A plot is an overall conflict of a story, or a ‘general theme’. Beyond the mood and characters of a story, a novel’s plot is the main conflict and setting; such as searching for murderers.

A plot ‘structure’ is usually complex and makes a story ‘cohesive’. The basic elements include conflict, action and climax as well as an overall resolution, success or failure.

The most important part of a plot is that it gives your novel structure and don’t  you forget it. By defining your plot early on, you are deciding who your main characters conflict is with, what the main characters dilemma and goals are and where you are leading your readers.

It is easy to see if your writing is getting off track if you know where the end is. Without knowing where the end of the story lay, you could write for the rest of your life and be walking your main character almost literally in circles.

There are many great resources available to the new and rising author. Here is a collection of some of the more definitive resources on the subject of plots:

Wikipedia: A Plot or Narrative

Web Definitions of Plot

Then the more conversationally bound bloggers discussing plots

Plots and Stories

Has great in-depth information on structure and building a solid, strong plot for your novel.

What a Plot IS by Bill Johnson (An Essay)

A well written essay to persuade the everyday writer the importance of a plot, what it does for a writer as well as what its purpose is for the reader.

Plot structure: a Literary Elements Mini-Lesson

While targeted for primary school, Plot Structure is a basic of writing that no one wants to ignore.

Well, I hope this quick overview into what a Plot is and how important it is to the everyday writer, like you and I. Keep an eye out for more concerning character creation, plot structure, planning and organization as we delve deeper into the workings of writing a novel for the first or the tenth time.

Thanks for reading!

Fish Tale by capn madd matt

Photo Credit: capn madd matt

First I want to say the photo I picked for this blog post is amazing. I love it. I want to do something like this for my birthday. Sit around and drink water out of a glass with a gold fish in it…something awesome in that. I do confess, I don’t think I will. I wouldn’t want to stress out the gold fish.

But in looking at this photo, It really makes me think of writing. Writing is, essentially, creating a world and telling the story of individuals in that world. This is truer with science fiction writing than anywhere else. You get to create a world from scratch.

With the goldfish bowl theory, the bowl is the world you create and the fish is your character. Can you imagine telling the story of that gold fish? I can already think of dozens of ways he got there, what kind of person would put him there and why.

But the ‘Gold fish Theory’ is important in pointing out…nothing exists outside the fish bowl. If you don’t write it, it essentially doesn’t exist. So don’t assume your reader knows what you are ‘hinting’ at when you create a world from scratch because chances are…they’re lost.

So what do we learn from the GoldFish Theory?

• ‘Build’ your new world through description.
• Decide whether you are telling the story from observation of the gold fish or the perspective of being the goldfish
• No one wants to read a story where your fish just sits in a boring bowl and blinks. If ever you wonder, ask ‘Where are you taking me?’ from the perspective of the reader.

As wonderful as this photograph is, I don’t think I will be attempting the nervous breakdown of a fish every time I take a sip of water but I do find it fascinating and unique.

I hope this breakdown of my ‘Gold Fish Theory’ has helped you take a fresh look at your story. Writing is perhaps the only scenario where we can play God, and no matter what we know it will be a happy ending. Well…I would HOPE it would be a happy ending. As for the gold fish…*gulp*

Please feel free to comment or critique! I always enjoy hearing what you think and your own experiences in writing.