by John Dufresne
A glossary of terms associated with plot. Found in the late Shuffles Marquis’ book As I Lie: Plotting, which is, alas, long out of print and almost impossible to locate. I was fortunate enough to find a signed first edition in my uncle Butch’s safe deposit box after he died (bathtub/hair dryer). Butch and Shuffles were close.
aplothecary, noun, one who provides literary assistance when a plot is ailing; book doctor
chamber-plot, noun, a bit of low comedy, a bedroom farce
coffee-plot, noun, a story set in the milieu of café society
crockplot, noun, a cock and bull story
implotent, adjective, unable to rise to a plot
jackplot, noun, a story concerning gambling, often set in Monte Carlo
pleniplotentiary, adjective, invested with the full power of plot
plotability, noun, the ability to drink in the plot
plotable, adjective, suitable for a plot
plotagerie, noun, (rare) a collection of plots
plotamography, noun, a graphic design of a plot
plotamologist, noun, one who studies and analyzes plots
plotamology, noun, a branch of literary science that deals with plots
plotamophilous, adjective, plot-loving
plotarite, noun, the naturally occurring material used to fashion plots, as in “Your Uncle Ray’s drinking problem is all the plotarite you need.”
plotash, noun, that which is cut from the plot in revision and discarded or burned
plotashery, noun, revision (see plotash)
plotass, noun, someone stupid when it comes to plot
plotassium, noun, anything that is poisonous to your plot
plotato head, noun, (slang) a person obsessed with plot to the exclusion of character and theme
plotatory, adjective, of or related to plot
plot-au-feu, noun, a large traditional French plot
plotawatami, noun, a plot specifically concerning a North American Indian people of the Great Lakes
plot-bellied, adjective, a plot that is thick in the middle
plotboiler, noun, any book heavy on plot
plot-bound, adjective, a story in which there is no room for further character growth
plotch, noun, a spot, a blotch, a blemish on your plot
plotcock, noun, a devilish element in your divine plot
plot de chambre, noun, where French writers dispose of their plotash
plot du jour, noun, today’s featured plot
ploteau, noun, an elevated but flat plot, one that does not rise to a climax
ploteen, noun, a drink favored by Irish writers when fashioning stories
plotency, noun, the ability to achieve climax in a plot
plot-et-fleur, noun, a decorative plot set in a florist shop
plotform, noun, a stage on which your characters act out their struggles
plothead, noun, an habitual user of plot
plotinize, verb, to wax philosophical in your plot
plotless, adjective, characteristic of an immoral story
plotemkin village, noun, the unpleasant result when you only concern yourself with the façade of your fictional setting
plotentate, noun, a prince of plot
plotential, noun, having the capacity to develop into a plot
ploteresque, adjective, relating to or being a 16th century Spanish style of plot, distinguished by a wealth and richness of ornamentation
plotform, noun, a stage for theatrical performers, or other persons, to show themselves to an audience
plotful, adjective, thick with plot
plothanger, noun, a bit of gossip on which one hangs a plot
plothead, noun, a reader who inhales plots
plothole, noun, a hollow spot in your story; a defect
plotitude, noun, 1. a plot that is flat, dull, trite, or weak; commonplace; 2. a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant plot
plotling, noun, a minor character
plot liquor, noun, (see plottie and ploteen)
plotluck, noun, the luck or chance of succeeding events in a story
plotmeal, adverb, a plot constructed piece by piece
plotment, noun, a portion of your plot
plotomania, noun, a morbid craving for plot
plotometer, noun, a bit of quackery: a device once sold to novice writers which promised to measure the effectiveness of plots
plotoon, noun, a story featuring a small body of foot soldiers
plotorious, adjective, of or relating to plot
plot roast, noun, a story that simmers for a long time before it’s done
plotsticker, noun, moments in the writing when the action stalls
plot-shotten, adjective, intoxicated by plot (see plotzed)
plottable, noun, a story capable of being plotted
plottage, noun, (pejorative) excessive plotting, as in a mess of plottage, not to be confused with a mess of pottage from the excessively cooked stew of that name and meaning something valueless
plottee, noun, the central character, he or she who is the subject of the plot
plottery, noun, the business of writing a plot
plottie, noun, a bracing beverage favored by fiction writers and other plotters
plottocrat, noun, a member of the plottocracy, most often a creative writing professor who derives power from publication
plotty, adjective, pertaining to a story with lots of plot (see plottage)
plot-valiance, noun, boldness in the construction of plot induced by plottie (q.v.)
plotwise, adjective, smart when it comes to plot
plotz, intransitive verb, an explosion of joy at the success of your plot, as in “When I finish my novel, I’ll plotz.”
plotzed, adjective, drunk with story