Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "plot-issues"
Help! My Story Isn’t Working! – Is It the Plot?
Last time, we explored ways to make a lackluster story stronger and more interesting for both yourself as a writer and for your future readers. Today, we’ll explore ways to strengthen your story’s plot.
But wait, you may be saying. Aren’t story and plot the same thing? While they are directly related, they both serve different functions. Think of the story as the overarching concept of what happens in your narrative, while the plot is all the moments and events that happen to get us from beginning to end.
For example, National Lampoon’s Vacation is about the Griswold family’s trip from Chicago to Walley World in California. That’s the story. The plot includes all the wacky misadventures, disasters, ups, and downs that plague the family during their travels. While it’s essential to start with a strong story, a strong plot is the key to keeping readers turning the page, wanting to know what happens next.
Plotting the Plot
Many writing tools and templates exist that break down the key plot elements that can help you craft your narrative from start to finish before you sit down to write your first draft. I like to think of these as the can’t-miss stops along your story’s journey.
Here’s a breakdown of the fundamental plot elements that should be present in your story:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
With these concepts in mind, let’s explore some possible problems and potential solutions to help you improve your plot.
Problem: I have a great idea, and I jumped right into writing it, but I have no idea where I’m going with the story, and I’m ready to walk away.
Possible Solution #1: Stop writing the manuscript and start writing your outline.
It’s a story I heard in all my writing classes: A person has an idea. That person jumps headfirst into writing the story based on the concept. They then lose focus, eventually stopping writing and forgetting what they were once so excited about.
Now, if you’re in the same boat, take a step back and plan out where your story is headed. Break things down and really work on what the key plot elements are before you jump back into the manuscript phase. This will be helpful for two reasons: 1) You now have a roadmap for where the story is going; and 2) You don’t have to guess where the story is headed, it’s already mapped out.
Possible Solution #2: Figure out where things fell off, and build from there.
How far did you get before the story fizzled? Did you have a solid inciting incident that got things moving? If you did, figure out what made it such a solid event for your story to launch from, then brainstorm ways to escalate the conflict to hit the next major plot point forward.
Again, step back from the drafting process and stick with the fundamentals: the outline. I know it can be hard to sit down and work these things out, but once you’re embedded in the world of the story, you’re definitely going to want your outline by your side.
Problem: The outline I’ve written isn’t working for me. My plot isn’t exciting or interesting.
Possible Solution #1: Toss and reset.
When in doubt, throw it out. No rule says you can’t chuck a plot point that isn’t working or doesn’t help add momentum to your storyline. That’s the beauty of starting with an outline; you can brainstorm, experiment, and play around with things before there are thousands of words and choices made that would now have to be scrapped.
All novels are Choose Your Own Adventure books for the author, but we get to make the final decision of where the reader goes in the final plotting of the story. If your plot isn’t making you want to write and see what happens next, it’s time to try something new.
Possible Solution #2: What would make it interesting to you?
As I said in the first post about Story, you are the first audience for your work. If you aren’t into it, the audience will have just as hard a time, if not harder, getting into what you’ve written.
If you were reading this book, what plot elements, twists, and turns would keep you reading? What can you do to increase the energy, the stakes, and the problems faced by the main character to keep yourself and readers engaged and focused on each page?
Possible Solution #3: When in doubt, brainstorm it out.
Taking the time to brainstorm and come up with multiple ideas for each major plot element will give you a variety of options to pick from to craft the most compelling plot you can.
Nothing is set in stone until you want it to be, and you have the power and control over the story and plot to make decisions that will prevent what you’re writing from becoming dull and uninteresting.
Problem: My plot is too predictable.
Possible Solution #1: Predictable to whom?
If you’ve lived with a story and plot inside your head for a while, it can feel like what you’re working on is predictable and all your twists are easy for a reader to see coming a mile away. However, this may not be the case. Since you’ve lived in your fictional world for so long, you know what’s going to happen, but other people don’t.
While you may prefer people read your novel and not an outline, take the time to craft a complete outline of your story, then have a trusted person read it and give you honest feedback. If they tell you they figured out who the killer was as soon as the character was introduced, that’s a clear sign that others may find the story too predictable.
However, if they don’t figure it out and are glued to the outline, you may be overthinking the predictability concern, and should keep moving forward with the outline and book.
Possible Solution #2: Why zig, when you can zag?
The opening sequence to the movie, The Other Guys, is a perfect example of this concept. Two cops, played by The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, are in pursuit of a gang of robbery suspects. The duo chase them onto a roof, where the robbers escape using a zipline. Our two cocky cops decide to “aim for the bushes,” fist bump, and jump off the building, only to fall to their deaths. It comes out of left field, is unpredictable, and is one of those moments that you can’t believe just happened.
https://youtu.be/MvkN3003iU4?si=-ra-r...
As you work on revising your plot outline, ask yourself what the opposite of what you have written down happened instead? How would that impact your story? What direction would things go? Would it take things in a direction that readers would never see coming? Experiment with this idea of trying the opposite of what you would typically think of doing.
Hey, it worked for George Costanza!
https://youtu.be/CizwH_T7pjg?si=7RISv...
It’s All Part of the Process
It’s okay to get frustrated and feel stuck as you work through crafting a solid set of plot points to get your story and its characters from Point A to Point Z. It’s just how the creative process is. In the end, you’ll have a stronger finished product having taken the time to work on and develop a solid plot for your story.
The above problems and suggested solutions are provided as a guide to help you make your creative writing project the best it can be.
Next Time...
We’ve tackled story and plot; now it’s time to see what problems can arise with your characters.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Check out my blog post on Plot by clicking HERE!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
But wait, you may be saying. Aren’t story and plot the same thing? While they are directly related, they both serve different functions. Think of the story as the overarching concept of what happens in your narrative, while the plot is all the moments and events that happen to get us from beginning to end.
For example, National Lampoon’s Vacation is about the Griswold family’s trip from Chicago to Walley World in California. That’s the story. The plot includes all the wacky misadventures, disasters, ups, and downs that plague the family during their travels. While it’s essential to start with a strong story, a strong plot is the key to keeping readers turning the page, wanting to know what happens next.
Plotting the Plot
Many writing tools and templates exist that break down the key plot elements that can help you craft your narrative from start to finish before you sit down to write your first draft. I like to think of these as the can’t-miss stops along your story’s journey.
Here’s a breakdown of the fundamental plot elements that should be present in your story:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
With these concepts in mind, let’s explore some possible problems and potential solutions to help you improve your plot.
Problem: I have a great idea, and I jumped right into writing it, but I have no idea where I’m going with the story, and I’m ready to walk away.
Possible Solution #1: Stop writing the manuscript and start writing your outline.
It’s a story I heard in all my writing classes: A person has an idea. That person jumps headfirst into writing the story based on the concept. They then lose focus, eventually stopping writing and forgetting what they were once so excited about.
Now, if you’re in the same boat, take a step back and plan out where your story is headed. Break things down and really work on what the key plot elements are before you jump back into the manuscript phase. This will be helpful for two reasons: 1) You now have a roadmap for where the story is going; and 2) You don’t have to guess where the story is headed, it’s already mapped out.
Possible Solution #2: Figure out where things fell off, and build from there.
How far did you get before the story fizzled? Did you have a solid inciting incident that got things moving? If you did, figure out what made it such a solid event for your story to launch from, then brainstorm ways to escalate the conflict to hit the next major plot point forward.
Again, step back from the drafting process and stick with the fundamentals: the outline. I know it can be hard to sit down and work these things out, but once you’re embedded in the world of the story, you’re definitely going to want your outline by your side.
Problem: The outline I’ve written isn’t working for me. My plot isn’t exciting or interesting.
Possible Solution #1: Toss and reset.
When in doubt, throw it out. No rule says you can’t chuck a plot point that isn’t working or doesn’t help add momentum to your storyline. That’s the beauty of starting with an outline; you can brainstorm, experiment, and play around with things before there are thousands of words and choices made that would now have to be scrapped.
All novels are Choose Your Own Adventure books for the author, but we get to make the final decision of where the reader goes in the final plotting of the story. If your plot isn’t making you want to write and see what happens next, it’s time to try something new.
Possible Solution #2: What would make it interesting to you?
As I said in the first post about Story, you are the first audience for your work. If you aren’t into it, the audience will have just as hard a time, if not harder, getting into what you’ve written.
If you were reading this book, what plot elements, twists, and turns would keep you reading? What can you do to increase the energy, the stakes, and the problems faced by the main character to keep yourself and readers engaged and focused on each page?
Possible Solution #3: When in doubt, brainstorm it out.
Taking the time to brainstorm and come up with multiple ideas for each major plot element will give you a variety of options to pick from to craft the most compelling plot you can.
Nothing is set in stone until you want it to be, and you have the power and control over the story and plot to make decisions that will prevent what you’re writing from becoming dull and uninteresting.
Problem: My plot is too predictable.
Possible Solution #1: Predictable to whom?
If you’ve lived with a story and plot inside your head for a while, it can feel like what you’re working on is predictable and all your twists are easy for a reader to see coming a mile away. However, this may not be the case. Since you’ve lived in your fictional world for so long, you know what’s going to happen, but other people don’t.
While you may prefer people read your novel and not an outline, take the time to craft a complete outline of your story, then have a trusted person read it and give you honest feedback. If they tell you they figured out who the killer was as soon as the character was introduced, that’s a clear sign that others may find the story too predictable.
However, if they don’t figure it out and are glued to the outline, you may be overthinking the predictability concern, and should keep moving forward with the outline and book.
Possible Solution #2: Why zig, when you can zag?
The opening sequence to the movie, The Other Guys, is a perfect example of this concept. Two cops, played by The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, are in pursuit of a gang of robbery suspects. The duo chase them onto a roof, where the robbers escape using a zipline. Our two cocky cops decide to “aim for the bushes,” fist bump, and jump off the building, only to fall to their deaths. It comes out of left field, is unpredictable, and is one of those moments that you can’t believe just happened.
https://youtu.be/MvkN3003iU4?si=-ra-r...
As you work on revising your plot outline, ask yourself what the opposite of what you have written down happened instead? How would that impact your story? What direction would things go? Would it take things in a direction that readers would never see coming? Experiment with this idea of trying the opposite of what you would typically think of doing.
Hey, it worked for George Costanza!
https://youtu.be/CizwH_T7pjg?si=7RISv...
It’s All Part of the Process
It’s okay to get frustrated and feel stuck as you work through crafting a solid set of plot points to get your story and its characters from Point A to Point Z. It’s just how the creative process is. In the end, you’ll have a stronger finished product having taken the time to work on and develop a solid plot for your story.
The above problems and suggested solutions are provided as a guide to help you make your creative writing project the best it can be.
Next Time...
We’ve tackled story and plot; now it’s time to see what problems can arise with your characters.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Check out my blog post on Plot by clicking HERE!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
