preface
Chapter 1 Character Description: Appearance
Chapter 2 Character Description: Inner Life
Chapter 3: Character Description: Application
Chapter 4: The Journey
Chapter 5: Suspense
Chapter 6 Conflict
Chapter 7 Context
Chapter 8 Excellence
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Appendix: Books and Movies to Consider

“What kind of writing moves people?”

There is a gateway that anyone who wants to become a writer in America must pass through.
The solution is to find a copyright agent.
That's why the thing aspiring writers are most interested in is agents.
The role of agents in the American publishing world is absolute.
That's why magazines for aspiring writers always include a list of agent addresses as an appendix.
Once an agent reviews an aspiring writer's manuscript and decides to take them on as their client, they've overcome the most difficult hurdle on the road to publication.
The agent carefully reviews the manuscript, then works with the aspiring writer to refine and revise it before sending it to an editor he or she trusts.
Editors at leading publishing houses also work closely with competent agents to secure quality authors, carefully reviewing the manuscripts they recommend before deciding to publish them.
Unlike Korea, the United States has few contests like the Spring Literary Contest, and it is rare for manuscripts submitted directly to publishers to be published as books.
Therefore, whether or not you meet a competent agent will determine whether or not you can survive as a writer, and further, whether or not you can become a writer loved by readers.
That is why winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Award, without exception, express gratitude to the agents who have grown with them in their acceptance speeches.

Noah Lukeman has lived his life as that agent.
His clients include Pulitzer Prize, American Book Award, and O. Henry Award winners.
For over 20 years, in an office where dozens of manuscripts are delivered every day, he has been judging which manuscripts have the potential to be selected by editors for publication and which will continue to be loved by readers.
A good agent looks at your manuscript from a different perspective than a critic or editor.
They regard the manuscript delivered to them as an unfinished work with only potential.
The first idea that comes to the writer's mind is not yet fully realized, so your role is to help the writer realize his full potential.
And this role is the most desired service not only for aspiring writers in the United States but also for writers who are already active in the world.
Few writers would not hope that before their manuscript reaches the readers' hands, someone well versed in the hidden laws of storytelling will read it and offer appropriate advice.

The mentor I wish was always by my side when creating stories!

The purpose of this book is to show that coming up with one great idea isn't the whole story of plot.
Quite the opposite.
A good plot is a fusion of many writing elements: ideas, characterization, journey, suspense, conflict, context, and more.
Of course, the idea is important, but without these supporting elements, it just ends there - from the preface

Noah Lukeman says writers shouldn't rely solely on "big ideas."
He emphasizes that ideas are just ideas, and that readers will only open their hearts to a well-constructed story.
When writing a draft, writers tend to move forward like a racehorse with blinders on.
But the stories that have captivated humanity for thousands of years aren't made that way.
Readers are drawn to complex characters with many facets rather than simple, flat ones, and they are more drawn to the work of a storyteller who knows how to take appropriate detours and take ample time to tell a story rather than one that rushes straight toward a conclusion.
To achieve this, the writer must meticulously explore the characters in his work, like a detective or psychiatrist, to give them a three-dimensional feel. Even if they are not revealed at the forefront of the story, he must persuasively construct the character's growth process, family background, and beliefs about himself and the world.
The first half of "Plot Reinforcement" contains detailed questions about the characters, which is what differentiates it from existing creative guidelines.
The character established through these overly detailed questions also reveals his true character through the conflicts and trials that are classified in such detail.
Noah Lukeman views this process as a "journey," and says that only when suspense and irony are organically combined with the context of this "journey" can readers enjoy the story and attain wisdom and insight.
The author clearly informs readers of the core principles of this plot structure through sharp questions and explanations.
Additionally, each chapter includes 'practical exercises' so that you can review what you learned in the text and apply it directly to the story you are currently writing.

In this age of "storytelling animals," where demand for compelling stories explodes across various platforms, including film, OTT, publishing, TV, web novels, and webtoons, Noah Lukeman's "Strengthening Plot" will be an invaluable guide for creators who want to create good stories but are unsure how to develop their ideas.