PLOT IS A 4-LETTER WORD
A Few Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Along the Way
Characters are key. Plot (AKA story) is derived from the characters, not the other way around.
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QUESTIONS YOUR STORY NEEDS TO ANSWER
WHO:
Who is the central character in the story? Who are we, the readers, rooting for? Who changes the most within
the story? Who is the antagonist (villain) in the story?
WHAT:
What does your character want? What is he or she going to spend the bulk of the book trying to achieve? (Don’t
forget to figure out what your villain/antagonist wants as well. He’s not just a foil for your hero; the villain is
the hero of his own story.
WHY:
Why does your character need to accomplish this goal? What is his/her motivation? It should be simple, urgent,
and focused. What are the consequences if he or she does not achieve this goal? Can someone else accomplish
this goal on your hero/heroine’s behalf? (Hint: if the answer is yes, you’re going to have to get rid of that
character!)
WHY NOT:
Why can’t your character easily accomplish his/her goal? What stands in the way? Who is the opposition?
(Remember, your hero is only as strong as his antagonist.)
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MY VERSION OF AN OUTLINE
Picture your story on a continuum, like a timeline. Your story has a beginning state and an end state. To fill in
the continuum (i.e. to know your story), you look at what needs to happen to move us from the beginning state
to the end.
Beginning
Heroine is accused of
cheating on a test,
putting her scholarship
in jeopardy.
End
Heroine has cleared her
name, breaks up with
the boyfriend who set
her up to take the fall.
Helpful resources: The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon,
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing by Stephen King.
Stacey Kade spends probably way too much time arguing with the people in her head. She is the author of The Ghost and the
Goth series, which includes The Ghost and the Goth, Queen of the Dead, and the newly released Body & Soul. Queen of the Dead is a
2011 YALSA nominee for Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her new series, Project Paper Doll, will begin in spring 2013 with The Rules.
Find Stacey online on Twitter (@staceykade) or at www.staceykade.com