible. If you subtitle the video in english, it's easy for me to get the translation. This kind of material is hard to find in my language, portuguese. Thank you friend."
What kind of book are you writing? Do you think this template will be useful? Let me know in the comments! PS. Don't forget to grab the downloadable templates in Word, Scrivener and Google Docs: www.creativindie.com/plot-outline
the link is not working
Absolutely helpful! I've been looking but have been unable to find the answers to questions I had, until I found your (Derek Murphy's) videos. You have answered many of the questions I've wrestled with. Thank you!
I am trying to write a science fiction novel (series of novels, actually). The first is set in present day. The others are set in the future some in the distant future. I believe it can work out well, even though I remember you giving warning about skipping too much time, because time travel is basically discovered in one of my first couple of books. One of the books will be a historical fiction (centered very closely around factual history)/sci-fi. It'll be a prequel that shows more about how some of the oddities in the first book were originally discovered, but kept secret by the powerful and elite. I'm sorry, I wish I could share more about my plot and storyline, but I feel it is pretty unique and I'd like to be the first to tell this story.
Your templates are a godsend for me. Using them I will be able to organize my story much better. I will be following them from start to finish.
I work in construction, with a lot of overtime, and have little time to write. I listen to your lessons as I work, so I can't even really take notes. Thankfully, your templates can serve as the needed notes! I hadn't worked on my story/s for around a year but your lessons have sparked a flame.
Thank you!
Think, "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells... only completely different. My story is based on cutting edge science and additionally a bit of forethought (fiction, at the moment).
I've been listening to this non-stop. Dude has done his research on story structure.
he quoted you in his website!
I just wish his sound quality was better.
I wish his audio was louder/better.
A MUST WATCH! As a new writer, it helped my first edit tremendously! Was on point with your outline (miracle) until the ACT III, was missing two chapters. It improved my story!! ❤❤ Thanks for your guideline. Best online template!
thanks so much!
Just got finish with my first draft of my first novel. I couldn't have done it without your video. Thank you.
awesome congrats!
I'm an author and have been studying story structure, narrative arc, and plot points for years....this is a REALLY good template. I can tell you've digested and synthesized more vague outlines and converted them into a more comprehensive map of the types of scenes that must happen in between the typical plot points.
Scene ideas spring forth immediately for me when I think of the story through these beats
For those watching. His voice seemed a little stressed/scratchy, but his points are great. Make sure to check out his description for the template. Here are a list of great visuals he used: 0:00, 2:25, 5:14, 7:55
yeah I lose my voice fast because I only talk to strangers on the internet :)
Mood
Man, this is the best methodology i've ever come across. For some reason it just clicks for me.
thanks that's awesome!
the breakdown at 5:14 is interesting. The thing that's being corrected for, but not addressed is that if you're going to work in an 8 sequence structure, it makes a lot of sense to break your plot into 4 acts, each with 2 sequences. Then, each sequence ends with its own "set-piece:" 1. Inciting incident 2. End of the old world and start of the new 3. Pinch point one, etc.
Super helpful! I plotted my entire book while listening to this! Thanks so much!
Any progress on that book? I would def love to read it!
Same
@@liannajohnson7 Yes! It launched yesterday! 'Game Changer.' amzn.to/3l1iQEL
Me too, it turns out my story was way more "planned" that I thought it was, I just had to find a way to organize it
This has been so helpful! You don't understand what this video means to me. If anyone ever asks me how I managed to write three full POV stories at once in the same book, I'll credit Derek Murphy.
Hey I'm doing the same thing! Good luck!
I’ve tried to put together something like this for years, pure excellence! I will be watching it several times as I write my next book. Thanks!
@@lilboatsman great!
A really helpful resource for first time writers. I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about plotting out a novel.
thanks!
This is pure gold
I've been looking over this for a week, downloaded the Scrivener template, and now watching this video. I just gave Jessica Brody's Save the Cat a look two weeks ago. After all that, I am truly impressed with this one. Mainly because as you keenly point out, the middle is a mess. It is where I always get stuck and none of the other methods seem helpful. I also find the terminology so confusing. This one makes the most sense to me so far and I'm want to go back over my work and on it using this. I even have it clipped next to my monitor. Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge.
@@CIMaddox56 save the cat is so popular but it doesn’t do it for me. I think it’s more basic and less detailed, so it helps authors focus on the super important stuff without getting overwhelmed
This is probably the best outline I have ever seen on story structure. Thank you so much!!
@@aaronball9815 thanks!
Thank u so much. This is seriously the best plot structure I have ever encounter. I was able to make a first draft of my plot outline with this in less than a hour. It finally looks like I´m getting somewhere. All thanks to you!
Glad I could help!
I have used this nearly everyday during writing. Thank you so much for this amazing video. 🙏🏻
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent. I have to listen to it several times to let it sink in more.
@@cherrlyn381 I’ll make an updated version soon
Man this right here helped me a ton yo. It cut out most of all the nonsense that the other outlines be giving. When I put my story ideas into other outlines they seem to leave me still feeling lost, and confused with what should happen in certain chapters. But this one? I was able to connect the dots from beginning to the complete end. I had to stick to this video and study it for a week straight before I finally was able to really understand how to use this story structure completely. The middle really is the super hard part. Cuz of the transition period the hero goes through. Now after completing my story within 1 paragraph per chapter. Now I wanna either put in extra chapters, or make certain chapters longer then others in other to help the characters bond more, and have more time to go through the world I'll have to build. Because my characters are stuck in a zombie world and are trying to get revenge on the one who created the virus. But I dont want the main characters just fighting zombies. I also want then to be fighting other people too that will slow them down from reaching their goals, and being able to survive too having to hunt for food, or whatever. But thank you so much for creating this story outline. Me being able to really complete a story blueprint makes me feel so happy right now.
Hello, how's your story coming?
Oh. My. God. Derek Murphy, I've tried plotting my WIP into all these kinds of templates FOR YEARS, always feeling so frustrated that something was wrong! Every template could give me some new learning skills, but my story never fitted Save the cat, Michael Hauge or any circles and diagrams you just TOTALLY PAINTED MY STORY out for me, point by point!! I could not be more grateful! I will use this template forever, I can't wait to start my writing game up from a new point of view, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Awesome! I'm so happy it works for you!
I’m so glad I stumbled on this. It’s perfection for fleshing out the story that’s been bouncing around my brain for years.
awesome!
I loved Katy's outline but this was very impressive, thanks for sharing.
thanks, yeah hers is excellent too and she put a lot of work into it.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie yeah she diid. And then she went silent.
Thank you for making this video. I am writing a historical fiction novel about Florida.
@@davidjoyner3102 good luck
I really thought this description was so helpful. Put it together very well. Thank you so much! - A must Listen to!
Glad it was helpful!
You need to listen to it.
I have been on the fence with Starting a novel but did not know where to start. I would research and plan to avoid feelings of guilt from procrastination but never really started a project. With this out online I fee like any barriers have been removed. I have started writing again for the first time in years. Thank you for getting me back in the saddle.
awesome!
Writing sci-fi adventure/ mystery. Man you provide so much value, this Gold is exactly what I needed. Major help sifting through noise of many other story structure and outline approaches from other youtubers. Thank you big time and happy to subscribe
@@Zenasanatomy awesome! Yah it works best to outline commercial fiction
Very good of you to share your work with us. It's all so very clearly set out. Thank you so much.
thank you!
Hi Derek, I have been looking for a plot structure like this for a long time! It helped me to complete a system that I'm so happy with. Thanks so much!
that's great!
Wow!!! You are seriously a great teacher. I have not watched anyone more detail. Thanks so so much!!!! I look forward to going back and watching all of your videos.
thanks so much!
this is exactly what I have been looking for. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
@@tillaaayy awesome
Just pre-ordered Derek's Book "Book Craft" Thanks for all you're doing!
Hope you enjoy it!
I've got a modern-day scifi/timetravel novel. I've used a merged version of your template and the others you quote, with also the 8-point story structure. Being a 'pantser', these have helped me decipher at what point the characters were at, and helped steer a logical conclusion. I have concurrent charts to the plot for the character arc, and these have helped me to get into the characters more deeply through these stages. Thanks very much Derek
awesome!
Omg thank you! I’m in the process of creating my first novel! Your video is a God Send! 😁
@@VintageAfro91 hope it’s going well
I have been struggling to figure out how to mesh Save the Cat 3 Act structure with the 27 Chapter Method and my god you did it!
amazing!
SUBSCRIBING! This is the type of content I have LOOKED for for ages. Yessss!
thanks glad it's useful
I have subscribe to it.
Hi
I loved the video, the outlines, and the descriptions! This video deserves more likes.
Wow, thank you!
Love this video. Now, I'm going to watch it again. Thank you so much, Derek.
awesome - I'll make new videos and some updated images soon!
I'm using this plot for a horror story game. It works!
awesome!
Thanks again Derek. I appreciate all your insights and nothing motivates me more than knowing how to go next!
@@Jonas_Fox that’s great to hear
This is really helpful. Thank you for sharing this.
You need more subscribers tbh. You're underrated.
I appreciate that!
I've subscribed to your channel. This was really helpful. Thank you, Derek. 💕🌟
thanks!
This is brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing, the detail is invaluable and it has really helped me with a Masters piece. Legend.
You're very welcome!
Thankyou for a well thought out break down. Exceedingly helpful. ❤️
@@carolinelabbott2451 thanks!
Great in-depth look into the structure of story. 👍
@@gordonmculloch4904 thanks so much
Thank you. Very helpful for the inspiring writer.
wow this was amazing! thank you for all the effort and sharing
@@mariskabezuidenhout613 thank you
Thank you.
You nailed it on so many levels.
@@norandomness ha it took me 10 years
So helpful for the aspiring author. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with others. :D
Glad it was helpful!
This is so helpful! Thanks so much for sharing!! ♥️
glad it worked for you!
thank you for this lecture!
Excellent! So useful and enlightening.
Glad you think so!
Hi
thank you so much! You clarity is incredible.
Glad it was helpful! I'm clear when I have an outline - most of my videos are a rambling mess. :)
Well done Derek. Most useful. Good examples from different genres. Thanks.
Where might you “break” if you were looking to do two or three books? In act two? Or would you duplicate this structure, with plot points, resolution and all, for each book in the series? Grateful for any help :)
Hope it's not to late: Yes, usually you have a plot that spans over several books, and within each book you break it down in a whole plot structure but just on a smaller scale. That's why series of three books are so common bc every book is an Act of the 3 Act Structure.
@@50kwords that actually helps, I'm kinda new to this story writing thing due to this pandemic.
Don't know until when I'll stay alive. Haha the least I can do is have a book so my seemingly unimportant life have sense in a way.
@@wynterjamesguzman688 Glad it helped. :)
Also, I feel you. XD
I don't know how things are where you live. In my country there is a "state library" that collects everything that is published in our official language and/ or published about our country in other countries. So as long as this library exists, I will be immortalised by my humble, published stuff. lol Wish you the best you'll have your stories finished and published one day too. 👍
This is super amazing, thank you for this!
happy writing!
As I was struggling with the kaytastic model (which is still amazing don’t get me wrong) I found this... I’ll take it as a sign
Yeah she's great - her model was the best I could find, until I made my own.
Great for action novels, but a bit confusing for romance with all these villains, allies and battles. Maybe you could do a break down specifically for romance? :)
When I've tried using plot outlines, it helps to think of enemies as the internal conflict that they are struggling with,emorional battles, or whatever it is that is keeping them apart.
Watch "As Good As it Gets."
This is an invaluable resource. Thank you Derek for making this available for free.
I have a question, however. Is there any chance you could take this outline structure and use it to break down any well-known existing stories? I feel like having that would be an enormous counterpart when writing our own. I say this because what I found was that when plotting out some of my conflicts that my moments came too early and by the mid point when the stakes are supposed to be raised even higher, I have nowhere to go. So clearly I misidentified what some of the earlier struggles are supposed to look like.
Thank you again
I second this ask. In the mean time, I have found the infographics (try a couple google searches to find it) that do this type of breakdown for the Pixar or Disney movies, and I think you could probably take those and match them up to this model and then go from there. I've seen Lion King breakdowns used as a plot stand in for more complex Hero's Journey breakdowns if you add the smaller scenes in yourself.
@@AdamOnTheNet thank you! I googled it just now and found the Lion King one you mention. It's definitely close enough that matching the main points to this outline and then breaking it down into chapters from there should be simple enough to build a reference template. This has me excited to get to writing!
Hi Derek - That was super useful, many thanks. I ended up doing an extract of the audio and some quick processing so I could hear it a little more clearly. Let me know if you'd like that processed audio file, so if you prefer it you can insert and re-up your video.
cool! I'm open to that but not sure I can 'replace' this version with a new version. I have a few other videos going through this chart with the right microphone
@@DerekMurphycreativindie It certainly seems possible (says a Google search) that one can re-up a video with no loss of comments, but I must admit I haven't done so myself...At any rate: I've uploaded the mp3 to a Google drive, I'll chop the link in another comment below, hopefully you'll be able to access it fine. I'll take a spin through your other videos as well, thanks for letting me know.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie Hopefully chopping the link will get it thru: Head for: drive.google.com/file/d/ and then add this straight after: 12I10RNkbOmLYj7JoCIzLx1k1CwBQyJ_n It will drop you straight at the MP3. You can play or download from there.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie Link was added in a comment. Let me know if that made it through the TH-cam checker, or whether that comment vanished.
This is an outstanding synthesis and development of so much other work. You've really lit the light bulb for me! I've made a master mind map of this (in the SimpleMind software), and will use World Anvil to develop a world bible as my plots develop. Thank you for all the time and effort and thought, and for being generous enough to share the results.
glad to hear you got results!
Hi, this was super helpful. I kind of sat down and sorted out my story while watching this video. What you said about the middle act made total sense since it is the biggest part of the story, and required thorough setting. I, too, was getting stuck there, so this really really helped. If you ever get a time, can you take an already published novel and break it down with this structure?
yeah that would be really useful; I do a lot of long breakdowns of movies for common writing elements
@@DerekMurphycreativindie where can find your breakdowns of novels and movies?
Very helpful. Thank you for the video and the template!
glad it helped!
The best video on this subject I’ve seen! 👌
@@trumpdid7117 amazing
This is excellent info. Thank you!
thanks! I'm going to be breaking it down soon in a newer video series
Great Job Derek, thank you
@@samelgbouri7958 thankyou!
Love this! Thank you so much!
@@phoenixmarie6477 awesome!
I really love this. Very helpful !
Yes is it.
Hi
This is the most complete and useful outline i have ever seen!! it clarify all the process to me!!
i would love to read the books you wrote using this template to see it in action and clarify even more this in my thoughts!
what books you wrote that are the best examples of this outline?
Wonderful! I don't always follow this exactly but my books are under DS Murphy or Drake Mason.
It's what we needed...
glad it helped! I'm making a bunch of new resources soon that will explain it better and maybe a poster or something 😂
This is so helpful, thank you so much !
@@SinusQuell_ glad you enjoyed it
Absolutely brilliant! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much, I am loving your teachings and advice!
I have a novel I am trying to write and can "tell" the story in about 30,000 words, with practically no dialogue. I believe, the needed, dialogue will expand my word count by 3-4 times, probably more.
I know no one wants to be "told" a story, unless it is 5000 words or less and they are sitting around a campfire, drinking...
Can you create a video/videos on how to create the dialogue for your story/novel? I've begun creating some dialogue and have advanced my story from ~30,000 words to around ~50,000 words, but most of the story is still being "told." I'm hoping you can give examples of HOW you come up with the needed dialogue. Thank you in advance.
great idea, thanks
awesome summary, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for putting this together and sharing this video! Such helpful information!! Consider putting a link to a page on your website that only has one thing: a big donation button. Thank you!
this is great. what would be even better for me and romance writers is, if you would do a video with the 25 chapters giving a little sentence for each :)
thanks, I'll make new videos soon and do it better
I'm curious what about the fatal flaw/want vs need in a series, if the flaw is resolved at the end of book one, how does one continue In a series? Is another want vs need/fatal flaw created?
Btw. never felt the desire to hit the thumbs up on a video, until this one.
@@SWOONCH the fatal flaw gets resolved at the very end when facing the antagonist, so it could be left for the last book on the series, the true final epic battle. I like to end my series on cliffhangers.
Great video Derek!
Как всегда великодушно, щедро и конкретно. Восхищаюсь и уважаю, я ваша поклонница и фанатка.
OMGosh, thank you!
Hi congratulations for your best achievement god bless you, it’s a superb
And am looking for that archplot structure pdf format file where I can get that you have any links for it
I'd love to see this outline structure broken down if youre writing in dual povs?
that's a great question; I haven't tried a dual POV yet. I think though, you'd actually have one MAIN character - the one who changes the most is the protagonist - and they would follow this. The other may follow some of this but not all.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie I'm doing a multiple-frames-within-a-frame novel, where the protagonist basically follows the hero's journey, and the other frames get pulled in to the story line through the use of techno-epistolary devices to add new information. Think Michener's The Source.
Hey Derek. Love your videos. Unfortunately, your audio is WAY too low. I'm using reasonably good earphones but even at full volume I just cant hear a word you say, while other youtube videos are perfectly audible. Im not sure if you can fix this for your already uploaded videos, but please consider increasing the volume (maybe double it) of your future videos before uploading them.
Yes sorry, I'm not sure what went wrong with this video. I'll remake it again soon with new resources
Amazing!amazing!amazing! Thank you
thanks so much!
Thanks this is awesome :)
A lot of these formulas start to unravel when you tackle some genres.
The true über guide will have multiple formulas
@@_surreal99 I think all commercial fiction including literary share a common structure
Though it does get more tricky with 3rd person omniscient or multiple pov
Awesome work, this really helps, thanks for contributing so much to the community!
thank you!
Just wrote a whole chapter so far on this
Very helpful, thank you! :)
Hi
Hi this helped me a lot! Can you maybe do something similar with planning a book series?
sure great idea
I love his husky voice♥️
that's my introvert voice that goes raw because I never talk to people. :)
Thank you for this
it's my gift to humanity /s
Which chapters are the A and B bullet points actually in?
@@captainnolan5062 could go either way, whatever fits best,
Will you be emailing the pdfs to people on your mailing list?
Thank you big time 😉😊😊
9:50 bookmark for myself 🧚
You may have covered this and I just missed it. But my question is this. If your main character joins a force and then realizes they are on the wrong side of a war and switches teams. At what point would that switch take place?
Depends on the book but generally, the midpoint is where they make a big discovery and shift their viewpoint; however I'd probably do it as a cliffhanger at the end of book one.
How would you use this in a way that the protagonist basically fails in the end? I'm planning a dystopian novel where the main character tries to bring down the government, but ends up being brainwashed and supporting it instead. Thanks in advance.
I'm kind of in the same boat. Dark thriller where the protag fails (again), leading to the last book. Good luck. If you get an answer, let me know.
do everything till the climax part. Will they or won't they? then shock your audience by doing the opposite of what normally happens but still slowing the pace down to a stop/end. The only difference is that they fail in doimg what the rest of the book is pumped up for
Macbeth, or any tragedy helps in that. The hero starts strong, wins at start, but has not worked on their flaw so by the big climax they fail instead of succeeding. They are undone by their flaws. Basically the inverse of how hero plots work.
Just switch it up. But there has to be some sort of lesson for the reader. If the story line is going to be "Man falls in a hole and dies", then in order for the reader to get some satisfaction from it, the ending has to be along the lines of Lord of the Flies, the Donald Sutherland Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or Annihilation.
What is "Archplot"? I can't translate in german lenguage...
Why is the plot outline download no longer working? :(
@@bethanycox6143 oh I’ll check, it should be…
Olá, eu sou do Brasil. O vídeo é espetacular. Só um problema: meu inglês é péssimo. Se você colocar as legendas do vídeo em inglês, fica fácil para eu conseguir a tradução. Esse tipo de material é difícil de encontrar no meu idioma, o português. Obrigado, amigo. Aí vai a tradução do Google: "Hi I'm from Brazil. The video is spectacular. Just one problem: my english is terrible. If you subtitle the video in english, it's easy for me to get the translation. This kind of material is hard to find in my language, portuguese. Thank you friend."
thanks so much! I'll try to get this translated soon!