Plot Development

I have to confess that I am one of those crazy people who must have structure and organization in her life. I think it is a control issue because so often I feel as if I do not have control over much of what happens in my life. Writing is an escape, but it is also an incredibly structured process that seems to soothe that part of me that urges me to be controlling. When I work on the plot of a story, I find it to be one of the most enjoyable parts of creating a story because of the structure. I use a basic formula and refer to it while writing the story. I think this is necessary if you want your story to make more sense than real life and to make it more credible. If you map out the plot of your story, you are better able to see plot holes and other mistakes.

Basically, a work of fiction can be divided into four sections:

The First Quarter of the Book

The Opening Scene
This is where the character introduction and setting is established. This is a good time to start with some excitement and maybe open with a small disaster.

The Inciting Incident

This is the event (usually around chapter one) that sets the story in motion. It is your character’s call to adventure.

The First Turning Point

Usually around chapter three. It is the hook at the end of your proposal that you hope will entice your targeted editor or agent to ask to see the rest of the manuscript. Until now, your character has been trying to refuse the call to adventure or has been trying to keep it at arm’s length by giving it a half-hearted commitment. He/she becomes sucked, personally and irreversibly, into the adventure.

The Second Quarter of the Book 

This section is filled with tests, confrontations, and obstacles for the main characters to over come. Launch it with a series of dramatic events - something big.

The Third Quarter of the Book  

This is the time for romance. I know that not all stories have romance, but if there is any in your story, right now is the time for the couple to get together, BUT the rosy afterglow does not last long because now things quickly turn sour.

The Final Quarter of the Book  

This is where the dark moment occurs. This is when it looks as though all is lost. A final desperate act occurs - heroic actions, grand sacrifices, the conflict is resolved, and the hero/heroine wins the day.

Development of Fiction

Writing is an art that takes years to develop. There are some writers who are naturally able to understand the correct uses of grammar but, for the rest of us, it takes time, patience, and practice. I can't make you a great writer, but I can tell you my philosophy and approach to the writing profession. In order to write good fiction, you not only have to have a story to tell, but you will need to understand the different components to writing good fiction. All good fiction must have a theme, an appropriate setting, a clear plot, and believable characters. You want to be logical about your story or it will not be taken seriously. There must also be an appropriate tone and style to the writing with an appointed time frame within the story - and these vary depending on what genre you are writing, so do some background research on the genre you plan to write your story. You want to use language and vocabulary that compliment the story. You should use good descriptions and interesting dialogue between characters. Dialogue should always have a purpose and should get to the point. Readers will lose interest in a story if the dialogue is unrealistic or bores them. Above all, you must have good writing. 

When you are writing, remember that you are writing for your reader. They are both fascinated and threatened by significant change. They want the story to start with a change. The reader wants to have a story question to worry about, and they want the story question answered in the story ending. Readers will quickly lose patience with everything but material relating to the story.

A Game Plan: Starting and Ending

• Look for and identify, in terms of days, weeks, or months, that briefer period of time when the story happens.
• Think hard about your major character(s) and what makes them tick. Define his/her outlook on the world, themselves, and other characters. Create a biography of your character (more about characterization in a later blog). Remember, the character has to struggle or they will not make good lead characters.
• Create a dramatic situation or event, which will present your character with a moment of change.
• Plan your plot so that your story will open with this event.
• What is the story question? Decide what the goal for your most significant character will be in order to fix or answer the story question.
• Devise a plan for your character as they make their journey through the story. Before you write, you should have a good idea of where the story is going and how the story will end.
• Figure out the where and how the story question will finally be answered.
• Plan to make the start and end as close together in time as you can.

Our Life

The book trailer for Expectations: