Plot. I’ve wanted to blog about this for a while because mostly it’s a stumbling point for me. But it’s important in writing. I’ve taken a ton of classes dealing with plot, including Plot That Novel by Sue Viders and Story Structure by Larry Brooks (which I loved and highly recommend).
You can Google plot and have pages and pages come up. Not helpful. So, what exactly is plot? Plot is the story of your novel, how your characters get from point A to point B. Again, there are tons of diagrams and charts out there for plot. Larry Brooks has a fabulous one, but you have to take his class to get it. http://storyfix.com/ Story Blob by Vickie Taylor, which I took as an RWA U course, also has a great “blob” that you can use. Then there are acts and plot points and the list goes on and on. What it all boils down to is to find what works best for you and stick to it.
For this blog, I’m going to simplify plot into three sections – beginning, middle and end. This is an incredibly simplified version of plot.
In the beginning, sometimes called the hook, you create your characters, sympathetic and heroic, flaws and strengths. Your reader should relate to your characters.
Start your story at the last possible moment. In these days, readers have precious few moments to sit and read your story, to fall in love with your characters. You, as the writer, have to capture their attention immediately.
The beginning of your story shouldn’t include much backstory. Save that for the middle. Concentrate on your characters, their wants. Then, pull the rug out from under them and you start the middle.
Next week, I’ll talk about the middle.
Her-Story-Calls 