Fiction is the truth inside the lie.
Stephen King
Let’s Get Plotting!
The following is a 12-step plotter I got from an online class years ago. It’s been around the block under several different names, including The Hero’s Journey. I don’t claim to have conceived the idea, but I have spent serious time perfecting and tweaking it to fit my writing.
As you go through this exercise, I want you to think of the primary character from your WIP (work in progress). Keep her in the front of your mind as you work your way through this. (From this point on, I’ll just refer to your primary character as “her/she”)
STEP ONE: ORDINARY WORLD
Most great novels are about ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. And a truly great story usually starts with an awesome hook (or attention grabber). To accomplish this, you might consider starting your story in the middle of action or dialogue. We don’t have to know everything about the character or the story right away. Just grab the reader and ask him to hang on for the ride. Then, once you’ve got him hooked, begin to slowly reveal facts about the hero or heroine. After all, your primary characters are the ones you want your reader to relate to. And like I said, they’re ordinary people who are about to accomplish extraordinary things.
In order to make that happen, you have to give the reader a proper how-do-you-do. Make introductions. The reader needs to see where the characters have come from. However, you don’t want to dump all of this information into the first chapter or two. Let any back-story come out slowly, over a period of several chapters. It’s better to reveal background story in small snippets as the story progresses. So, let’s talk about the ordinary world your character comes from. Consider the following questions.
- What is your primary character’s background?
- Where is she from?
- What has she been dealing with?
- Has the story started in the middle of a problem for her? What is her family like?
- How have you described the setting in the first chapter? Where does she live?
- Where does the opening action take place?
- What conflicts are taking place in the story at this point?
You can see that the opening of your book is so important. And how you handle the introduction of the character’s world is critical.
STEP TWO: CALL TO ADVENTURE
Very near the beginning of the story, your primary POV (point of view) character must get a call to adventure – something that calls her out of her ordinary world. It’s likely she will freeze up when the call comes because she’s comfortable in her ordinary world and would rather keep the status quo.
- How can you call your character out of her comfort zone? What would be something that might make her uncomfortable? Is it a new job possibility?
- The opportunity to travel?
- The chance to help her community/family/friends?
- Does she want to accept the call to adventure?
- What fears does she face as she considers “stepping out”?
- What conflicts are taking place in the story at this point?
STEP THREE: REFUSING THE CALL
So she refuses the call… heck no, I won’t go. She makes a conscious decision that it’s easier to stay put.
Why does your character decide to take the easy way out? What logical reasons does she have to refuse the call? What conflicts are taking place in the story at this point? What conflicts are taking place in her heart and mind?
STEP FOUR. ANOTHER FORCE COMES ALONG
At this point in the story, another force comes along. This could be a wise old man or even some sort of supernatural nudge that forces the hero/heroine to take action. Perhaps someone she loves is going to be hurt if she doesn’t take action. Or maybe the river will overflow if she doesn’t step out of her comfort zone and do something.
- Is there a “wise old sage” character in your story?
- Why does your POV character feel compelled to listen to the advice of the “wise old sage?”
- How does that person (or thing) cause your character to have to take action? Is there some sort of supernatural intervention? A nudge of some sort? What will happen if your POV character doesn’t step out?
- What fears is she facing now?
- What conflicts are taking place in the story at this point?
STEP FIVE: CAN’T GO BACK
At some point, she crosses the threshold to a point where going back isn’t an option. She’s stuck and must proceed toward her goal.
- What is the “threshold” for your character?
- Have you given her a line in the sand that she must cross, even if it’s scary? How does she know she must step across the line?
- Does she feel stuck?
- How does she handle what she’s feeling?
- What steps does she take toward her goal?
- What conflicts are taking place in the story at this point?
STEP SIX: THE ROAD OF TRIALS AND TESTS/ENEMIES AND ALLIES
At this point, the POV character faces some challenges. They don’t have to be extreme. Could be internal, even. Your hero or heroine is also becoming more and more aware of her various enemies and their allies, as well. She’s got her eyes wide open as she faces these trials and tests, trying to figure out who she can trust. . .and why.
What challenges is your character facing as she inches toward her goal? Which presents the great problem: internal or external challenges? What “enemies” has she recognized?
What “allies” has she come to lean on or glean from?
STEP SEVEN: THE BELLY OF THE WHALE
Like Jonah, your character must be caught in the belly of the whale. In Jonah’s case, he ended up there because of his own (earlier) choices. But once inside, he had a little time to think about what had brought him here. This stage in the plotline usually comes in the second half of the book. Let your character make some poor choices that
land her in the belly of the whale. Then, while she’s in there, give her some life lessons to learn.
What “belly of the whale” experience does your character go through? Have her actions brought her to this place or some external force? Does she have time to think? What is she thinking about?
What can she learn while she’s in the belly of the whale?
STEP EIGHT: THE SUPREME ORDEAL/LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE
By the time you reach this point in your novel – usually the 2/3 point or beyond, your POV character is facing her supreme ordeal. In a suspense thriller, this would be a true life and death struggle. In a romance or women’s fiction piece, it could be a metaphorical life and death situation.
What increasing struggle does your character face now?
Is she having a literal or a metaphorical life and death struggle? Who’s on her side?
Who is against her?
STEP NINE: A MOMENT OF TRIUMPH
Any time you wind the conflict tight, you’ve got to release the tension a little to give the reader time to catch her breath. Conflict is good. Tension is good. But breathing is good, too.
What “relief” can your character experience?
How will this make her feel?
Are her internal conflicts resolved, or simply delayed?
STEP TEN: REFUSAL OF RETURN
Once your reader has taken a moment to catch her breath, it’s time to make the decision to move forward, no matter the cost. She can’t ignore the reality of her situation forever. It’s time for her to get back to the real world. There are real problems she must face. No turning back now. At this point, she realizes she can’t return to her former life. She’s got to step into the future and face the challenges that life is offering.
What provokes your character to jump back “into the game?” What steps does she take to move back toward her goal? What problems does she face now?
Why is it important that she not turn back now?
STEP ELEVEN: THE ULTIMATE TEST
Near the end of every great book, the primary character goes through a testing period – something that challenges her emotionally, psychologically and often even physically. And why not? Life is like that, after all. We all go through tests, and either pass or fail. At this point in your story, put your character to the test. Let her – and the reader – see if she has learned the lessons her journey has offered.
- It’s discovery time for your character. What is she made of? How does she jump this final hurdle?
- Who jumps with her?
- Who tries to stop her?
- Has she grown/progressed as a human being? If so, how? Will the reader feel satisfied with her progress?
STEP TWELVE: RETURNING TO THE WORLD WITH NEW KNOWLEDGE
Your primary character is given the opportunity at the end of the story to return to her ordinary world. She’s risen to the challenge. Her conflicts – for the most part – are resolved. She’s learned the necessary life-lessons. The tension releases and hope springs eternal. Even if you don’t offer her a happily-ever-after scenario, she is a stronger, wiser woman. . .and better for the journey she’s made.
- Ah, the final resolution! How does this make your character feel? How does the reader feel at this point?
- Is it a practical/realistic resolution?
- Will the reader feel cheated in any way?
RECOMMENDED READING:
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas
