#developing plot

How do you develop conflict for the story without doing it just for the sake of conflict? Or how do you develop conflict/plot if you don't have a starting theme? How would you develop a theme in sync with your world/characters?

The best piece of advice I’ve seen is not to look for plot, but for problems. If your character has a problem that needs to be solved, a plot will usually evolve from there. 

For example…

Mary needs to talk with her grandmother. The problem? She doesn’t know where her grandmother is.

From then on, it’s a matter of asking questions. What is the genre? Why does she need to talk to her grandmother? What is the message? Is there a reason she doesn't’ know her grandma’s location, or is her grandma missing? If so, who, what, when, where, how?

After asking similar questions, you’ll have your plot.

Secret agent Mary Oswald is tasked with getting into contact with her reclusive grandmother to gain vital information on a case from fifty years ago. But when she arrives to find her grandmother’s house in ruins and her grandmother missing, she embarks on a mission to find her grandmother and solve a decades-old murder on the way.

Though in my case, I kind of forced it to happen. I knew the characters I wanted, the kind of story I wanted to tell, and the inevitable outcome. All that I needed was a way to connect the beginning and the end. 

My MC, Fenice, in her earlier versions, would have won no questions asked. So, I had to change her character and her background to be able to tell the story I want, and from there, problems arose that I could fashion a plot out of. 

tldr; take a look at your characters and see what problems they might face and fashion your plot using that as a base.

Eyyyy, new novel. You shouldn’t be able to read it, don’t worry. In fact, please don’t try and let me know if you can besides the title because that would be An Issue.

 Anyway, I thought this would be a good time to post this, because we’re right at the start of NaNoWriMo, and even though I’m not doing it this year I know people who are (good luck, you brave souls) and I know that sometimes a new angle can be really helpful. So, props to @q-not-qt for suggesting I post this. I hope it helps!!

This is the Phillip Pullman method of plotting. I think. I got the ideas from a board at my school library in like, year 8 That was quite a while ago, so it could be misinformed. Anyway, it said that he wrote down all his plot points on post-it notes and moved them around until he was happy with the order. And the first draft of my synopsis is due next week, and I was stuck and a bit lost and needed to sort my brain out, so, I tried it. And it actually worked?? 

I’m quite new to such in-depth planning. Up until now, planning and writing have gone hand-in-hand, the one informing the other, and the first edit is usually a major overhaul to bring everything in to line. 

Seven or eight novels into that method, I can definitely recommend giving this a go instead! It’s highly unlikely that I will iron everything out perfectly before I start (properly, that is, I’m writing snippets and segments all the time to develop plot and character and world), but it’s really, really helping me get a better idea of plot. Keeping the whole thing malleable is actually really important. It helps identify plot holes, character issues, and brings up some majorly important questions that get harder to solve the further in you go. Especially because the easiest way to solve an issue isn’t necessarily the best. And it means you get to know your story and your characters better! 

Everything that I’m doing now is about finding the heart of the story, and I love it. Usually I write to find the heart. This time, I would like to write it with the heart already firmly embedded in the story. 

I know some people don’t like to plan. That’s totally fine! But if you’re struggling with a plot or a new concept or just finding the motivation to write, this can definitely help. Hell, I’m going to move this to above my desk instead of in my living room (I have housemates, poor things) but it’s going to stay up there until I’ve finished my novel. And it’s going to stay malleable until I’ve finished my novel, too. 

If anyone’s interested in the structure I followed, it’s the fairly basic one: 

- Exposition (what is the world like before the story starts?)

- Inciting Incident (what happens to make the story begin?)

- Rising Action (this is usually the longest and sometimes hardest part, and this trick is especially good if you have a start and an end but no middle because it can help you pin down the in-between)

- Climax (everything comes to a head)

- Falling Action (things start to calm down)

- Denouement (what’s different now that the story is over?)

Your story doesn’t have to have a resolution, but if it does, it should be in one of those last three sections. Incidentally, as long as you have a climax, you also don’t necessarily have to have the last two sections either. 

Also, because what this doesn’t show is that putting it all together took me hours of writing, re-writing, re-arranging, and scrunched up and then unscrunched post-it notes, the section that I liked most: 

(a.k.a I know that I want this to happen but I don’t know where it fits - definitely the fullest section on more than one occasion)

So I recently had to give a presentation about some strategies for starting/writing/finishing a first draft of a novel. And since I post about writing on here sometimes, I figured this might might be something you guys would want to see. (And, as always, I’m not an expert. There are just things that have helped me.)

How to start your novel:

Sort out the basic plot.

Before you begin to write, you should have a clear idea of your most important plot points, including your ending. You can always change how it ends later, but it will be easier to get to the end if you have an idea of what that is. Otherwise, once you write the beginning, you will find yourself at a loss of what to do with the middle porton. If you have a start, an end, and a few big things that happen in between, the rest will probably fill itself in as you write your first draft.

Choose your perspective.

Consider your options for the main character, and whether you want it in first person, third person limited, or third person omniscient (in which case, you don’t have to have a main character!) You can also consider switching narrators throughout the book.

My best advice is to choose the perspective that feels most natural. If you start writing and it doesn’t feel right, switch it around until it does.

Flush out the setting.

If it takes place on Earth, decide where. Are you going to be explicit or implicit? Decide before you write or while you are in the early stages, as your setting will help shape description of environments.

If you are writing in a fantasy universe, spend some time deciding lore and history for the world itself, regardless of whether it will be included in the book. Consider drawing a map or charting out the political system of your fantasy country. If there is magic, decide how it works now; make clear rules and follow them. Consider designing mythical creatures or deities if your fantasy universe has these, or plants, foods, ect. Basically, you want a treasure trove of information about your fake universe so that it feels like a real one.

Flush out your characters.

Oftentimes the basis for a story is the characters, so if you’ve already come up with them and feel like you know them pretty well, go ahead and start. If not, spend some time with them. Consider what their role in the story will be, what they look like, how the will act, and how they will change.

I have a more detailed post about this here.

Write the first scene.

Prologues are a beautiful thing, in my opinion; a short excerpt to set the stage for the rest of your story that doesn’t necessarily have to start where your story does. If you want to use one just describe one scene - quick and simple - and move on to your first chapter.

If you do not use a prologue, then it is the first scene in your first chapter that is pivotal for catching the reader’s attention. Starting with action or dialogue is optimal. Do not describe your characters in lengthy detail right away, do not relay history and exposition right away. Some of this can certainly be included in the first chapter, and your character’s, setting, and exposition should be made clear eventually, but hold back! Delivering this slowly will hold the reader’s interest and build mystery. The reader will feel rewarded each time you give them background information if you space it out correctly.

How to finish a novel you’re in the middle of:

Make a chapter list.

Summarize in one or two sentences what has happened in each chapter so far, then begin to plan what you want to happen in each chapter that follows. You can always diverge from this list, but having a plan of what needs to happen in a chapter before you starting writing said chapter will help you get through the middle portion of your book, straight through to the end.

If this is difficult (because you’re not entirely sure what was supposed to happen in the middle at all) consider these other tactics:

Write character studies. Just write out a detailed paragraph about each of your major characters to streamline their personalities and what growth you want for them throughout the book. Then, consider what events could lead to this growth by the end of the book. (Character studies are also great for keeping characters consistent and not “out of character”.)

Consume related media for inspiration. Take scenes from other stories, considering how your characters would adapt in such situations and if something similar could move the plot forward in your own book. Don’t steal plots (obviously) but don’t be afraid to take inspiration.

Special Advice on twists and mysteries:

If you your book includes a twist, make sure it’s logical. Do not completely contradict yourself, and if you put any red herrings in place be sure to explain what actually happened / what the misconception was. A twist that is surprising because it is illogical is just bad writing. A twist that is surprising because the reader missed your subtle hints is good writing. You want your reader to shout “OMG that makes so much sense!” when the reveal hits, not “OMG that makes no sense!”

If you are writing a mystery novel (or your plot includes complicated, mystery-like elements) you might want to consider writing a separate, fact-based description of what actually happened. This way, as your characters discover bits and pieces of your mystery, you don’t lose the facts among their speculations.

This side piece should not go in your book. It shouldn’t really be prose, either. Just make a note to yourself of the when, what, who, where, why of what happened “off screen”.

Basically, you want to give yourself as many resources as possible - but also resources that will help you stay organized. Keep things clearly labeled for future reference and keep them available while you write. “Extra stuff” like maps, designs, chapter lists, character studies, etc. will help you keep consistent. 

And consistency and planning will not only help you write a novel, but it will help you write a good novel.

So go write your novel! 

Assignment 1: Outlining your plot movement!