12-17-02 @ 6:36 am EST

More stuff that looks like it would be good for fiction writers. I haven't included the romance stuff...it's a bit non-PG-13...plus it's too exclusive for my tastes. :P

PLOTTING:

Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations

1. Supplication: Persecutor, Suppliant, Authority Figure
2. Deliverance: Unfortunate, Threatener, Rescuer
3. Crime Pursued by Vengence: Criminal, Avenger
4. Vengence taken for Kindred upon Kindred: Avenger, Guilty Remembrance, a Relative of Both
5. Pursuit: Punishment and Fugitive
6. Disaster: Vanquished Power, Victorious Enemy, Messenger.
7. Falling Prey to Cruelty or Misfortune: Unfortunate, Master
8. Revolt: Tyrant, Conspirator
9. Daring Enterprise: Bold Leader, Object, Adversary
10. Abduction: Abductor, the Abducted, Guardian
11. Enigma: Interrogator, Seeker, Problem
12. Obtaining: Solicitor, Adversaryor Arbitrator& Opposing
13. Enmity of Kinsmen: Malevolent Kinsmen, Reciprocally Hated Kin
14. Rivalry of Kinsmen: Preferred Kinsman, Rejected Kin, Object
15. Murderous Adultry: Two Adulterers, Murdered Spouse
16. Madness: Madman, Victim
17. Fatal Imprudence: Imprudent, Victim, Object Lost
18. Involuntary Crimes of Love: Lover, Beloved, Revealer
19. Slaying of Kinsman Unrecognized: Salyer, Unrecognized Victim
20. Self-sacrificing for an Ideal: Hero, Ideal, Creditor, Sacrifice
21. Self-sacrificing for Kindred: Hero, Kinsman, Creditor, Sacrifice
22. All Sacrificed for Passion: Lover, Object of Pasion, Sacrifice
23. Necessity of Sacrificing Loved Ones: Hero, Beloved, Necessity
24. Rivalry of Superior & Inferior: Superior, Inferior, Object
25. Adultery: Two Adulterers, Betrayed Spouse
26. Crimes of Love: Lover, Beloved, SocialNorm
27. Discovery of Dishonor of Beloved: Discovered, Guilty
28. Obstacles to Love: Two Lovers, Obstacles
29. An Enemy Loved: Beloved Enemy, Lover, Hater
30. Ambition: Ambitious Person, Thing Coveted, Adversary
31. Conflict with (a) God: A Mortal, anImmortal or Holy Principle
32. Mistaken Jealousy: Jealous, Object,A ccomplice, Perpetrator
33. Erroneous Judgement: Mistaken One, Victim, Cause, Guilty
34. Remorse: Culprit, Victim or Sin, Interrogator
35. Recovery of Lost One: Seeker, One Found
36. Murder of Loved One: Slain Kinsman, Spectator, Executioner.

Five Basic Conflicts (from Polti's 36)

1. Man against Nature
2. Man against Man
3. Man against Society
4. Man against Himself
5. Main [sic] against Fate

Ronald Tobais' 20 Master Plots

* Quest
* Adventure
* Pursuit
* Rescue
* Escape
* Revenge
* The Riddle
* Rivalry
* Underdog
* Temptation
* Metamorphosis
* Transformation
* Maturation
* Love
* Forbidden Love
* Sacrifice
* Discovery
* Wretched Existence
* Ascension
* Descension

CONFLICT:

Essence of Conflict

Protagonist + Goal + Opposition (Antagonist) = Drama

Devices to heighten suspense (notes from David Freeman workshop)

* An obstacle or enemy interferes with a hard goal
* A enemy or obstacle interferes with a soft goal
* Hero forced to face his emotional fear, limitation, block, or wound
* Unclear motives
* Question of whether a character can pull off a bluff
* The uneasy mix, or "odd couple" situation
* The fish out of water situation
* Presence of ambivalence
* A character forced to make a difficult moral choice
* Mystery or a puzzle to solve
* A reminder of the stakes or increase stakes
* Increase stakes of the character so that this is the only way they can succeed
* Situation is out of control
* A surprise or unexpected disaster
* Foreshadowing (many ways to do this)
* Any scene in which a danger is present
* Any scene that has conflict in it
* Any scene where a seduction occurs, or might occur
* Technique of cutting back and forth between a dangerous scene and one that isn't dangerous
* Draw out a tense moment, i.e., "waiting for the other shoe to drop"
* Resolution of a tense moment

"QUICKIE" CHARACTER ARCHETYPES:

(From "Heroes and Heroines: 16 Master Archetypes," by Caro LeFever, Tami Cowden, & Sue Viders.)

Beyond Alpha: The Eight Male Archetypes (more info at Romance Central workshops)

* The Chief - The quintessential "alpha" male: tough, decisive, and goal-oriented
* The Bad Boy - Dangerous, but fascinating: charismatic and street smart, hates rules and regulations
* The Best Friend - The "beta" hero: kind, decent, and responsible
* The Charmer - The quintessential smooth operator: Fun, irresistible, and often unreliable
* The Lost Soul - The "theta" hero: Tortured and secretive, he's got a vulnerable heart and discerning eyes
* The Professor - Logical, introverted and inflexible, but also genuine in feelings, extremely faithful and honest
* The Swashbuckler - The Man on the Go: Action and adventure is his motto; he's physical, daring, mercurial
* The Warrior - The "delta" hero: The reluctant rescuer; dark and dangerous, driven and remote

Beyond Cinderella: The Eight Female Archetypes (more info at Romance Central workshops)

* The Boss - The "Take Charge" woman: outspoken and persuasive, confident and competitive
* The Seductress - "I Will Survive" woman: mysterious and manipulative, distrusting and cynical
* The Spunky Kid - Spirited and loyal, reliable and supportive, more of a "tomboy"
* The Free Spirit - Genuine and fun-loving, impulsive, an "original"
* The Waif - Classic "damsel in distress": Child-like innocence, naive and docile, she endures
* The Librarian - Conscientious, orderly, bright; she leads with her brain, not her looks
* The Crusader - A woman on a mission: tenacious, headstrong, courageous
* The Nurturer - Altruistic to a fault; calm, optimisic, a listener, pleasant, takes care of everyone

http://www.michelealbert.com/cheatsheets.html

I always love archetypes. I believe Charmian is a Crusader. :)

I think I have one more link to share, which expounds on the 36 plots given above...more soon.