Rock Your Plot

By: Cathy Yardley

Narrated by: Cathy Yardley, Michael Anthony Johnson

Length: 1 hr and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Are you stuck trying to write a novel? Have you tried writing several stories, only to stall out in the middle and move on to a new project? Do you like the idea of plot outlines, but have difficulty figuring out what happens next, or what should happen where? Or are you a writer who hates outlining, preferring to write a novel organically - but still feel like your story needs more plot and structure?

Outlining, whether it's just the turning points or a comprehensive scene by scene plot outline, might help you get past your block.

Rock Your Plot: A Simple System for Plotting Your Novel teaches a clear, flexible process to help you with your:

• Premise: Test your premise for inherent conflict and sustainability.
• Characterization: Create strong characters with urgent goals, understandable motivation, and tons of obstacles.
• Plot outline, turning points: Use those characters to build logical and powerful plot points and complete character arcs.
• Plot outline, scene-by-scene: Develop a sequence of dynamic scenes that propels your reader through your story.

This audiobook goes straight to the point, putting theory in plain language, adding examples from blockbuster stories, and finishing each section with exercises designed to help you work with your characters to write a novel that excites you... and your readers.

©2012, 2013 Cathy Yardley Wilson (P)2013 Cathy Yardley Wilson

Very Helpful Outlines & Bonus Material

This is practical help, not just theory and blabber. She offers online supplemental downloads to go along with the info in the book. It is short, to the point and motivating. She narrated it herself so you get her personality and humor, but it is read at various speeds sometimes and while you can listen comfortably at 1.25X speed, some sentences are spoken very fast. Overall, I would recommend for someone interested in writing. I also recommend 'The Successful Novelist' by David Morrell. Hope this helps. Later.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Best I've found for getting started on plotting

I listen to this book over and over again. Although it's narrated by the author it's a very easy listen.
It's also packed full of information. I actually went back and bought the Kindle version just so I could slow myself down. The included PDF (which you find by going to audible on your computer and then downloading), is an invaluable tool.

This is truly the best shorthand advice on how to get started on plotting versus writing by the seat of your pants.

I love, love, love this audiobook! I recommend it for all aspiring writers.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Take Notes, every word is a gem

Excellent book on plot. Flies at you at a very quick pace and I suggest you have a note book ready to dot down the pearls of wisdom. Follow this book and you are on your way to writing success.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Exactly What I Needed

What made the experience of listening to Rock Your Plot the most enjoyable?

Listening to a writing coach like Cathy give clear, step-by-step instructions is exactly what I needed. Her method works wonders, especially when coupled with the downloads from her website. This is THE book to get through the "quick and dirty first draft," to use her words.

After that, you can read all the other books to streamline your dialogue, emphasize your theme, all that fancy stuff. But start here. Start with ROCK YOUR PLOT.

Summarizes the work of others.

The content is good but I feel a bit put off that it is a summary of two authors' books.

1. Blake Snyder (dec'd) book -- an awesome one called "Save the Cat." it is Identical to this deceased author's beat sheet.

2. Debra Dixon's book about Goal, Motivation, and Conflict is excellent. Cathy Yardley repeated her methods verbatim. Dixon's book was copyrighted in 1996.

That was a disappointment in the author. Surprised to see it is so easy to take the brilliance of others and regurgitate it.

A Definite Winner!

I will definitely be using this book each time I outline my books from now on! It was clear, organized and the instruction and examples were easy to follow and incorporate, making my work in progress more complex and deep.

I. Needed. This. Book!

Oh my gosh! I can't even describe how inspired I've been since I got this. I was barely into the start of the first chapter when I realized this is exactly what I needed. I've come up with endless examples of characters and "cool ideas" as Yardley mentions, but story plots have always been my Achilles heel. And nothing ever reached completion because of it.

All throughout listening to this book, I've jotted down notes and steps to take, absolutely drinking in the long-needed structure my stories have been missing. And so much has come to me just from that! I'm off to fill in the blanks in my outlines but I wanted to put this here first.

I can't thank Ms. Yardley enough for sharing her collected research.

good reference

I really enjoyed this book and found it very helpful. I have read it a few times and took notes.

easy guide to outline

I have read a number for books. And I find each one very informative. Especially those about writing.

This is a book for people who just want a quick idea how to outline. It is a system one can adjust to your own needs. There are other books which do go in-depth about outlining and plotting but this is a great start to make a writer think about the process and how they're going to write their story. It forces a writer to determine their objective. -- I think we sometimes forget our path in the midst of writing--this helps remind me, at least.

I recommend it -- especially the audio!

in addition the narrator (in this case the author) voice was clear and wonderful to listen to.

Short, easy to listen to.

Really got the ideas flowing. Great to listen to if you've already listened to or read a few books from other authors.

I highly recommend: William Bernhart's Red sneakers writing series for more in depth planning, wit and humor.

Good book for the beginners writers.

Where does Rock Your Plot rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Somewhere between the middle and the top ones. Between 1 and 10 would be somewhere 6-7.

What did you like best about this story?

Proven method well explained, which can be useful for some authors.

What does Cathy Yardley and Michael Anthony Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

By the voice intonation you can follow, where the author put more emphasis and what part of the book content is more important.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Learn to rock your plot from ZERO experience.

Any additional comments?

Good book for those, who are just starting to learn about plot and structure of the story.