Learn Turkish: Yazarın yeni kurgusu çok özgün. - The author's new plot is very original.

The word kurgu comes from kurmak (to build, to set up). In literature, it refers to how a story is built or structured, making "plot" or "storyline" the best translation. In film, the "building" process is video "editing". The presence of yazar (author) provides the literary context needed to translate it as "plot".

Can I use the loanword orijinal instead of özgün in this sentence?

Yes, orijinal and özgün are practically synonymous in this context. However, özgün (derived from öz, meaning "essence" or "core") is a pure Turkish word. It is heavily preferred in literary, academic, and artistic contexts because it sounds more sophisticated and native.

This lesson is about double negation with a negative finite verb and değil. How can I apply that to this sentence since it has no verb?

Because this is a nominal sentence (it has no action verb), you must introduce the helper verb olmak (to be) to use this grammar pattern. You could say Yazarın yeni kurgusu çok özgün olmuyor değil. This literally means "The author's new plot is not not being very original," which provides a nuanced, slightly understated but strong affirmation that the plot is indeed original.

As a quick refresher on noun compounds, why is the adjective yeni placed in the middle of yazarın kurgusu?