As I Lie: Plotting
A partial 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 had been 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 a branch of literary science that deals with plotss
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 on which theatrical performers, or other persons show themselves to an reader
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 ploteen (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
Butch and Shuffles