Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots

The classic guide for creative writers is now available as an ebook. Originally created by prolific dime novelist William Wallace Cook, Plotto has been used through the decades by such renowned figures as Alfred Hitchcock, and Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of the Perry Mason books. Out of press since 1941, original hardcover editions sold until recently for hundreds of dollars.

Plotto provides 1,852 situations, known in Plotto parlance as "Conflicts," with almost 3,000 "Conflict Elements" in total. Creative writers or "Plottoists" can combine these situations and elements into a huge variety of unique plot outlines. Plotto's key principle is rooted in human nature: "Purpose opposed by Obstacle yields Conflict."

This edition comes with a new introduction, new user guide, and new situation referencing scheme that make Plotto easier to use and more accessible. Reprints of the original have small font sizes and are difficult to read. This new edition has fully transcribed the original, so users can choose which font size to display on their ebook readers. Finally, this edition is fully hyperlinked, so it's easy to jump from situation to situation.