Plot Sketches

When I first come up with a book, I put all the necessary research in my mind to remember later. I prefer to focus on the meat of the story first, then add accurate details. Historical fiction especially needs a great deal of careful research, which may daunt some writers. After all, we're writers, not historians, one may say. But historians need to be able to write well, too. This is what makes some history textbooks so intersting.

I've talked about brainstorming before, so now let's discuss the basic planning of your book. Usually I don't spend too much time planning and plotting, but I've found it's very useful to keep you on track and give you a sense of "you're here, so figure out how to get there." It gives a sense of purpose and can add new dimensions to your story. Some people find it impossible to hold so much information in their head, so writing it all down is beneficial. That's technically all planning your book is: getting ideas down on paper in orderly fashion. I call these plot sketches. But what information should you include? For those who love to plan and plot, check out this article by Weiland. For those who love writing by the seat of your pants, here are some of the points I make sure I have in my plot sketches:

• main character(s) name(s)

• basic plot points

• needed research

• conflict

Main Character(s) Name(s)

It should be a no-brainer to figure out why this is important. Every main character must have a name, or at least a title, like the Virginian in Owen Wister's The Virginian.

Names set the mood for a specific character, sort of how it is in Pilgrim's Progress. For example, in Tolkein's works, we meet up with fun characters such as Dorry and Dorin, Bilbo Baggins and Frodo, and mysterious characters such as Gollum (Smeagol). Main characters often have pleasant names, but no matter what sensation they hold, they set the feel of the character. In the book manuscript I am working on, my main character's name is Nora. For me, this invokes a sense of innocence and freedom of spirit mixed with hardheadedness.

Another reason to choose a name early on, is that it is easier to keep track of your characters. When working with a lot of people, it can be especially confusing. I wrote a novel about the Oregon Trail, and I had to juggle some thirty-odd characters at a time. Naturally, because a lot of people traveled together for safety. Writing them all down made the process of brainstorming a whole lot easier!

Basic Plot Points

Most, if not all, of us should have heard of the basic plot points in a story. For those who haven't, here's the rundown:

• Introduction. This is where you get your reader interested with a hook and introduce (obviously) them to your characters. Some authors don't introduce their main characters right away, but some characters do appear from the start.

• Enticing Event. Think of this point as the first kick in a soccer game. It's where the action starts. Something happens to get the protagonist involved in the conflict.

• Rising Action. There can, and should, be many rising actions in a book. They push the protagonist and antagonist together, enhancing the conflict and guiding them to our next plot point, which is:

• Climax. It is the final battle between the opposing forces, protag and antag. The battle can be physical or spiritual or mental, whichever type of conflict is in the story. At the end of the battle, the conflict is solved, one way or the other.

• Falling Action. Like the rising action, there can be many of these. They act as the tying up of loose ends.

• Resolution. This is where you tie the last knot and leave the reader with a solid ending. I have read many good books whose plots kept me reading way past me bedtime, but the ending was not satisfactory. It left me saying, "That's not fair. The ending feels too abrupt or too drawn out." Or something is not right, or characteristic of the rest of the book. Make sure to write your resolution well. That is the picture that the readers will carry with them after they put your book down. It will determine whether or not they want to read it again.

Needed Research

When I first come up with a book, I put all the necessary research in my mind to remember later. I prefer to focus on the meat of the story first, then add accurate details. Historical fiction especially needs a great deal of careful research, which may daunt some writers. After all, we're writers, not historians, one may say. But historians need to be able to write well, too. This is what makes some history textbooks so interesting.

Historians aside, historical fiction and nonfiction authors must make sure their details are accurate. Nothing is more humiliating when someone points out such-and-such war happened at this time, not that time, and this person in this battle of the war did not do this or that. And nothing can be more disappointing to readers to find out the author was wrong. It takes them out of the story and gives you a bad reputation in their mind. So please be careful!!!

Research can be about everyday life, as well. Our modern lives are so different from the Middle Ages, and it is often poorly described in many popular moves, that research is greatly benefitial in this genre. Fantasy authors, I envy you!

Conflict

This is the heart of the story, the soul of the whole plot, the spirit of your mind-child. It is the verb in a sentence, the movement we look for in something alive. Without conflict, your story is dead. Your story is only as strong as your antagonist, who is the drive of the whole story.

It is important to know early on who your antag is. My antagonist is usually a force, an inner struggle, though I do throw in some characters who act as bars and gates to my protagonist. When you know who or what your antagonist is, you can successfully develop your story. Figure out the protag's response to the inner and outer conflicts, how the antagonist foils their goals, pushes them into conflict. How does the antagonist (if he is a person) respond when the protagonist fights back? What is the antagonist's goal? Make your physical antagonist personable, then you have a strong antag that readers both love and hate. How does the protagonist accomplish his goal, and does he? Does the antagonist win out in the end?

Conclusion

There you have it! That is my simple plot planning for my books! I hope this helps you guys! And remember, there is no right or wrong way to plot a book (as far as I know). It all depends on preferences and personality. Have fun and play around with this, and let me know what your plot sketches look like.

Happy wordrighting!