The Plot

Does the novel answer who, if anyone, owns a story? Which arguments for or against ownership of a narrative are most and least persuasive and why?

What is the role of inspiration for different writers in the novel? How does inspiration interact with other aspects of the writing process?

How is Anna able to deceive Jake? What flaws does she exploit?

How do the excerpts from Jake’s novel Crib interact with the main story of The Plot? Do they work against the grain of the main plot or with it?

Compare Anna’s many alter egos. Which of them is her true personality? Use textual evidence to justify your answer.

Investigate the role of food in The Plot. Contrast the novel’s treatment of homemade meals with take-out or the characters’ gendered expectations around food preparation. Why does the novel dwell on this topic?

How is the institutionalized teaching of creative writing, such as MFA programs, characterized in the novel?

Compare and contrast academia and the publishing industry in The Plot. Do these worlds intersect? Are they at odds?