Generating Ideas
Before you can plot your novel, you need an idea. If you already have one, feel free to skip to the next section.
Braindump & freewrite
Start by writing down all of the ideas that are spinning around in your head. They don’t even need to be related to each other. Your braindump might include semi-concrete ideas for your novel, or it could be a list of genres, tropes, and themes that interest you.
Next, look at your braindump and start narrowing it down until you have a better idea of your story’s premise. Then, freewrite. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. You don’t even have to use complete sentences. Just start writing everything that comes to mind when you think about your story.
You can freewrite for five minutes or even an hour or more. It doesn’t matter. The goal is to flesh out your idea as much as you can before you begin plotting.
Carry an “idea” notebook
This is the method I personally use. I have a four by three inch notebook that I keep with me and write ideas down in when they come to me. If I don’t have the notebook with me, I write down the idea in the Notes app on my phone. If I’m driving, I record a voice memo and add it to my notebook later.
The “idea” notebook works best for people who have plenty of ideas at the most random times but have trouble recalling them when they sit down to write.
Prompts
If neither of the strategies above work for you, try using some writing prompts to generate ideas. These might develop into the premise for a novel, or they might just unclog your brain, so you can come up with something else later! You can access Aha! Editorial’s free creative writing prompts here.
Whatever strategy you use to develop your premise, just make sure you have a clear central conflict. No one wants to read about two people who met, fell in love, had no issues ever, and lived happily ever after—well, maybe some do, but not many.
Plot
Now that you have a premise for your novel and have—hopefully—fleshed it out a bit, you can begin plotting. We’re going to break down the plot into six main areas: exposition, initiating event, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to have every detail figured out when you start plotting. It’s totally normal for your plotting template to include notes like [insert villain’s name here], and you don’t need to worry about side arcs at this stage either.
Exposition
In this part of your plot template, identify who your main character is and what their status quo or current state is—basically, what is their situation at the start? Where do they live, and what is their life like? Then, decide what motivates them. Are they driven to find love? Do they seek revenge?
Initiating Event
The initiating event is the thing that happens to disturb the status quo and set the story into motion. Does the main character inherit a magical object? Is someone in their life killed? Are they falsely accused of a crime?
Rising Action
The rising action will comprise much of the “meat” of your story. This is where you’ll start building up the main conflict, and your character may overcome some smaller conflicts along the way. They also may develop skills and knowledge that will aid them later in overcoming the main conflict.
The rising action should bring your main character’s story closer and closer to the eventual climax or turning point. Again, remember that you don’t have to have all of the details figured out here. It’s perfectly okay to jot down something like [add the best friend’s character arc later].
Climax
The climax is where things really come to a head. The main character faces the main conflict of the story—and often overcomes it. Perhaps your main character defeats a villain and takes their rightful place as king, or maybe they make up with a love interest after a big fight.
Falling Action
The falling action is where you will tie up any remaining loose ends. If you’re hoping for your novel to turn into a series, it’s OK to leave a few things unresolved, but for the most part, your reader should feel a sense of completion by the end.
Resolution
This is where your story ends. The conflict has been resolved, and loose ends have been tied up. This is your last chance to drive home any themes of your novel and leave a strong impression on your readers.
I’ll add one more time: It’s OK if you don’t have it all figured out yet. You can always add details to your plot template as you write and the idea continues to form in your head.
Bonus: Plot Template Example
Here’s an example of how to plot out a story, using Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games as a model. If you haven’t read the book, you may not want to read on. 🙂
Exposition: The main character, Katniss, lives in poverty with mother and sister in District 12. There will be a reaping ceremony that night, where one male and female will be randomly selected to compete in a fight to the death with tributes from the other districts, and there can be only one survivor. Katniss is motivated by her desire to take care of her family. She hunts to provide for them.
Initiating Event: Katniss’s little sister, Primrose, is chosen at the reaping ceremony. Katniss volunteers to take her place, and the male tribute, Peeta, is selected.
Rising Action: Katniss and Peeta go to the Capitol to begin training for the Hunger Games with their mentor, Haymitch. The Games begin, and the tributes enter the arena. Katniss survives many obstacles and attacks from other tributes with some support sent in by Haymitch. She allies with a young girl named Rue, who is later killed. She eventually teams up with Peeta.
Climax: After surviving attacks by mutant wolves and a blood-thirsty competitor, Katniss and Peeta are the last two tributes remaining. Katniss has an idea, and the pair refuse to kill each other, threatening to commit suicide. The announcer declares them both victors.
Falling Action: Katniss and Peeta attend a victory banquet at the Capitol. The Capitol isn’t happy about the stunt Katniss pulled. Katniss pretends her motivation was her love for Peeta, not rebellion.
Resolution: Katniss and Peeta arrive home in District 12 where cameras wait for them.
Happy writing! When you’re ready for an editor, we’re here for you.
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