When I talk to agents, their biggest complaint is not that the author can’t write, but that the author can’t create a plot that will hold up to a publisher’s scrutiny.

   “Just about everyone can write,” says one. “Or, at least they can write well enough to have their work easily edited. But what they're lacking is an actual story, a plot!”

   Now, you could spend a lot of time and create your plot from scratch. A lot of folks do that and they’re, well, not usually successful. You see, the agent is looking for a best selling plot. One that will make the publisher salivate and whip out the old check book along with the contract.

   Most writers simply have no idea how to create a best-selling plot from first principles. No offense, that’s just the way it is.

   

   Remember, if you want to create your plot yourself, by all means please do. You’re not likely to be successful, but there’s no law saying you can’t waste your own time.

   Here’s the fastest way on the planet for creating your best-selling plot.

   First, get yourself down to the local plot shop…

   Don’t have one in your neighbourhood? Well, they’re often known as a ‘used book store’ in many areas.

   Find a book that is five to 10 years of age. And make sure that right on the front cover it says “National Best Seller.” You don’t want a book that was written by “the bestselling author of” another book. You want the book in your hands to be a best seller.

   This means that the book has been written, edited and published (so publishers are likely to enjoy the plot) and that the book has gone out into the market. Even better, the market thought so highly of the plot that they bought the book in droves and made it a best seller.

   

   That means you’re holding in your hands a best selling plot. No doubts, no questions, no hesitation or ambiguity. The plot in that book is a best selling plot.

   Now what do you do? Buy the book, and read it. Then write down the plot as briefly, but as completely as you can.

   This is the plot you’re going to use.

   Take it easy, I didn’t say this was the book you were going to use. I just said this was the plot you were going to use.

   Take the plot and change every extraneous item you possible can change. Change the time, change the place, change the characters, change the genre, change the mood, change the item being sought (there’s always an item being sought. Hitchcock called it the ‘McGuffin’.)

   If it’s a romance, make it a western, if it’s a western, make it science fiction. If the characters are men, make them women, or animals, or dinosaurs, or wolves, or martians. If it happens in the past, yours will happen in the future. If it happens in California, make it happen in New York, or Belgium, or Korea.. I think you get the idea.

   When you’re done with the changes, you’ll have a bestselling plot, guaranteed, and you’re well on your way to writing your successful book in record time!

    While we're on the topic of strategies, feel free to subscribe to my FREE on-line course, "How To Write A Book On Anything in 14 Days... or Less" it's packed with tips, techniques and tactics for writing your book faster than you ever thought possible! But ONLY if you're SERIOUS about writing a book NOW!

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