Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers – Book Tour and Giveaway

 

A FREE ebook that introduces neurodiverse writers (and neurotypical) to plot structures beyond the commonly used hero’s Journey. These plots are emotionally accessible, highly creative, and more “traditional” than you’d expect.

 

Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers

by Margie Pignataro

Genre: Nonfiction Literary Theory, Writer’s Guide

 

 

 

Born from a rejected dissertation proposal and reworked over the course of 15 years into a compelling exploration of narrative, Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers challenges conventional storytelling norms. This free ebook delves into how nontraditional plot structures resonate with neurodiverse writers, offering creative frameworks that align with their artistic and intellectual strengths—traits often mislabeled as obstacles.

Through engaging diagrams and dozens of links to free resources, this book examines storytelling across diverse mediums, from Oedipus the King to Squid Game, spanning novels, poetry, visual arts, television, film, theater, and even commercials. The Mona Lisa and Little Red Riding Hood provide illustrated and textual examples of each plot structure. Whether you’re a writer seeking fresh approaches or an artist questioning traditional narratives, this guide provides valuable insights into storytelling beyond the expected.

This ebook lays the groundwork for a forthcoming second edition, arriving next year, which will expand upon these ideas with deeper textual analyses, practical exercises, and hands-on guidance to help you craft your own unique narratives.

 

 

 

**Get it completely FREE!!**

at SeizeTheCow.com or HERE

 

 

 
JOURNEY: THE TRADITIONAL PLOT STRUCTURE

 

Despite this book being about nontraditional plot structures, it’s very important that I establish what is considered traditional. I need to show exactly how nontraditional plots deviate from the traditional Journey and why they do so. There are philosophical reasons behind these choices. Mode has meaning.

 

  • It has a beginning, middle, and end.
  • It is closely aligned with Realism and seeks to create a mirror or museum-quality image of the world.
  • There is an inciting incident that begins the events of the story. This event pushes the “world” out of equilibrium.
  • The story follows a hero who must achieve a goal of high stakes. This goal must be difficult and solid. We must be able to know clearly and obviously when the hero has achieved the goal.
  • The hero will face obstacles, set backs, even weakness. At some point, the hero will undergo a crisis and question everything.
  • Characters around the hero assume a pyramid like structure of importance; those of lesser importance tend to be flat and not important enough to pay attention to. Characters appear in the story to help or hinder the hero’s goal.
  • All actions have meaning. Everything that is happening has an overarching meaning. It has a beginning, middle, and an end. It is closely aligned with Realism.
  • At the climax, everything changes. The hero could fulfill their goal or not. Everything that will happen after this point is entirely different than what came before.
  • After the Hero achieves the goal, all final questions are answered.
  • The world is again in a state of equilibrium.

 

The reason why the great majority of novels, short stories, TV shows, movies, etc. have a Journey structure is because it is the easiest form for an audience to access. It seems to resemble our lives.

 

The characters experience events that we recognize and experience. They talk like us and act like us and feel like us. With the advent of Realism in the 19th century, characters became more psychologically real to us. Journey is also based on simple cause and effect.

 

There are things a Journey embodies that reflect a certain philosophy in life.

 

A Journey is about one main character. For several hundred years that character had to have a powerful position in society.

 

Time moves forward. There is a clear beginning to the story; nothing that happens before is not important enough to show. Anything that happens after the ending isn’t important to show.

 

Events are governed by cause and effect. They have an impact on one another. Everything happens for a reason. Everything that happens is meaningful.

 

The hero is the center of the story, the main character. There are minor characters who aid the main character. Their purpose is tied to the main character’s; otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the story. People who aren’t present in the story aren’t necessary for the hero’s journey.

 

This is considered Realism and good storytelling, but it isn’t reality. None of those things happen in the world. We do not experience our lives as a Journey structure. Yes, the beginning is birth and the end is death, but even that can be debated philosophical and religiously.

 

 

 

 

CHAOS: A NONTRADITIONAL PLOT STRUCTURE

 

WHAT IS IT?

  • Chaos is a collection of elements that may seem random and meaningless, yet have a string connecting them into a coherent structure. The structure is not obvious, but it is present.

 

WHY IS IT APPEALING TO NEURODIVERSE WRITERS?

  • pure sensory experience, good for hypersensitive writers
  • the apparent lack of a structure allows for impulsivity and short texts threaded together
  • “stream of consciousness” creates a free-flowing unloading of ideas and themes
  • infodump meets emotiondump
  • conventional social interaction isn’t necessary
  • no complex psychological realism is necessary

 

EXAMPLES

  • social media pages
    • Instagram, Facebook, X, Mastodon, Tumblr, etc.
  • writers’ notebooks
  • Surrealism and Dada
  • Collage
  • short story anthologies

 

 

 

The ironic thing is that the traditional Journey plot structure and the Chaos structure are two different versions of the same structure. All of these nontraditional structures are all different versions of one another.

 

Using the map at the right, the Journey story would follow the line and visit each location point. The Chaos story, however, would include ONLY the blue location points. Or, the blue and the red and in different orders.

 

Chaos is purposely rejects organization, cause and effect, and logic.

 

The string of a Chaos structure isn’t easily discerned, but all events that occur within that structure are related, even if it isn’t clear. It can seem like nonsense or even gibberish, but there’s always a connection. A timeline can loop or invert. An audience may have no idea what’s happening. The result is more of an emotional one rather than logical. I form this interpretation using the scientific definition of Chaos:

 

Chaos theory states that within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns, interconnection, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals and self-organization.

“Chaos”, Wikipedia

 

Chaos is not linear and doesn’t attempt to be coherent. It leaps around, seemingly illogically, yet there is meaning behind everything. This reflects a specific experience with the world: one that has more questions and confusion than answers and explanations. Life is about the meaning you make and how you arrange it. There are unknowns, nonsense moments, and dead ends.

 

Chaos is more akin to traumatic flashbacks than a journey, because time can loop and repeat. The object isn’t to find a logical, rational story. It’s to experience the events emotionally and embrace the confusion.

 

 

 

I have been writing with serious intent for thirty years. I’ve been published and produced multiple times. My education has focused on literary theory, theater history and criticism, as well as creative writing. I also sell my collage art in a Redbubble store.

 

I have been published as a playwright. I had articles about Shakespeare published, as well as blog pieces. I’ve self-published several novels and one book of poetry under the name Lady Ristretto. I have also worked as a freelance erotica writer with individual clients.

 

 

Website * Threads * Instagram * Bluesky * Amazon

 

 

 

Building Your Play: Theory and Practice for the Beginning Playwright, David Rush.

https://a.co/d/hKSYXJb

Written by my late, great playwriting professor, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to write traditional fiction. Everything in this book I covered in two of my graduate seminars with David. Learn the rules of traditional writing so you can learn how to break them.

 

Ladders to Fire, Anaïs Nin

https://a.co/d/8aFN4vK

Anaïs Nin wrote novels which are pure nontraditional texts, to the point that they are difficult to consume for readers expecting conventional actions. Lacking goals, climaxes, and any kind of a Journey plot, her novels are psychological analyses of women characters and their relationships. In my ebook, I explore an excerpt of Ladders to Fire as having a Portrait plot structure.

 

David would loathe Nin’s work and Nin would chide David for his rigid devotion to structures. Reading them together gives a fantastic view of the differences of traditional and nontraditional writing.

 

47 Comments

  1. Lisa Brown

    Interesting premise, thought provoking read.

  2. Marcy Meyer

    Thanks for sharing. This sounds like an interesting read.

  3. Maria Malaveci

    Sounds like the perfect read!

  4. heather

    This so sounds like a great read and one that will keep me interested for sure!

  5. Susan Smith

    This sounds like an informative book for writers.

  6. Soha Molina

    What inspired you to become a writer?

  7. Wendy Jensen

    This looks like it would be a good guide.

  8. Carol G

    Not something for me (reader, NOT a writer, of any type!), but probably a good guide for some.

  9. wendy hutton

    this sounds like a good book to read

  10. Jen

    An idea I’ve been exploring and struggling with myself–I definitely want to give this a read.

    • I hope it’s useful for you! Let me know if you have any questions

  11. David Basile

    Sounds like a very good read.

  12. Ann Fantom

    This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

  13. Heather Swanson

    Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?

  14. David Hollingsworth

    Congratulations on your book!

  15. Jamie Martin

    Do you have any advice for new writers?

  16. Barbara Montag

    A great book for want to be writers and authors!
    Thank you for sharing.

  17. Cynthia C

    Looks like it would be very helpful to authors.

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  20. Piroska

    This sounds like a fantastic reference book for writers. Thanks!

  21. Jeanna Massman

    This books provides interesting and helpful information for writers!

  22. Debbi Wellenstein

    Well, that was interesting! Thanks for the giveaway!

  23. Carolyn D

    This seems like a thought provoking read. Nice cover.

  24. Melissa Cushing

    I love the sound of this book and need to add it to my reading library! Thank for sharing!

  25. Good post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject?
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  26. beth shepherd

    This looks like a good one!!

  27. sarah

    it sounds interesting! how did you come up with the idea?

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