How Polti inspired me....

Friday, February 6, 2009

One of the most common questions asked of any writer is the all famous:
What made you decide to write? With each writer it can be different, for most it is a love of reading.
But what makes some readers transition from a reader to a writer, something inevitable sparks the need to set pencil to paper or in this day and age fingers to keyboard.

As a romance reader it never occurred to me that I could write. Yet in college I was introduced to an incredible book written by George Polti titled: Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. My oh so stuffy English professor pointed out that this was an all encompassing list of every plot of every book, movie or story ever written. Being the typically rebellious youth that I was, I set out to prove my professor wrong.

With a list in hand of every movie and book I had every read or watched, I was able to match each item on my list to one plot or another, at times multiple plots applied. Having failed in this analysis, I was not giving up after all what did that snooty professor with his overly eager red felt tipped pen know?
I developed plots of my own, opening up a new world of possibilities. I dreamed and envisioned the many variations of themes and what I did notice was all the themes were historical and romantic. I learned a vast amount about my own creativity and a love I never knew I was capable of. To this day I refer to my plot lists for inspiration.

Thank you to all of the overbearing professor out there who force student to think instead of skate by.

I have heard that a few people out there have increased the list since my long ago days in college. Can you come up with a plot not listed?
1. Supplication
2. Deliverance
3. Crime Pursued by Vengeance
4. Vengeance Taken for Kindred Upon Kindred
5. Pursuit
6 Disaster
7. Falling Prey to Cruelty or Misfortune
8. Revolt
9. Daring Enterprise
10. Abduction
11. The Enigma
12. Obtaining
13. Enmity of Kinsmen
14. Rivalry of Kinsmen
15. Murderous Adultery
16. Madness
17. Fatal Imprudence
18. Involuntary Crimes of Love
19. Slaying of a Kinsman Unrecognized
20. Self-Sacrifice for an Ideal
21. Self-Sacrifice for Kindred
22. All Sacrificed for Passion
23. Necessity of Sacrificing Loved Ones
24. Rivalry of Superior and Inferior
25. Adultery
26. Crimes of Love
27. Discovery of the Dishonor of a Loved One
28. Obstacles to Love
29. An Enemy Loved
30. Ambition
31. Conflict with a God
32. Mistaken Jealousy
33. Erroneous Judgment
34. Remorse
35. Recovery of a Lost One
36. Loss of Loved Ones

I recommend the book for more details on each plot.