I don't know, maybe 3 stars. I think it really depends on what you need to get out of a book like this.

It's is basically an expanded blog post of a numbered list.

It didn't thrill me, but in terms of the "numbered list" it's helpful for plotting. Quite frankly, he lost me at "it's easier to dissect a 90-minute movie than a really long novel". Well, duh. That's sort of the point, though, isn't it? It's more than likely a new-to-middle writer would be picking this book up to hone their craft, and there's not a lot here to get them through the various novel points. It might be more helpful for screenwriters.

So why two stars and not a scathing review? Well, like I said, the list itself is helpful, and a writer can strip out some of the more mundane or unnecessary points. I do believe it has some value in keeping even the biggest pantser on track with plot. Second, I appreciate the hero's journey not being restricted to one isolated genre. While some might not see how Dodgeball is applicable here, keep in mind that it's the plot points under examination, not the calibre of movie.

Again, I would have preferred a proper novel dissection (Harry Potter was indeed a book series first, yet there was not a lot to gain about the books). A more robust resource followed by this book would be a good duo. The first book would likely be a much longer, drier read, but probably well worth it. This would become the go-to while writing, again just for the numbered list.

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Created Dec 01, 2019 at 4:58pm • Submit your own review...