TECH: Digging up plots (a.k.a. moldy oldie reruns!)

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Original Posting 27 Feb 2013

This is actually three well-aged articles from Writer's Digest. Nancy Kress in June, July, and August 1997 wrote about how to reuse plots. Basically, she's pointing out that all the good plots have already been done. And redone, and done again. That doesn't mean you can't use it again, it just means you need to know how to make it fresh again. Part of that is knowing what the archetype is. You need to know what the key questions are, and then answer them your way, making the characters and situation and setting your very own.

So let's take a look at the archetypal plots, and what you're going to want to use for each of them.

Pages 8 to 11 of the June 1997 Writer's Digest have the article "Haven't We Met before?" Here is where Nancy Kress introduces the concept of archetypal plots. Basic, universal plots that can be used like a pattern or model or blueprint for you to wring variations on. She actually starts out with a very sketchy description of archetypal plot: "a character becomes discontented with where he lives. He journeys to some other place that at first seems much better. But over time the defects of the second place make themselves known. The character returns home, better able to appreciate what he had."

This is an oldie! It's also widely used and reused. 17th-century European folktale about country mouse and city mouse? Sure. The Wizard of Oz? Of course! Bright Lights, Big City, Maybe I'll Go Home Next Month, the Dispossessed... Lots of variations.

Next, Nancy starts into a list of five archetypal plots. She admits that such lists are always open to criticism and carping, but the point is to give you something to work with, not whether or not it's a perfect list. So here's the first five:

1. Harry Victorious. Harry decides he wants something. He sets out to get it, encountering obstacles. Eventually, he overcomes the obstacles, achieves his desire, and returns satisfied. The hero on a quest, getting whatever it was he wanted. The questions involved are:
-- What does the character want?
-- What are the obstacles in the way?
-- How does the character overcome the obstacles?
-- How can you make the victory graphic and satisfying?

2. Harry Defeated. Harry want something, overcomes all the obstacles to getting it, and either comes close but fails or gets what he wanted but can't keep it. One way or another, Harry loses his desire. Why? Sometimes Harry deserves it. Sometimes the great defeat is a tragic victory. Sometimes the defeat isn't total, so Harry loses the desire, but gains something else. The key is to make sure the reader gets a compelling reward for suffering along. The questions?
-- What does the character want?
-- What are the obstacles in the way?
-- How will he try to overcome the obstacles, and why will he fail?
-- What does he or the readers get in compensation?

3. Harry Wins, Sort of. This time Harry fights the obstacles and gets his desire, but it's not as wonderful as he thought, either because the cost was too high or he misunderstood the situation. Sometimes "I-got-it-but-I-didn't-want-to-pay-the-price" is balanced by fulfilling a secondary character. Along the way, consider these questions.
-- What does the character want?
-- What is the cost to the character for this?
-- How do the cost and the benefits balance for him? How can you show this?
-- Do you want to soften the defeat by letting secondary characters win? Why did they succeed while the protagonist fails?

4. Harry Loses by Winning. Harry want something desperately. He strives to overcome all obstacles, attains it, but then... He starts changing it to what he had before, because that's all he knows how to handle. Satirical, funny, or just plain despairing. Be careful with this one.

Whoops. Nancy forgot to give us a list of questions. But it's pretty obvious.
-- What does the character want?
-- What are the obstacles?
-- What's the character do to overcome them?
-- How will you show us how the character reacts to winning by returning to what they had before?

5. Harry Wins by Losing. Harry doesn't want something to happen. He fights against it. But it happens. And slowly, Harry realizes that the new situation is better than he thought it was. This is an appealing plot because we all like to hope. Questions to consider?
-- What does my character want? (Or not want to lose?)
-- What insuperable obstacles make it impossible for him to get it, or keep it?
-- What does he choose, or settle for instead? What are the drawbacks? Remember, the character needs to lose.
-- What are the hidden advantages of losing? How can you show the character and the reader slowly that this is a good deal?

Okay? Harry wins, loses, wins but it costs too much, wins but can't stand winning, or loses and wins it all. They're all good stories. Add setting, characters, specifics and other twists and turns, and make it yours.

Coming soon, the next two articles. Four more archetypal plots, all starring good old Harry. In the meantime, you might consider how you would use these five in your writing.

Oh, and write!