How to Create a Good Plot for Your Book
- 1). Determine the basic conflict of the plot. All plots fall into four general types of conflicts: man versus man, man versus nature, man versus society and man versus himself. A complex plot may entail multiple types of conflict. An overall idea of which ones are involved in your story will help you flesh out individual events properly.
- 2). Write up descriptions of each of the characters in your story: the hero, the villain and the various supporting figures who populate the tale. Focus on their motivation and personality: the needs that drive them to do what they do. When constructing a good plot, the events need to take place with a certain logic, and the characters need to react to them in ways that make sense. If you have character descriptions to consult, you can ensure that the events make sense in terms of their behavior.
- 3). Flesh out the specific events that make up the plot, then write up a brief description of each one. They should be about a paragraph long, enough to describe their specific circumstances and their overall purpose in the story. Include the participating characters in each event and describe their role briefly.
- 4). Arrange each event description in chronological order from the beginning of the story to the end, then check them for continuity and logic. A story needs to flow in a rational manner: scenes unfold based on what came before them and influence what came after them. They also need to follow the basic structure of a story, as the hero faces various obstacles that build to a climax (when she either triumphs against the forces arrayed against her or succumbs to them). By organizing your events chronologically--even if you don't intend the final story to follow that pattern--you can ensure that it proceeds in a proper manner.
- 5). Correct any errors you find in your plot and revise the events if you feel it warranted. Just because you set up your plot in a certain way doesn't mean you can't change things midway through if you come up with a better idea. That's part of the storytelling process, and your plot may change a great deal before you finalize it.
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