A Quick Look at Plot

     If you don’t have a plot, you don’t have a story. You’ll have your characters within a chosen setting, but you must have more than that. Not just a sequence of random events, but a guide for your story to follow. Ideally, it will grow your characters, hook your readers, and flow nicely.

     We first have to differentiate between the two kinds of plot. The overarching narrative - the question your book ultimately answers. Basically, what is your story about at its core?

     Second, the smaller, chapter by chapter conflicts that feed into the overarching narrative. These little problems add tension, shape characters, and gradually build toward the ultimate resolution.

     Because of all the moving pieces, plot is often the hardest element to innovate. Setting is usually the easiest, character second, and plot the most difficult.

Promise, Progress, Payoff

     This is a concept a lot of writers use to shape their plots. It keeps everything flexible while remaining actionable as you work through the story.

     A promise tells readers what kind of story they’re about to experience.

• Tone promises: the mood of your story, established early. Humor, grit, whatever you choose.

• Story promises: broad narrative expectations. That big battle you were taught to expect from the beginning.

• Character/conflict promises: introducing who your protagonist is, what they want, and why it’s hard to get it.

• Structural promises: some genres have recognizable openings. You can show those early on so that readers know what to expect.

     Promises are important, but you also have to move the story forward. That’s where progress comes in. It’s not about literal time, but about creating a sense of meaningful movements that can progress in multiple ways. A few of those ways…

• Information-based: secrets emerging, clues unraveling in mysteries.

• Relationship-based: characters grow closer or drift apart.

• Internal character growth: personal challenges, beliefs, and skills evolving throughout the story.

     Subtle indicators are often used to indicate the story is advancing. We call those signposts. They could be revealing new information, showing a character making a decision, or shifting the focus. As a writer, your job isn’t just to make things happen, it’s to give the reader a clear sense of progress (even through obstacles).

     Finally, you have to deliver some form of satisfaction. That’s the payoff. You’re fulling the promises you’ve made. A great payoff balances expectations and surprise - it’s inevitable in hindsight, but still surprising in the moment. Effective payoffs usually involve:

• Creating doubt

• Proving plausible deniablitiy

• Matching the core story

     As an example, let’s take Lord of the Rings. The promise is of an epic confrontation with evil. You’re met with tension and uncertainty along the way, making the victory feel both surprising and earned. Even subtle techniques, like Gandalf’s return to Helm’s Deep, show the power of withholding payoff until tension peaks.

     There’s quite a bit more I could say about plot (balancing multiple POVs, pacing, etc.), but for now, this covers the basics. Let creative risks remain in your story. It may just be what makes your plot memorable, your conflicts gripping, and your payoffs satisfying.