Strategies for writing a good plot

Many resources are available that authors can use to make their life easier. Editing and proofreading services are one of the most widely-used resources, as well as book proofreading services UK. However, these services are usually used when an author has finished their book, or when they are in the stages of finalising something that has already been written.

Dissimilar to other types of writing Proofreading services and aids for authors, assistance in terms of planning and writing a good plot is somewhat lacking. Furthermore, many authors believe – perhaps rightly so – that if another person writes their plot for them, this is a form of cheating or an unacceptably substantial shortcut. For this reason, this article outlines a few of the strategies you can use to create an excellent plot for your next book.

 

1. Know what a plot is

This sounds patronisingly obvious, but having a clear understanding of what a plot is – or, so to speak, the general essence of plots – is fundamental. Therefore, this article must begin with a definition of the concept of a plot in a piece of fictional writing.

A plot refers to a sequence of interrelated events that a writer devises in order to engage a reader. A plot can also be viewed, perhaps more helpfully, as a complication followed by the resolution of the complication.

 

Image: Devising a plot lies at the centre of creative writing

2. Remain focused

By this, we do not mean that you yourself should remain focused (though, of course, you should). Instead, we mean that your manuscript should remain focused. Remember in the previous step that we defined a plot as a complication followed by the resolution of the complication. With this in mind, the sequence of interrelated events that you devise to serve as your plot should, in a focused way, always move the reader onwards to the resolution.

 

3. Know when enough is enough

Awful plots are bad, boring, or unsuccessful for diverse reasons. However, one of the most common reasons why a plot is unsuccessful is due to the phenomenon known as “plot overkill”. If the sequence of interrelated events that defines your plot establishes a complication and resolves that complication, stop! There is no need to continue dragging everything out with new events that occur after the plot’s resolution.

 

Image: Books vary in length, but knowing when to stop is fundamental

4. Learn about common types of plots

The main types of plots are tragedy, comedy, hero’s journey, rebirth, overcoming the monster, voyage and return, and rags to riches. Each type of plot is associated with clear and well-defined contours, and although these plots have been used endlessly, they never get old. If you use these types of plots as a general framework, in which you set a novel sequence of interrelated events, your book is likely to win over your reader and keep their attention.