Maybe.
Maybe it’s boring.
Getting an idea for a story is the straightforward part. Developing that idea into a satisfying plot that keeps the reader turning the pages is where the challenge of novel writing begins.
- What Constitutes a Solid Plot?
- Most important, is your idea original
Most stories “fit” into one of seven plots. (That said, this morning, let’s focus on 6 listed here.)
Every story in the world has one of these six basic plots…. Christopher Booker, author of The Seven Basic Plots ironically states there are nine archetypal plots.
1. Rags to rags to riches – a steady rise from bad to good fortune
2. Riches to rags – a fall from good to bad, a tragedy
3. Icarus – a rise then a fall in fortune
4. Oedipus – a fall, a rise then a fall again
5. Cinderella – rise, fall, rise
6. Man in a hole – fall, rise
Above from: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180525-every-story-in-the-world-has-one-of-these-six-basic-plots
PREMISE, CHARACTERS AND CHOICES
Be certain your premise, arc and characters are fully defined.
Have you given your characters too many choices? Will their sum make sense or lose readers? Would your protagonist/antagonist actually make those decisions? Will their decisions make sense at the end? Does each choice move the story forward, or are there chapters that are basically tangents, without a curve back to the original story?
10 Tips for Plotting Your Novel: Step-by-Step Guide
- Generate ideas. …coming up with a variety of ideas and choosing a strong premise that lends itself to an effective plot.
- Start with a simple, compelling premise. Once you have a basic idea, it’s time to develop a story premise. One way to develop a small idea into a basic story called the snowflake method. The snowflake method involves starting with a core premise or theme upon which you build every other aspect of narrative and character as you flesh out the big picture.
- Have a clear central conflict. J.K. Rowling wrote seven books all centered around a central conflict between the protagonist, Harry Potter, and the villainous Voldemort.
- Choose your structure. There are many different models upon which you can base your plot structure. The most common is a three-act structure. Learning the basics of how a three-act story structure can help you…piece together your plot and structure your narrative.
- Trace out general story arcs. Start to lay out a storyline. You don’t have to worry about building the whole thing at once. Rather you can focus on an act length story arc or even scene descriptions and piece these together as you build out a full-length narrative. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-plotting-a-novel
You have a great plot, great arcs, great story.
But what about subplots?
6. Build subplots. Once you have a good sense for your main plot it’s time to layer in subplots. Subplots can often be character specific, so this is a good time to think a bit about the characters you’ve populated your world with and how each individual backstory might come into play. Good subplots will weave seamlessly through your main arc and help advance your action rather than distract from it.
7.Think about cause and effect. Good stories involve a logical series of events that progress one into the next. Make sure that your scenes are each motivated by something that preceded them. A good driving narrative should feel dynamic. A plot should progress forward because of tangible story elements like a character’s motivation or actions that propel your narrative. If you look at your story arc as a sequence of events, there should be a logical progression where one scene triggers the next and pushes the action forward. (I’ll add here that the same cause/effect should apply to your sentences too.)
8.Write a detailed outline. Before you start writing, you should have a detailed plot outline. This should catalog the main story and individual plot points. It should be comprehensive enough that someone who has no knowledge of your story could look at the outline and piece together the narrative of events, identifying your inciting incident, rising action, and climax.
9. Tie up loose ends. Once you have a detailed outline, it’s time to tie up loose ends and fill any plot holes. Editing is a very important part of creative writing. Once common misconception about writing is that editing comes at the end of the process. Editing is something you should return to through your writing process and it’s important to edit your plot and outline before you start writing in earnest.
10. Don’t neglect character development. Character is an incredibly important part of a story and helps to balance out plot-based narratives. Before you start writing you should make sure that you have detailed character arcs and main characters with clear motivations and backstories. Part of building a good character is building a strong and nuanced point of view. Balance out the plot portion of your writing process by taking some time to analyze your characters and make sure they are strong, realistic, and nuanced.
Above found at: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-plotting-a-novel
For example:
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
In and through the plot threads that she weaves into a delightful tapestry, Kwaymullina plays with ideas of past, present, and future. Her story is infused with a message of hope despite the serious risks and emotional challenges her characters face. The characters have real, developed relationships; they deal with genuine emotional trauma; the ending of each book and the series as a whole is satisfying on a multitude of levels. Everything comes together in the end for an extremely rewarding amount of “oh my gosh, that makes complete sense, I can’t believe I didn’t figure that out.” https://ladyknightediting.com/satisfying-ending/
- Does the overall plot resonate with the majority of your readers? Can readers identify with weaknesses and/or strengths of your protagonist/antagonist? Like say, pizza. People may like or despise it, but it resonates with them.
Stay with RMFW.org because this twisty subject will continue in November, 2023.
