TECH: Plotting from A to Z (a moldy oldie!)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting 5 July 2011

The April, 1992, issue of the Writer, had an article on pages 15 to 17 with the title, "Plotting from A to Z" by William F. Nolan, the author of Logan's Run and other books. It starts out...

"Plot has a double purpose in fiction. Actively, is the driving force of any story or novel... Passively, it's the spine of a story, the structure around which the story is told."

"A strong, surprising plot is essential if you are to capture and hold readers. The plot must keep them engaged and draw them deeper and deeper into the narrative."

So the plot's the thing within which we'll capture the readers... With apologies to Shakespeare.

Nolan goes on to say that he believes the most important part of plotting is you. It's what you bring to the plot from your life, your beliefs, your loves, fears, experiences, all of what you are that really makes the plot. The plot should contain "elements of reality, of the truth that can be found only within yourself."

At the same time, there are some common elements that you can use. These include:

1. Forward movement. You need a course of action, and a way to move your characters along the course. Scenes and chapters move the narrative along the rising arc of drama, with characterization and incidents contributing to this. Your story needs a goal. The beginning of your arc starts the characters towards the goal, the middle has conflicts and problems to overcome to reach the goal, and the climax is when they arrive at the end of the quest.

2. Twists and surprises. Throw your readers off balance. Give them unexpected twists and surprises. Plant your clues, be fair to the reader, but don't be afraid to surprise them.

3. Logic and reality. Your plot needs to have a sense of logic and reality. You need characters that the reader can identify with and believe in. Stephen King says, "If the people in a story are realistic, then the reader will follow them anywhere -- even into the most fantastic situations." Your characters need to act in ways that are logical and natural, that match what we think this kind of a character might really do.

4. The darkest hour. Somewhere in your plot, you need a darkest hour, the moment when everything seems to be lost, the goal seems beyond reach, death seems near. You have to get your characters to this point, and then come up with a logical way to reverse the situation and resolve the dangers and conflicts. Make sure that your ending is emotionally satisfying. That roller coaster ride should be scary.

5. Character change. Events should have effects on characters. Your protagonist needs to emerge with a new perspective, a real character change. Emotional or physical trials should be reflected in your protagonist.

6. Dialogue. Dramatic dialogue is the spice for a good plot. It keeps the plot moving, builds character, and informs your readers. Make sure that what your characters say to each other leads them into actions that move the story  forward.

7. Research. Plotting usually requires research. You need to find out about the backgrounds, locales, and so forth so that readers can believe your writing. Realistic background grows out of research.

And, here's an exercise to develop plotting ability. Get a book of stories in a genre that you like, one that you would like to write. Read the first half of the story. Stop. Now finish plotting the narrative. Then read the second half. How does your plot compare? What elements did the author include that you didn't, or vice versa.

"Should you make a plot outline before you write your story? Absolutely." Nolan suggests it's your blueprint, your map, to guide your writing. You need to sketch out the main storyline from beginning to end, to avoid becoming lost.

So, that's William F. Nolan's suggestions about plotting. Keep it moving, make sure there are surprises, consistency and reality, the darkest hour, character change, dialogue and research. It's an interesting list.

What do you think? How do you plot your books or stories? Do you make a outline before you write? Do you change the outline as you write?

Forward momentum, twists and surprises, consistency and reality all seem to be related to the events, the bones of the plot. The darkest hour and character change, on the other hand, are talking about the character and what the plot does to the character. Dialogue? That's the spice, one of the key tools. And research, of course, is how we get the stuff to fill in the bones.

Anyway, something to think about.