Plotting a novel is a difficult task. The plot is a significant obstacle for many authors, and teaching young writers how to plan a story is one of the most challenging skills.
Whether you are writing your first novel for self-publishing or working on the first draft of a new story, it will help you develop a plot and improve your book writing.
1. Pick a genre and stick with it
If a reader picks up a romance book that turns out to be an action or thriller, they will be disappointed.
Such reactions are to be anticipated in the event of a sudden shift in genre, as this would violate the expectations of the audience and, consequently, be met with disappointment.
For instance, they are supposed to marry in a romance drama book. Still, they suddenly do not because they are both spies. It is prohibited in their organization to date, so they want to remain friends.
Though it may come as a pleasant surprise to some readers, others may be disappointed that the wedding was called off after so many pages of buildup. There are various ways that an author can create a plot twist, even without changing the genre.
2. Create a detailed outline
An author should prepare a thorough plot plan before they begin writing. Both the main plot and specific narrative points should be listed in this.
It should be clear enough that someone unfamiliar with your narrative could read the summary and put the pieces together.
Some authors don’t follow this for various reasons, making writing the story much more manageable. A detailed outline makes the author’s life easier because it keeps everything on track. They will not become disoriented about where they left off or where they are going with their story.
The outline provides the whole flow of the story from beginning to end, so knowing the story flow will make it easier for the writer to plot the story. An outline is like the general idea of the story, so it will be a guide for the writer when they want to insert something in the story without losing the whole message or the plot.
3. Don’t forget to build your characters
Character is a crucial component of a story that helps to balance plot-driven storytelling. It would be best to have well-developed storylines and notable characters with understandable motivations before you begin writing.
Developing a strong and complex point of view is the foundation of good character. By spending some time on character analysis and ensuring they are strong, believable, and challenging, you can balance the story element of your writing process.
Characters are essential in your story, so you should not forget about character development when creating a plot. Characters heavily impact the story because they are the deciding factor in which way the story will go or end.
These are three tips for plotting a story. There are millions of pieces of advice, but it is essential to remember these three because they contribute to the story’s plot.
