The 60-Minute Plot: How to Focus Your Story in an Hour

As a plotter, I sometimes find myself on a plotting tangent. Instead of writing the outline, I’m researching the meaning of names, or my secondary character’s mother’s story. I end up losing sight of the story I want to write. This is where the 60-Minute Plot Method helps me. It’s the first part of my overall plotting process because it forces me to focus on the core story. 

I found the original version of the 60-Minute Plot Method online, and wrote down all the steps. But I could not find it again and I don’t know the original creator. (If anyone does, please let me know so I can update this post) Regardless, I have continued to use this process to help me focus. My coaching clients like this method because it’s a quick way to create the basic story framework. 

How the 60-Minute Plot Works

To illustrate how this plotting method works, I’m going to break down the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins using this plotting method.

1. What matters most to Katniss Everdeen? List 3-5 items

1. Her sister, Prim’s, safety
2. Providing for her family
3. Her privacy and independence
4. Her memory of her father

2. What is the effect when we remove one item?

The Capital representatives picks Prim to represent the district at the reaping, threatening her safety. As a result, Katniss volunteers as tribute, causing a loss of her independence and threatening her ability to provide for her family. 

3. Why does Katniss want the item back?

1. Love: Katniss loves her sister.
2. Responsibility: Katniss promised her father she would look after the family.
3. Guilt: Katniss feels her survival is tied to Prim’s. If Prim dies, then Katniss’s world ends.

4. What are the obstacles to getting the item back?

1. Katniss is now in the games and must survive to return home, despite the challenges.
   • The other tributes trying to kill her.
   • The dangers in the arena.
   • The fake relationship she must have with Peeta.
   • The Gamemakers changes to the games. 
2. Her inability to trust others.
3. The power imbalance/ The Capital/ President Snow

5. What is Katniss most afraid of?

1. Being a pawn in the Capital’s game.
2. Losing her family.
3. Becoming like the Capital (heartless, cold).

6. Why will Katniss overcome her fear?

1. Survival: If Katniss doesn’t survive the games, then she can’t protect Prim.
2. Humanity: Rue reminds her that being human is just as important as staying alive. 
3. Defiance: Overcoming her fear is the only way to truly beat the Capital.

7. The 10 Step Skeleton (Katniss POV)

1. Volunteer to take Prim’s place in the games, thus keeping Prim safe but losing her independence. 
2. Perform in the Capital in order to get sponsors.
3. Enter the arena and survive the initial fight.
4. Escape from the other tributes. 
5. Form an alliance with Rue.
6. Grieve Rue and find Peeta.
7. Nurse Peeta back to health in the cave. 
8. Gamemakers manipulate the characters into a final battle. 
9. Realize the Capital has changed the rules to only one winner.
10. Challenge the Capital with the poisonous berries.

8. The Challenges and Twists

1. The Gamemakers launch fireballs, forcing Katniss to flee into her enemies.
2. After Peeta and Katniss are the only two left, the Gamemakers declare that only one tribute can win. Meaning Katniss either needs to die or kill Peeta. 

Get the Plot Down Fast

The 60-Minute Plot Method isn’t about creating a robust or detailed outline. It’s about creating a skeleton you can build off of. By focusing on the core story, there is less chance of getting distracted by secondary characters’ arcs or overly involved backstories. Once you finish writing the skeleton, you can flesh it out using other plotting methods that are better suited to that purpose, like Dan Harmon’s Story Circle for character arcs or a Plot Grid for organizing subplots. 

While this plotting method is called the 60-Minutes Plotting Method, don’t let the time frame add stress to the process. If it’s taking you longer to find answers to the questions, then the premise may need to be adjusted or your natural plotting process may need a different plotting method. 

If you are still struggling with your plot, please check out my author services to contact me about setting up a one-on-one coaching session.