Introduction
When I started writing gamebooks, I needed a guide to help me become a better writer. I tried the “Save the Cat” and other methods. I discovered the best framework for writing books from a dime-store pulp fiction author, Lester Dent.
Lester Dent was a popular pulp fiction author from the 1930s. He is best known for creating Doc Savage. Over sixteen years, he produced over 159 novels using this framework. His framework helped me craft better gamebooks.
What is the Lester Dent method anyway?
Lester Dent’s plot formula breaks down a story into four acts.
Act One: The Steup is where you introduce the hero and set up the action sequence. Yes, the hero jumps directly into some major bullshit.
Act Two: Rising Tensions; the story progresses, and the hero learns things escalate quickly.
Act Three: Glimmer of Hope, the hero gets his ass kicked, and things look hopeless.
Act Four: Climax or Resolution: The hero figures out a way to win, and everything comes to a nice conclusion.
Why does this framework work perfectly for gamebooks?
The Lester Dent framework works great for gamebooks because it follows the same plot points as most gamebooks. I can quickly create choices that drive the plot forward. From Act One to Act Three, I can design choices that have consequences based on the Lester Dent framework.
Results and Reader’s Response
I’d used the Lester Dent framework to create stories for a few years. Many readers and play testers enjoy the gamebook starting with a bang.
Most readers enjoyed how the stakes were raised as they got deeper into the gamebook.
Conclusion
Over the years, I have found the Lester Dent plot framework a great way to get the brain flowing when I start writing fantasy gamebooks. Why not use the same framework if I want to write like the great authors?
