How to make the plot beautyful?
A great question worthy of an equally-great answer: how can we as writers make our plots not just good, but beautiful?
What NOT To Do:
String a bunch of random conflicts together
Start with a clear bad guy & good guy (and maintain that relationship throughout the story)
Create plotholes on purpose (then tell yourself that it adds to the “mystique” or think you’ll answer the question later)
Only create story arcs for the main characters and not the side characters because they’re “not as important”
Ignore your own world’s fictional rules without a good reason
Include subplots that don’t support your main story arc
Rely on an outline to rigidly dictate your story’s plot
What To Do:
Start with a simple, compelling premise
Choose a base plot structure to loosely follow (Freytag’s Pyramid, The Hero’s Journey, Three Act Structure, Dan Harmon's Story Circle, Fichtean Curve, Save the Cat Beat Sheet, Seven-Point Story Structure, etc.)
Set up your beginning with your end (the beginning is the question, the end is the answer)
Think about cause and effect; allow each scene to build off the beginning into the end (ensuring each moves the plot and its clear central conflict)
Including the 5 W’s ( ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘why’ and ‘when’) will give the readers a clear sense of setting and ensure the story is more solid
Most importantly: remember that your plot doesn’t drive your characters, your characters drive your plot. Their development over time with their hardships is what will separate your story from average fair.
Hope this gives you a great idea of where to start!
- Admin M x
