I am currently writing my second novel as my first one was comprehensively turned down by a number of agents and publishers. From the feedback I was given, it is evident that the plot was too generic and predictable – something I realised myself when I had finished it but did not know how to put right. They wanted something ‘fresh’. As the quality of my writing was praised by several of my rejectors, I am trying to address this now. To this end, I have been re-reading favourite books and making a chart of the plots and intend to choose one to use as a template. I will of course change all the names and content, and will simply use the framework of the other story to make sure my novel has the right number of highs and lows, twists and reveals etc. I was rather proud of this idea but others in my writing group were horrified, responding as if this were akin to plagiarism. I thought there were only supposed to be seven basic plots anyway, so I don’t see the problem. What do you think?
ADAM TOOMEY, Durham