Planning and Plotting
So, you have your story and you’re here because you want to tell it. Now we must put some meat on those bones. A story is a sequence of events with a beginning, middle, and end, centred around characters in conflict or in pursuit of a goal. That sequence of events is commonly broken down into three Acts.
In order to fulfil those Acts, you now need a plot. If you imagine those Acts as destinations, the plot is a roadmap that will help you navigate from Act 1 to Act 3, via Act 2.
Having a defined plot helps in several ways, it ensures that all three Acts are fully fleshed out, it helps prevent plot holes and keeps you, the writer, on track with a clearly defined roadmap of where to go next.
The makings of a great plot are made up of a few basic but important elements that work for almost any genre and style.
Basic element of plot writing:
Exposition – Introduces the main characters, the world and the initial situation of the story.
Inciting Incident – The event that disrupts the status quo and sets the story in motion and gives your protagonist a purpose.
Rising Action – A series of events that build tension and develop the conflict.
Low Point – The moment when things seem most hopeless.
Climax – The turning point where conflict reaches its most intense moment.
Falling Action – Following the climax, showing the consequences.
Resolution – The conclusion where loose ends are tied up and the story comes to a satisfying end.
Acts
Act 1
Exposition. You are introducing the main characters and setting the scene. Letting the reader soak up the world you have masterfully crafted. The inciting incident, something that causes conflict or brings about change - The protagonist must respond, but how?
Act 2
Rising action as the story runs headfirst into the real heart of the plot. You are building suspense here, developing the story and the characters. The reader is really beginning to get to know the world and the people in it. They are connected to them, and they share in the protagonist’s feelings as we reach the low point in the story.
Act 3
The climax to the story, the reader has followed along, and this is the pay off. A huge action scene? A wedding? The discovery of the hidden treasure? Afterwards the action begins to fall off as the adrenaline fades and now you begin to wrap up the story, resolve the loose ends and give the characters some closure.
Subplots
Subplots are secondary storylines that run alongside the main plot in a novel, or short story. While the main plot usually follows the protagonist’s central story, subplots explore additional threads. These often involve supporting characters, relationships, or themes. These side stories may stand alone or intersect with or contrast the main narrative, adding complexity and nuance to the overall story. They can be emotional, thematic, or even comedic, depending on the tone and purpose of the story. What they shouldn’t do is distract from the overall theme of the main story, rather they should compliment it.
Subplots are important because they enrich your narrative by adding depth to characters, expanding the world, and reinforcing the main theme. They also create pacing variety and give readers a break from the primary conflict while keeping them engaged. A well-crafted subplot can reveal different sides of a character, offer a mirror or counterpoint to the main plot, and raise the emotional stakes of the story. Without subplots, a story can feel a little bit flat or as some would describe it, a little bit A to B. When constructing a subplot, start by identifying its purpose: Is it meant to reflect the main theme, develop a supporting character, or increase tension? Then ensure it has a beginning, middle, and end. They follow the same basic principles of main plot in terms of structure and elements. Choose carefully how you place them, they should weave naturally into the larger story. Ideally, subplots should intersect with the main plot at key moments, influencing the outcome or revealing something significant.
Side-Timelines
Similar to subplots, you may decide that you want to have other side stories that run through the main timeline.
Adding additional timelines or side-timelines, might not add to plot advancement, but they may help to add other qualities to your story such as depth or history. Below are a few examples of side-timelines you might want to consider, and the following pages give you space to expand on them and decide where you want to add them into your chapters.
Backstory Timeline
A sequence of past events—often revealed through flashbacks that shape the present. Could provide critical context for motives, trauma, or relationships.
Mystery or Investigation Timeline
Unfolding timeline of clues, witness accounts, or crime scenes can be layered alongside the main narrative, these can really help to build suspense.
Historical Timeline
A worldbuilding timeline might outline major events or shifts that influence the current timeline.
Political or Societal Timeline
Changes in laws, governments, or social movements can parallel or intersect with your story’s events, especially if your plot is politically or socially driven.
Technological or Magical Development Timeline
It might be useful to chart how technology or magic evolves, especially if it’s central to the plot.
Relationship Timeline
Romance but also consider tracking friendships, family bonds and rivalries.
War or Conflict Timeline
Uprisings or revolutions, maintaining a timeline of battles and political shifts can lend realism and complexity.
Illness or Decline Timeline
If a character is experiencing a long-term illness, addiction, or psychological decline, documenting its stages across the narrative adds emotional depth.