The Seattle 7, an energetic “service club” of Seattle-area authors who raise money for literacy, recently raised $10,000 through a day-long instructional program. I was one of several authors giving brief tips, mine on plotting. For what it’s worth, here’s some things aspiring writers might find useful:
- A sympathetic hero/heroine with a Quest. Frodo must destroy the ring, Clint Eastwood must exact revenge, Jane Austen characters must find a husband, Hemingway dudes must find masculinity, Luke must fight the evil Empire.
- High stakes. The fate of the world, clearing the character of a crime, saving the children, finding the serial killer, discovering the treasure, winning the prize, getting the girl or guy, achieving inner happiness. Mysteries are a puzzle, thrillers a vise.
- A character arc in which your hero grows. Gains courage, competence, love, wisdom, acceptance, independence, etc. By the end of the plot, they have changed, usually for the better. End your story with resolution, don’t just stop it.
- An interesting villain; i.e. an intriguing, believable one. Understandable motives. Everyday ticks and flaws. Surprising powers. Hannibal Lecter. Dr. Evil was interesting because he was out of date.
- A wise mentor. Yoda, Gandalf, Obi-Wan, Merlin, Hannibal (again), Jim on Huck’s raft, the wise-cracking girlfriend, the slacker pal, the crusty police chief or city editor, grandma or grandpa, etc.
- A mystery, puzzle or question to add suspense. Pose a question on the first page; answer it on the last. “Lost” was a master at posing questions.
- Increasing obstacles. The more likeable your hero/heroine, and the more shit you can bury them in, the better. Then cleverly dig them out.
- A ticking clock. Voldemort or Sauron or Darth Vader are about to win. Goldfinger’s atomic bomb is ticking down. Tom Hanks must find Meg Ryan atop the Empire State Building before she’s lost forever. Play on our universal sense of time anxiety.
- A MacGuffin to help drive things. The One Ring, the white whale, a medallion, a necklace, a briefcase (Pulp Fiction), an anonymous love letter, a foundling on the doorstep, a tattoo, a sled (Rosebud), ruby red shoes, Excalibur, unobtanium, the Maltese Falcon, Private Ryan.
- A twist to keep us surprised. Relationships (“Luke, I am your father, and Princess Leia is your sister”) revealed skills, betrayal, unexpected inheritance, double-cross, someone who is not who they seem.
These are basic chords you can check your story against on the way to creating your own unique symphony. Good luck!
