Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu: Lester Dent Master Plot Formula

The Lester Dent Master Plot Formula, also known as the "Pulp Fiction Formula", is a formulaic approach to writing popular pulp fiction stories. It consists of a series of elements, including an opening that captures the reader's attention, a series of twists and turns, and a resolution that satisfies the reader. The formula is often cited as a helpful tool for structuring genre fiction stories.

The Lester Dent Master Plot Formula is a blueprint for crafting stories that was developed by Lester Dent, a prolific pulp fiction writer in the 1930s and 1940s. The formula is sometimes called the "Pulp Fiction Formula" because it was widely used in the pulp fiction genre, which was known for its fast-paced and action-packed stories.

The formula consists of a series of steps that guide the writer through the process of crafting a compelling story. Theses steps include:

Start with a bang: Begin the story with an exciting scene that grabs the reader's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the story.
Introduce the hero: Introduce the protagonist and establish what they want to achieve.
Create a sense of urgency: Establish a time limit or deadline that the hero must meet to achieve their goal.
Create obstacles: Introduce obstacles and challenges that the hero must overcome to achieve their goal.
Build to a climax: Build the tension and suspense as the hero approaches the final showdown with the antagonist.
Deliver a knockout ending: Provide a satisfying resolution to the story that ties up loose ends and leaves the reader feeling satisfied.

The Lester Dent Master Plot Formula is not intended to be a rigid template, but rather a flexible guide that writers can use to structure their stories. Many successful authors have used variations of the formula to craft best-selling novels in a wide range of genres.

"This is a formula, a master plot, for any 6000 word pulp story. It has worked on adventure, detective, western, and war genres. It tells exactly where to put everything. It shows definitely just what must happen in each successive 1500 words.

No yarn of mine written to the formula has yet failed to sell.

The business of building stories seems not much different from the business of building anything else."

- Lester Dent

The Lester Dent Master Plot Formula is designed to maintain pace, using the placement of physical conflicts and plot twists, with a little suspense and menace thrown in. Without them, there is no pulp story.

This plot formula suggests these tips for writing a classic pulp style adventure.

It is crucial to construct the plot in a way that produces continuous action.
It's essential to keep the story interesting and well-paced by introducing different physical conflicts in each of the four acts.
Typically, physical conflicts in each of the four acts should be unusual or unique and varied in type. If one fight is with fists, that might take care of the pugilism until the next adventure. The same holds true for other types of "physical conflicts" such as traps, poison gas, capture and escape, sword duels, knife fights, gun battles, chase scenes, or a contest of physical skill. Of course, there are always exceptions. A hero with a peculiar punch, or a quick draw, might use it more than once. The general idea is to avoid monotony.
These conflicts must create suspense, making the reader see and feel the action. It must be vivid and swift, with no wasted words. In pulp adventures, every word counts and each story must be written to make every word count. The secret of all writing is to make every word count!
To create suspense, show the reader how the hero is affected by the challenges he faces. This suspense should continue to grow, with the menace becoming even more ominous throughout each of the four acts. The hero should find themselves in a difficult and precarious situation, making readers fear for their safety.
Don't tell the reader how the hero feels. Instead, show them through actions, facial expressions, and body language. DON'T TELL ABOUT IT! Show how the thing looked. This is one of the secrets of writing. Never tell the reader. Show them. Make readers see it.
Characterization is essential in making a story memorable. Give the hero unique traits or quirks that make them stand out in the reader's mind.
Adding minor surprises to the story keeps readers engaged. One way to do this is to be gently misleading, creating a false sense of security before introducing a surprise twist.
The remaining loose end. To keep the reader engaged, Hold one big plot twist to reveal, one big mystery to be solved, or one important question to be answered in Act 4.
Descriptions of the environment and atmosphere must be rich and detailed, forcing readers to hear, smell, see, feel, taste, and sense the surroundings.
Events in the story should flow logically and smoothly, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

This plot formula also suggests starting with these tips to create a unique and memorable story.

The villain should use a unique or unusual method of murder.
The villain should seek a unique or unusual object.
Choose a unique or unusual location for the narrative's setting.
Create a menacing threat which is to hang like a cloud over the hero.

Having one of these elements would be good, having two would be better, and having three would be great.
It may be helpful to fully consider these elements before moving forward.

A unique or unusual murder method could add a unique twist to the story. Consider options such as:

Acid: The villain could use a highly corrosive acid to dissolve the victim's body, making it difficult to determine the cause of death.
Asphyxiation by gas: The villain could cause the victim to inhale a large amount of helium, carbon monoxide, etcetera.
Assassination: The villain could hire a professional assassin to take out the victim, leaving few clues behind.
Deadly snakes: The villain could release a venomous snake, such as a cobra or rattlesnake, into the victim's home or workplace, causing a fatal bite.
Death by bees: A villain could set up a hive of killer bees in a victim's room or car, resulting in a swarm of bees that ultimately leads to the victim's death.
Death by exploding cigar: The villain could rig a cigar to explode when the victim lights it, causing fatal injuries.
Death by mechanical failure: The villain could manipulate or sabotage machinery or equipment the victim is using, causing it to malfunction and fatally injure the victim.
Death by weaponized virus: The villain could create a custom virus that targets a specific victim's DNA, causing them to suffer a fatal illness.
Drowning in a sensory deprivation tank: The villain could lock the victim in a sensory deprivation tank, causing them to drown in the saline solution.
Electrocution by bathtub: The villain could tamper with the victim's bathtub so that it electrocutes them when they turn on the water.
Fatal allergic reaction: The villain could expose the victim to an allergen that they are severely allergic to, causing a deadly reaction.
Garroting: The villain could use a wire or cord to strangle the victim, leaving behind few physical traces.
Magnetism: The villain could use powerful magnets to manipulate metal objects near the victim, causing fatal injuries.
Mind control: The villain could use a form of mind control, such as hypnotism or brainwashing, to force the victim to take their own life or engage in dangerous behavior.
Murder by hypnosis: The villain could hypnotize the victim into performing a dangerous or deadly act, such as jumping off a building or overdosing on medication.
Murder by spontaneous combustion: The villain could use an accelerant or chemical substance to trigger a spontaneous combustion in the victim, causing them to burn to death.
Piranha: The villain could release a tank of piranhas into the victim's bathtub or pool, causing them to be eaten alive.
Poison gas: The villain could use a toxic gas, such as carbon monoxide or sarin, to incapacitate or kill the victim in a closed space. The gas could be released through a ventilation system or by other means, making it difficult to trace the source of the poison.
Poison-tipped needles: The villain could use a tiny, poison-coated needle to deliver a lethal dose of toxin to the victim.
Poisoned tattoo ink: The villain could poison the ink used in a tattoo, causing the victim to die from the toxic substance.
Poisonous plants: The villain could use a rare or exotic poisonous plant to kill the victim, perhaps even disguising it in a bouquet or in their food.
Poisonous spiders: The villain could release a swarm of deadly spiders, such as black widows or brown recluses, into the victim's living space, causing them to suffer a fatal bite.
Scorpions: The villain could release a swarm of deadly scorpions into the victim's living space, causing them to suffer a fatal sting.
Self-destructing devices: The villain could implant a device in the victim's body that causes them to self-destruct from within, perhaps triggered by a certain phrase or event.
Soundwaves: The villain could use a specialized device that emits high-frequency soundwaves that can cause the victim's organs to rupture, resulting in death.
Torture: The villain could use a variety of cruel and painful methods to slowly kill the victim, such as prolonged waterboarding or other forms of torture.

SHORT VERSION

Here's an overview, or short version, of the Lester Dent Master Plot Formula:

Plan to write a 6,000 word story using a four act structure.

Split that story into 4 parts, each consisting of 1,500 words.

First 1,500 words

Hit the hero with a heap of trouble.

Second 1,500 words

Double the hero's problems

Third 1,500 words

Place the hero in so much trouble, there's no way he could ever possibly get out of it.

Fourth 1,500 words

Find a way to get the hero out of this impossible situation.
No deus ex machina! The hero must not escape from trouble with a last-minute intervention by someone else.
The hero must get themselves out of this impossible situation. That's what makes them competent and heroic.

LONG VERSION

Here's the long version, of the Lester Dent Master Plot Formula:

ACT 1

FIRST 1,500 WORDS

In the first 1,500 words, the hero must be introduced and immediately face a significant challenge.

Introduce the hero as soon as possible and swat him with a fistful of trouble. Hint at a mystery, menace, or problem that our hero must solve.
The hero takes action to cope with this fistful of trouble. He tries to fathom the mystery, defeat the menace, or solve the problem.
Introduce all the other important characters as soon as possible and bring them in on the action.
The hero's endeavors to overcome the challenge should lead to an actual physical conflict near the end of these first 1,500 words.
It's essential that action is not solely to advance the story but the hero must accomplish something meaningful.
Reveal a surprising plot twist at the end of the first 1,500 words to keep the reader engaged.

After composing the first 1,500 words, read through the story so far. Ask yourself:

Does it have suspense?
Is there a menace to the hero?
Does everything happen logically?

ACT 2

SECOND 1,500 WORDS

In the second 1,500 words, shovel more grief onto the hero.

The hero should be faced with even more challenges and obstacles, making his struggle more difficult.
These challenges should add to the suspense and tension, creating a sense of menace that looms over the hero.
The hero's struggles should lead to another physical conflict near the end of these second 1,500 words.
Reveal a surprising plot twist at the end of the second 1,500 words to keep the reader engaged.

After writing the second 1,500 words, read through the story so far. Ask yourself:

Does the second part have suspense?
Does the menace to the hero grow like a black cloud?
Is the hero getting it in the neck?
Does everything happen logically?

ACT 3

THIRD 1,500 WORDS

In the third 1,500 words, the hero should continue to face more challenges and struggles, increasing the level of grief.

However, the hero should also make some progress and get closer to catching the villain or someone involved in the conflict.
Hero makes some headway and corners the villain or henchman which results in a physical conflict near the end of these third 1,500 words.
Reveal a surprising plot twist that involves the hero preferably getting it in the neck bad, at the end of the third 1,500 words to keep the reader engaged.

After writing the third 1,500 words, read through the story so far. Ask yourself:

Does it still have suspense?
Does the menace get blacker?
Does the hero find himself in a hell of a fix?
Does everything happen logically?

ACT 4

FOURTH 1,500 WORDS

In the fourth 1,500 words, intensify the hero's troubles even further.

Shovel the difficulties thickly upon the hero.
Get the hero almost buried in his troubles.
The hero should be on the brink of complete defeat. The villain has him trapped and has framed him for murder. The hero believes the girl is dead, and all hope is lost. A new, different murder method threatens to dispose of him for good.
The hero must use his own skills, training, brawn, ingenuity, or intelligence to extricate himself from the perilous situation.
The remaining mysteries are resolved during the final conflict as the hero takes control of the situation.
Reveal the final big twist, a big surprise. A significant twist is revealed, such as the villain turning out to be an unexpected character or the treasure being a fake.
The snapper, the punch line to end it.

After writing the fourth 1,500 words, read through the story so far. Ask yourself: