Developing Complex Plots Through Proximal And Distal Causes

Developing a complex plot can be challenging. However, understanding proximal and distal causes can make that daunting task more approachable.

To understand what proximal and distal causes are, we must acknowledge the fundamental question that drives any plot:

Why?

Why do people do what they do? Why do certain events occur? Why does the plot proceed in the direction it does?

A proximal cause can be thought of as a trigger. It is an event that serves as the closest and most immediate cause of a p...