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The Plot Machine
- Writer Better Stories Faster
- Narrated by: Dale Kutzera
- Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 12-03-15
- Language: English
- Publisher: Salmon Bay Books
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $6.95
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Publisher's Summary
There are a lot of books on story structure, but only The Plot Machine presents a step-by-step guide to designing a story. In clear, precise language, this guide discusses the various types of stories we tell, their specific parts, and how they are assembled. Say good-bye to staring at the blank page waiting for lightning to strike. Just put a few coins in the plot machine, and write better stories faster.
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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- GameMaker
- Portland, OR USA
- 12-31-16
Great Content, But Useless As An Audiobook
I'm a filmmaker and frequently try my hand at screenwriting, so I get lots of books like this to inspire and to learn more about the craft. I really love the content of this book! It breaks down stories into different types of characters, situations, themes etc. The problem with this is, is that it's pretty useless as an audiobook. What you really want is to be able to review these lists and breakdowns as you are writing, and an audiobook is just not a good format for that. So this audiobook has absolutely convinced me that the book is a must-buy, but the audiobook itself is kind of useless. Buy the book instead!
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jay Quintana
- 01-16-16
Basic Information: Does Not Live Up to Subtitle
If you've read a book on writing before, you'll learn nothing new here. I don't have a problem with that. Having the essentials of storytelling hardwired into your brain can't be a bad thing, so I don't mind hearing things I've heard before. That said, when you claim one will "Write Better Stories Faster," and you don't provide any original tips on how one would do that, well, I can't rate this higher than three stars. If the subtitle were, "The Elements of Storytelling," I'd have given it five stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- ZuperZandwich
- 12-20-15
Good nuts and bolts information on plotting
What did you love best about The Plot Machine?
The information is to the point, and covers the major types of plots.
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
Narration is wooden but serviceable.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. I listened to several parts over again to absorb the information.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamilah
- 11-29-16
Practical
really enjoyed it! lots of practical information to use right away. short and to the point. wish he had more books. Narrative was a bit monotone but I found it funny and enjoyable on my second and third listens
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aaron
- 04-19-18
Overwhelmed with great information
The only flaw with this book is the title. It should be called "The Character Machine". However, it's not actually a flaw because, as the book explains: The character is the plot. Highly recommend and be ready to take notes and make a chart.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vince K.
- 08-22-17
And What a Machine!
An amazing book that breaks down how to write a plot in easily digestible pieces. I just finished the book and am so looking forward to writing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jonney Scoggin
- 08-12-17
Covered it all!
Well read with lots of info for designing and insight for plot development of your novel. I enjoyed it!!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Meredith
- 05-18-17
A few plot point ideas, but doesn't teach structure
Everything is vague. He gives a few examples of possible plot points, etc. Okay for getting ideas, but it doesn't do well at teaching story structure. The examples aren't from actual books/movies, which would have worked better to help you see story structure in action.
(Some of his advice even seemed misguided- he says it's okay to use a prologue for "conveying such tedious information" as "political history of a fantasy realm." That sounds like a good way to make your reader close the book.)
Also, his voice is a half step above a text-to-speech robot.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Haakon B. Dahl
- 05-17-17
Perfect for its purpose, as advertised.
I have read this book and it's performance so highly because it performs exactly as promised. This book is not going to be a classic, and it's performance is not going to win any awards. The book itself is workmanlike and sturdy, just as the performance is. This book is all about setting up a machine for designing plots, and as the author makes clear, this is not a book on writing. This is a book more about the business of writing, specifically as it applies to the writer going about business.
Please forgive any typos in this review, as I am dictating it while driving. Thank you.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-27-17
So monotone it's distracting
I made it 15 minutes into this book and turned it off. Mr. Kutzera narrated this book and should stick to writing. His delivery was so monotone that I was bored to tears and almost fell asleep while driving. I heard a few good points here and there -- but the wasted time and money left a bad taste in my mouth.