This month’s craft theme in The Inkwell is Finding the Plot, and members are digging into structure, cause-and-effect, subplots, and so much more through resources, prompts, and group writing events. We’re diving deep into theory and exercises and powerful discussions on what makes a story tick.
But here on the blog, I want to zoom out a little bit and get tactical. Sure, you can read all about the most common story structures and play with all sorts of writing exercises, but when you get down to brass tacks, what do you do to plot that novel?
Here are four steps and one critical reminder to get you started.
Step 1: Start with the End in Mind
In Alice in Wonderland, when Alice asks the Cheshire Cat for directions, his answer is as maddening to her as it is for authors staring at a fresh new page:
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Unfortunately, the cat’s not wrong. (Are cats ever wrong?) The best way to start plotting your story is to figure out where it ends. It’s like planning a trip — no point researching transportation, accommodations, or scenic detours until you know where you ultimately want to end up.
So, as your first step to plotting that novel, spoil it for yourself. Write the ending — or at least write about the ending. Where do you want your protagonist to end up? What emotional or thematic resolution do you want to achieve? Once you know where your story is headed, then you can start charting the course to get there.
Step 2: Create a Basic Outline
Got the end in mind? Great. Now, identify your main benchmarks — the major events and turning points that will drive your story forward. These could include inciting incidents, major conflicts, false victories, and points of no return, for starters.
As you work on these key points, it’s worth considering whether an existing narrative structure — Save the Cat!, The Hero’s Journey, Freytag’s Pyramid, or another — might serve you in fleshing out your plot. Play around with one or two of these frameworks to see whether one of them can serve as the template or roadmap for your story. (Learn more about the five most common story structures — and how to use them without sacrificing creative flexibility — in A Comprehensive Guide to Plot.)
Step 3: Develop Characters That Drive the Plot
If you haven’t already done a deep dive into your characters — who they are, what they want more than anything, and what’s holding them back, stop your plotting right this minute and shift gears.
The plot may drive the story, but the characters drive the plot — at its most basic, a plot is made up of a cause-and-effect series ignited by the decisions characters make in pursuit of their goals. So, in order to finish fleshing out the plot, you have to have a clear enough understanding of who your characters are to make authentic decisions on their behalf.
Craft characters who are complex, multifaceted, and relatable. Ensure that their motivations, conflicts, and arcs are integral to the unfolding plot, driving the story forward through their actions and decisions.
Use the character development resources in my (free) “Writing & Editing Your Novel” resource roundup to do some deep dives into your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters. Then, when you go back to your plot, you’ll be prepared to develop plot points that will act as catalysts for character development, challenging them to confront their flaws, overcome obstacles, and grow in meaningful ways.
Step 4: Flesh Out Key Plot Points
Okay, now that you know your characters, it’s time to expand upon your outline. If you’re working with a narrative structure like Save the Cat!, this may mean filling out the rest of the beats. If you’re working with a looser structure or no structure at all, then it will mean fleshing out your list of individual scenes and sequences.
Consider the specific actions, dialogue, and settings that will bring each plot point to life on the page, but first and foremost remember that you should be able to map the cause and effect of every plot point to the decisions your characters make in service of their objectives (guided, of course, by their world views and limiting beliefs.)
Reminder: Your Plot Is Never Set in Stone
In A Comprehensive Guide to Plot, I equate maintaining creative flexibility with planning a road trip:
When you’re planning a roadtrip, what’s more fun: plotting out every single turn and pitstop and lunch break down to the minute, or identifying key roads, nightly accommodations, and a few highlights to hit, with plenty of room for detours and spontaneous stops along the way?
If you’re Type A like me, you might be inclined to choose the former, but I promise you the latter will be more fun — and the same is true when you’re plotting your novel.
As you’re plotting, remember that your chosen narrative structure is just a guideline. If the Hero’s Journey says it’s time to meet the mentor, but think your protagonist needs to fumble around in the dark a little longer, that’s okay.
Once you’ve finished outlining your plot and started drafting, your characters may nudge you to take a detour or a different fork in the road, or you might think of a twist that will knock readers’ socks off. If you need to deviate from the plan for the sake of the story, that’s okay.
When you’re gathering feedback, your beta readers may point out a plot hole you never noticed, or a major choice that doesn’t feel authentic to the protagonists’ character. You may need to rethink big chunks of your plot in your next draft, and that’s okay.
A work in progress is a living thing, and sometimes it needs to change and evolve in order to become its best self. Staying receptive to new ideas, insights, and creative inspirations will likely lead to a stronger story — and a more fun writing process.