This article is part of a series about how you can plot a novel.
Feeling stuck staring at a blank page, even with an amazing story idea bubbling inside? We’ve all been there! But what if you could map out the core of an interesting narrative in just one hour? This method helps you lock down three crucial elements: your story’s objective, your character’s driving force, and the conflicts that will make your book unputdownable. Ready to dive in?
Here’s how to craft your story’s foundation:
Identify Your Character’s Core Values
What truly matters to your main character? What 3-5 things do they cherish or absolutely need? This list provides flexibility for your plot.
- Example: For our hero, Ava, these might be: her grandmother’s antique locket, her prized vintage motorcycle, her reputation as the town’s top mechanic, her little sister’s happiness, and her independence.
Introduce the Catalyst (Loss of Value)
The “magic” happens when one of those precious items is removed. This instantly fuels your character’s motivation and raises the stakes. Recovering that item can become the story’s central goal.
- Example: Someone steals the antique locket!
Deepen the Motivation
Why does your character desperately need it back? List at least three reasons. If you struggle to find three, your goal might not be strong enough to sustain an entire story.
- Example: Ava wants the locket back because:
- It’s the last tangible memory of her grandmother.
- It contains a hidden clue to her family’s lost fortune.
- She promised her grandmother she’d never let it out of her sight, and breaking that promise feels like a betrayal.
Outline External Obstacles
These are the backbone of your external plot, creating challenges your character must overcome. List at least six challenges, varying in severity, to maintain high tension.
- Example: To get the locket back, Ava might face:
- The thief is a master of disguise and hard to track.
- She needs to infiltrate a high-security auction.
- A rival collector is also after the locket.
- She gets framed for a crime she didn’t commit, making her a fugitive.
- Her motorcycle breaks down at a crucial moment.
- She has to betray a friend to get information.
Uncover Internal Fears
This step illuminates your character’s internal journey. List 3-5 things that scare your character, then select the one most connected to their goal.
- Example: Ava’s fears might include losing her independence, failing her family, being seen as weak, not being good enough, or trusting the wrong person. The fear that best suits her goal could be failing her family (by not recovering the locket and the fortune).
Define the Internal Journey (Overcoming Fear)
This is where your internal plot truly comes alive! List 3-5 reasons your character must overcome this fear or flaw. Tying these reasons to the external plot will make your story feel seamless.
- Example: Ava will overcome her fear of failing her family because:
- Her sister’s future depends on the family fortune the locket holds.
- She realizes her grandmother believed in her strength, and she needs to honor that.
- The only way to retrieve the locket is to step up and take charge, proving her capabilities to herself.
Construct Your Story Outline
You have all the pieces! Using everything you’ve listed, jot down 10 steps your character needs to take to achieve their goal. This serves as a rough outline.
- Example:
- Ava discovers the locket is gone.
- She finds a cryptic note left by the thief.
- She tracks the thief to an underground antique market.
- She narrowly escapes a trap set by the rival collector.
- She’s forced to work with a shady contact for information.
- She infiltrates the auction house.
- She faces a moral dilemma that tests her loyalty.
- She has a showdown with the thief.
- She recovers the locket.
- She deciphers the clue and secures her family’s future.
Introduce Plot Twists (What Can Go Wrong)
This is where the real fun (and tension) begins! For each of those 10 steps, imagine what could go wrong. This will generate your plot twists and keep readers on the edge of their seats.
- Example (for step 1): Ava discovers the locket is gone, but the thief has also left a decoy in its place, initially throwing her off the trail.
- Example (for step 5): The shady contact demands a huge favor that puts Ava’s motorcycle at risk, forcing her to choose between her ride and the locket.
Congratulations! You now have a solid framework for your narrative. Go forth and write your amazing story!