Formula Plots

PuxyYunm · 05-13-2011, 06:36 PM

Formula plots can be sneered at and despised, but they have been successful enough to survive, both in good literature and in real crap.

The one that pops into my mind first is the classic:

1. Boy meets girl

2a. They fall in love or
2b. They can't stand each other, then they fall in love

3. Something goes wrong in the relationship

4. One or both become enlightened and they live happily ever after, or at least until the sequel.

I've gotten into trouble, perhaps correctly, by looking at the elapsed time on a DVD and commenting, "Well, everything's about to go to hell for them", just before it does.

"If you've seen the movie, you should keep your yap shut!" is the usual rejoinder, often delivered at high volume.

"I haven't. It's just that time in the formula."

OK, I should have kept quiet, but I'd bet a stack of copyright-free (hey, that's NOT the topic) e-books that this group can make a heck of a good list of classic formulae (or "formulas" if you must).

One more, from my favorite Chinese martial arts movies:

1. Evil martial arts master destroys young boy's (or girl's!) family or training school, killing everyone but our hero-to-be.

2. Hero(ine) finds another martial arts master to train with. This usually includes a training montage anywhere from funny to interesting to appalling.

3. Hero(ine) finds and pounds evil master from step 1.

How about some more?

RainingLemur · 05-13-2011, 07:15 PM

The concept of the "chosen one" is usually pretty formulaic.

ardeegee · 05-13-2011, 07:24 PM

The 1, 3, 7, 20, or 36 basic plots:

http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html

toddos · 05-13-2011, 07:25 PM

Joseph Campbell's monomyth/hero's journey covers just about everything

J. Strnad · 05-13-2011, 09:13 PM

A writer deviates from the standard plots at his own risk!

AlbertaCowboy · 05-13-2011, 10:22 PM

1. Ancient/Archaeological Predule
2. Modern day Scientist/ex-Military Protagonist
3. Evil Industrialist/Foreign Nationalist c/w Evil New World Order Plan
4. Car Chases/Gunfights/Hand to Hand Combat over Stolen/Recovered Archaeological Artifact
5. Kidnapped Love Interest Killed/Rescued/Escapes
6. 40 pages left, Wrap Up (Archaeological Artifact Destroyed/Lost/Leads Hero to Treasure Chamber where Villain is killed by deus et machina)
7. Hero drives off in classic car pictured on back dust flap
8. Rinse & Repeat as needed.

Todd Young · 05-14-2011, 12:11 AM

We shouldn't, of course, forget the whodunit.

1. Someone is murdered.
2. A famous detective appears (or is already on the scene).
3. Questions are asked.
4.Everyone appears to have a reason for committing the crime, but
5.It ends up being the most unlikely person.

ebusinesstutor · 05-14-2011, 11:12 AM

The books/movies I most enjoy are the ones that surprise me. Where I didn't see the plot twist coming.

I also like when characters are different that the usual such as Elizabeth Moon's "Remnant Population" where the lead character is an old lady. Or her "Speed of Dark" where the lead is autistic.

These types of stories are more enjoyable to me because they are less formulaic.

russellmz00 · 05-15-2011, 01:33 AM

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots

Frida Fantastic · 05-15-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellmz00

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots

Yes! Bless you, TVtropes. I'm such a fan of TVtropes that I'm using TVtrope tags as tags on my book blog posts. I've got a "boldly coming" coming up pretty soon XD

05-13-2011, 06:36 PM	#1
PuxyYunm Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Sony 650	Formula Plots Formula plots can be sneered at and despised, but they have been successful enough to survive, both in good literature and in real crap. The one that pops into my mind first is the classic: 1. Boy meets girl 2a. They fall in love or 2b. They can't stand each other, then they fall in love 3. Something goes wrong in the relationship 4. One or both become enlightened and they live happily ever after, or at least until the sequel. I've gotten into trouble, perhaps correctly, by looking at the elapsed time on a DVD and commenting, "Well, everything's about to go to hell for them", just before it does. "If you've seen the movie, you should keep your yap shut!" is the usual rejoinder, often delivered at high volume. "I haven't. It's just that time in the formula." OK, I should have kept quiet, but I'd bet a stack of copyright-free (hey, that's NOT the topic) e-books that this group can make a heck of a good list of classic formulae (or "formulas" if you must). One more, from my favorite Chinese martial arts movies: 1. Evil martial arts master destroys young boy's (or girl's!) family or training school, killing everyone but our hero-to-be. 2. Hero(ine) finds another martial arts master to train with. This usually includes a training montage anywhere from funny to interesting to appalling. 3. Hero(ine) finds and pounds evil master from step 1. How about some more?

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05-13-2011, 07:15 PM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	The concept of the "chosen one" is usually pretty formulaic.

05-13-2011, 07:24 PM	#3
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	The 1, 3, 7, 20, or 36 basic plots: http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html

05-13-2011, 07:25 PM	#4
toddos Guru Posts: 695 Karma: 822675 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Nokia Lumia 920 (Freda)	Joseph Campbell's monomyth/hero's journey covers just about everything

05-13-2011, 09:13 PM	#5
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	A writer deviates from the standard plots at his own risk!

05-13-2011, 10:22 PM	#6
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	1. Ancient/Archaeological Predule 2. Modern day Scientist/ex-Military Protagonist 3. Evil Industrialist/Foreign Nationalist c/w Evil New World Order Plan 4. Car Chases/Gunfights/Hand to Hand Combat over Stolen/Recovered Archaeological Artifact 5. Kidnapped Love Interest Killed/Rescued/Escapes 6. 40 pages left, Wrap Up (Archaeological Artifact Destroyed/Lost/Leads Hero to Treasure Chamber where Villain is killed by deus et machina) 7. Hero drives off in classic car pictured on back dust flap 8. Rinse & Repeat as needed.

05-14-2011, 12:11 AM	#7
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	We shouldn't, of course, forget the whodunit. 1. Someone is murdered. 2. A famous detective appears (or is already on the scene). 3. Questions are asked. 4.Everyone appears to have a reason for committing the crime, but 5.It ends up being the most unlikely person.

05-14-2011, 11:12 AM	#8
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	The books/movies I most enjoy are the ones that surprise me. Where I didn't see the plot twist coming. I also like when characters are different that the usual such as Elizabeth Moon's "Remnant Population" where the lead character is an old lady. Or her "Speed of Dark" where the lead is autistic. These types of stories are more enjoyable to me because they are less formulaic.

05-15-2011, 01:33 AM	#9
russellmz00 Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: sony pocket reader	http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots