You have the spark of a story idea. Perhaps it’s an evocative scene, an inspiring setting, or a fascinating character. It’s a story spark has captured your imagination. A tale begging to be told. To bring your story to life you need to develop your idea into a plot. Plot structure isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach nor should it be so rigid that your creativity feels stifled. Your plot is simply a roadmap for the direction you want your story to take. This is where plot questions come in. Asking yourself questions to map out your story will enable you to get clear on the details and avoid common writing pitfalls. It means less time wasted trying to come up with ideas on the fly and more time writing. So, without further ado here are 5 essential questions to plot out your story.
1. What is your character’s situation at the start of the story?
Complex, relatable characters are essential to a good story. Your character's motivations drive the story. To develop your plot you need to develop your characters. Start with your protagonist and ask yourself: Who are they? What do they want? What is their everyday life (their normal world)? And, what is missing from their life? Your protagonist must possess traits that will make them relatable yet stand out in your reader’s mind. Introduce some realism by giving them some flaws and weaknesses. A character that is too perfect ends up being boring. Readers want to read about your character’s struggles, the intrinsic motivations that drive them to act, and the way they develop as a result of the difficulties they encounter. Once you have your main character down, move on to the supporting characters. Consider what their goals and motivations are. How do they interact with your protagonist? How do they interact with each other? Your secondary characters serve to further bring out aspects of your protagonist’s personality and the story.
2. What is the inciting incident?
The inciting incident is the moment at which your protagonist is forced to act. It’s the point at which they encounter a life-altering problem that disrupts their current status quo and thrusts them into action. The inciting incident can occur in stages, the protagonist may resist the call to action initially, denying the situation or not realizing the scale of the problem until the situation escalates. A great inciting incident is one that sets the tone of your story, giving your character a mission that will sustain them throughout their journey. It needs to carry some weight so consider what is at stake for your character. What do they stand to lose if they don’t take action?
3. What obstacles does your character encounter?
For a story to be compelling your character needs to encounter obstacles as they strive to achieve their goal. Obstacles add conflict and tension, propelling your story forward. Overcoming obstacles requires your character to grow and transform. Consider what external factors threaten to derail your protagonist’s progress. Is the setting creating difficulties for them? Is there an antagonist standing in their way? Why does the antagonist not want the protagonist to succeed? What internal factors are holding your protagonist back? Often characters can be their own worst enemies, striving to achieve a goal, yet struggling with a moral dilemma or conflicting emotions. Fear of abandonment, jealousy and shame are powerful motivators. Characters that struggle with their own internal demons give readers someone to cheer for. We want to see the character struggle, transform and ultimately triumph.
4. What happens to make the situation worse?
A compelling story is one that escalates as the character tries to resolve their problem. As, author Deborah Coonts says ‘You’ve got to start with a bang and keep tightening the screw.’ If there is no sense of increasing tension throughout the story, your reader’s interest will wane. Create a problem that grows and escalates, forcing your character to take drastic action. The moment at which all seems lost for your protagonist is often referred to as ‘the dark night of the soul’. It’s at this point that the odds are stacked against them and achieving their goal seems impossible. It’s a moment of reckoning for the protagonist, forcing them to confront their demons, and find a solution to the problem. Consider what factors you can include in your story to push your protagonist to this moment. How can you ‘tighten the screws’ for your protagonist and make it more difficult to achieve their goal? How will they respond to this pressure?
5. What is the final resolution?
Writing a strong resolution is tricky. A good ending should tie up the elements of your story in a way that is satisfying for your readers. The big question that readers have been asking throughout the story needs to be answered. Does the protagonist achieve their goal? What is the outcome of their actions and the journey they have undergone? Is the conclusion natural and fair? Does it sum up the theme of your story leaving the reader with a sense of finality? Finally, if you are planning a series hint that there is more to come.
