Aristotle’s Incline: How to Plot Your Memoir or Novel
Back in the 1990s, I learned from Jack Remick and Robert Ray to plot my novels and memoirs using Aristotle’s Incline: the three act play structure. It is an easy way to keep track of your scenes. Bob and Jack said, “Scenes make chapters, and chapters make books.” But first, you must begin writing your book!
During September’s Whatcom Memoir Writing Month, Cami Ostman, Laurel Leigh, and myself will pass on some great information about writing the memoir. Each of us has a plethora of experience and just as much enthusiasm about imparting “writing secrets” to others. Here is the link to the classes. You can sign up for mine at: https://www.villagebooks.com/event/cw-canyon-091720 or for the series: https://www.villagebooks.com/event/whamemwrimo-workshop-series-2020
WhaMemWriMo – 09/17/2020 – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
I start with Wild Mind Writing to generate my scenes. It is a writing practice that I teach based on Natalie Goldberg’s book, “Writing Down The Bones.” Please read my post The First Word From the Bottom of Your Mind to learn more about writing practice.
Also, I’d love for you to sign up for “Celia’s Heaven” Virtual Book Launch on September 19th. Here is the link: https://www.villagebooks.com/event/litlive-nancy-canyon-091920 We will also be offering a free Book Group discussion on the 22nd of October. So, buy the book and read it, then join the discussion facilitated by Cami Ostman. It is going to be a blast! Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/309403980124546/?source=6&ref_notif_type=plan_admin_added&action_history=null I’ll look forward to seeing you there!
Best, Nancy Canyon
Nancy Canyon is published in True Stories II, Memory into Memoir, A Raven Chronicle Anthology: Take a Stand Art Against Hate, Water~Stone Review, Fourth Genre, Floating Bridge Review, Able Muse, For the Love of Orcas Anthology, and more. With Pacific Lutheran University’s MFA in Creative Writing and University of Washington’s fiction certificate, she teaches writing for Chuckanut Writers and coaches writers for The Narrative Project. Nancy won Chanticleer Review’s Cygnus Award for Paranormal Fiction for her novel “Celia’s Heaven.” Her memoir manuscript “Struck” is a finalist in Chanticleer Review’s 2019 Journey Award for Narrative Non-fiction. Her story “Holy Spirit Delivers” is a finalist for Scribes Valley 2019 Short Story Contest. Her novel “Celia’s Heaven, and her poetry book “Saltwater” is available at villagebooks.com. Nancy also works as a visual artist in her Morgan Block Artist Studio in Historic Fairhaven. She lives in Bellingham, Washington with her husband Ron Pattern. More at www.nancycanyon.com and www.facebook.com/canyonwriter/
