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Beginning a novel

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Date Issued:
2002
Summary:
Writing a novel is a formidable task. The average 300-page novel must contain a beginning, middle and end and is comparable to the structure of the movie screenplay. The latter comprises a first act in which characters and their situation are "set up;" a second act, which reveals the conflicts of the characters; and a third act, in which the situation and conflicts are resolved. The author, a community college writing teacher, recommends that his students create vivid characters and then write an outline. The outline will serve as a roadmap, guiding the students from the beginning of their novels (the set up) to the end. Several famous authors, including Stephen King and Elmore Leonard, insist they do not use outlines. Rather, they create their characters and project the novel to its logical conclusion, according to the parameters of character. However, screenwriting guru Syd Field disagrees. Field believes an outline, written on a paradigm diagram, will keep the storyline on course and result in a more satisfying ending. The author agrees with Field.
Title: Beginning a novel.
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Name(s): Daniels, Hal Eric.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Childrey, John, Thesis advisor
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Department of English
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2002
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 63 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Writing a novel is a formidable task. The average 300-page novel must contain a beginning, middle and end and is comparable to the structure of the movie screenplay. The latter comprises a first act in which characters and their situation are "set up;" a second act, which reveals the conflicts of the characters; and a third act, in which the situation and conflicts are resolved. The author, a community college writing teacher, recommends that his students create vivid characters and then write an outline. The outline will serve as a roadmap, guiding the students from the beginning of their novels (the set up) to the end. Several famous authors, including Stephen King and Elmore Leonard, insist they do not use outlines. Rather, they create their characters and project the novel to its logical conclusion, according to the parameters of character. However, screenwriting guru Syd Field disagrees. Field believes an outline, written on a paradigm diagram, will keep the storyline on course and result in a more satisfying ending. The author agrees with Field.
Identifier: 9780493721989 (isbn), 12906 (digitool), FADT12906 (IID), fau:9780 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Thesis (M.A.T.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2002.
Subject(s): Fiction--Technique
Creative writing
Fiction--Authorship
Fiction--Outlines, syllabi, etc
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12906
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.