Plots

A plot, a plot, a plot to kill the king....

When I was a college student, I asked a professor if she had any suggestions, regarding the study of plot. I had a college text in mind, but she did not miss a beat when she suggested that I study Shakespeare. I immediately knew that my professor had placed me in the hands of the master.

Recently, I passed on the same advice to one of my high school students who is working out a manuscript. The student claimed, "I hate Shakespeare. What does that crap have to do with sci-fi and fantasy?" However, I soon realized that the student never really understood Shax's work. To make a long story short, the student began to read the plays and view the DVDs. Shortly into the student's study of Shax, he and I began lengthy discussions on the complexity and brilliance of Shax's plots.

I am amazed at how much I actually learned from Shax and my high school student.

Cheers!
Allan A. Zarbock
www.aazarbock.com