What Tarzan can teach us about plot tension

Editor Tiffany Yates Martin has turned to a unique source for writing advice: Tarzan.

Specifically, his transportation.

When the king of the jungle grabs a vine, swings, releases, and grabs another, he’s illustrating the necessary parts of a tight plot, says Martin.

He has a want (to move); takes action (swings on a vine); and then makes a shift (grabs a new vine).

Without any of those pieces, Tarzan stumbles, as will your novel’s plot.

Martin gives a more traditional explanation of how to write a tight plot in a guest post for Jane Friedman.

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