I always have the beginning and the ending in my mind
whenever I start writing a short story/a novel/a picture book/a feature for the
newspaper. It’s the middle part that I get stuck in. I’ve learnt to circumvent
that by introducing new complications, new characters or twisting the plot in
another direction to keep the wobbly middle from drooping.
I always work on a basic outline for my books.
Inciting Incident. I
start with the Inciting Event/Incident that is responsible for throwing
the protagonist headlong into the path of trouble/conflict or problem.
Plan. It’s what my Main Character decides to do
to thwart the obstacle, to bypass the roadblocks and overcome the Antagonist.
Game. Here
I work on the protagonist and the antagonist’s strengths and weaknesses.
Who has the odds stacked against them? Who is the Dark Horse?
Changing Obstacles. The
obstacles in my story keep changing growing in size and changing their
direction and shape. This change of direction can get the protagonist into more
trouble and make the antagonist more powerful. I also introduce sub-plots here.
Plot Twist. I
like to have a few plot twists in place where I bring in new characters or put
the protagonist in unexpected situations.
Dark Moment. I
don’t know why I’m a big fan of this plot point. I always have this dark moment
where my main character is left completely alone. He or she has to now
trek the route to victory only on the sheer strength of his or her own efforts.
External help may or may not come. But the fight that was started has to be
waged and the battle fought.
Epiphany. I
love this particular plot point. It’s the moment of illumination when
things fall in place and the path ahead is clear as though someone has shown
the protagonist a roadmap complete with detailed directions.
New Plan. With
the moment of Epiphany I make the protagonist charter a new course of action,
make fresh plans. I charge the scenes with tension.
Cliffhanger. The Cliffhanger brings my protagonist and
antagonist together, not exactly face to face but both of them have their own
plans to tackle each other.
Climax. Where
the final battle is fought. The protagonist is all set to do or die,
while the antagonist is all ready to kill or be killed.
Ending. Where
perfect resolutions find their true place and all the loose ends are tied
together.
My stories are based on this outline but I
also tend to deviate between these plot points.
How do you all write your stories? I would
love to know your plotting method!
I like Black Snyder's Beat Sheet. Not that I always follow it either.
ReplyDeleteGreat outline points, Rachna. I need to follow such an outline, I've been too hit and miss with my work and need these guidelines. Thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the basic outlines we've studied a little bit for writing plays in my Playwriting class. I don't use a set method. Usually I can tell when the plot isn't working quite right, and I fix it. My basic format would probably be: inciting incident, complications, small victory, climax (point at which the protagonist is furthest from his/her goal), final push, denouement. That's for short stories, mostly. For flash fiction it's harder to describe because the plot is so simple, yet still nuanced. For a novel, I would have a more complex plot structure.
ReplyDeleteI must confess to not being the most efficient at planning, my stories tend to evolve! I am a fan of mind-mapping to pull my ideas together though. Very interesting post, Rachna.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do outline, I wish I could say I was that systematic. I think in my next novel I should try that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I'm not very systematic and need to do more of it. I really like your approach.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great basic outline. I plot the opening, mid-point, and ending, with at least one major plot point between each, and 3 to 5 smaller points between each of those. From there I develop character individually and fill in scenes as the come to me, mostly writing chronologically, but not always. I think my subconscious does most the writing.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post that serves well someone like me. Almost missed reading due some frantic traveling.
ReplyDeleteI use a very similar basic outline. Like you, I'll start with the inciting incident and have a rough idea of the end. I'll also know who most of my key players are. However, as I write the three acts, the end will often change. I trust in my characters and where they lead me.
ReplyDeleteI use a very similar basic outline. Like you, I'll start with the inciting incident and have a rough idea of the end. I'll also know who most of my key players are. However, as I write the three acts, the end will often change. I trust in my characters and where they lead me.
ReplyDeleteI outline novels. With short stories I sometimes know how it will end, sometimes I make it up as I go and sometimes I change my mind about the planned ending and do something else.
ReplyDeleteReally great outline points.
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