Review: Covers the basics very well
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 7, 2013
This is a useful guide, almost in checklist form, about a solid structured way to create a plot.  It makes use of the standard Story Arc approach with one or two additional tips.  Almost any writer, aspiring or published, can use this book to give an idea form that can be turned into a plot.  The only issue with it, in my view, is that it makes the assumption that virtually all successful fiction uses this format.  Read fiction other than mysteries or romance and you may be hard pressed to identify some of plot points defined in this book.  That is not to say that such points don't exist, but they are not as important, obvious or critical in the story line as this guide would suggest.  The author, however, is very good with one structural form that works very well everywhere - Goal-Motivation-Conflict.  Using this to design major characters is almost invariably helpful (keeping in mind that some important characters will not require that much development).  Highly recommended and good value for money.