How to Define a Plot in a Story

The best books have a plot that is thought out before any writing is done.

Every story needs a plot to survive. The successful chain of events propels a story in a forward direction. The plot must be able to reach a logical sequence in the end. Therefore, defining it must take place from the very beginning of the story.

Instructions

1. Give your protagonist a long-term goal. Goals are the very thing that define a plot. Do the same for all of the other major characters. Equally disburse the goals amid the main characters.

2. Apply the element of plot to your story, but let it be open to change. Change is a constant in real life, so be flexible if in the process of your writing you feel you need to change elements of your pre-defined plot.

3. Visualize the plot in your mind. The element of excitement must be brought into the picture to ensure conflict and suspense. To do this, you need an antagonist, or someone to oppose the main characters and their goals. Sometimes the antagonist can also be an internal thing, such as fear or a personality flaw.

4. Incorporate balance as much as possible in your story. Allow your protagonist and other main characters to have an actual antagonist in the form of a human being, as well as an unseen antagonist such as prejudice and fear, for example.

5. Add lots of twists and turns. Let your protagonist and other main characters go all out to seek their long-term goal. They must be willing to risk everything to achieve their goal.

Tips & Warnings

• Characters need to be as human as possible. Allow them to have emotions, thoughts and hearts. This is the very thing that inspires them to action. Action then becomes plot.

• Think your plot through thoroughly before you begin to write. This will save you many rewrites later. Pay attention to detail.

• Good plotting demands that your characters be believable.

• Make sure that the events that make up your story plot are related in one way or another.