The Power of Plot
- Ava Murbarger
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
Updated: May 5
Plotting is one of the most crucial aspects of storytelling. It isn’t just about knowing what happens next - it's about creating a structure that will engage your readers, develop your characters, and build emotional stakes throughout your story.
But how far should you go when plotting your story? How much detail is necessary for your plot to feel organic but also well-structured?
In this article, we’re going to dive into plotting - exploring how to plan, outline, and structure your plot in ways that keep your story engaging. We’ll also explore advanced techniques, breaking down how to map out intricate plots that are not only satisfying but also creatively inspiring.
What is Plotting?
Before we start delving into complex plotting techniques, let’s break down what plotting actually means in the context of writing. Plot is essentially the sequence of events that occur in a story, and plotting is the process by which you plan out that sequence.
There are various ways to approach plotting. Some writers prefer to dive in without a plan, letting their creativity unfold organically (pantsers). Others prefer a more structured approach, crafting detailed outlines and story maps to guide them through the process (plotters).
Regardless of your preferred style, plotting at its core is about creating a roadmap that leads from the beginning of your story to the end. While I’m a very detailed plotter, I’ll keep this simple in terms of what the usual writer might use.
The Basics of Plotting
Before we go deeper, let’s cover some basic concepts that you’ll likely encounter in any approach to plotting:
1. The Three-Act Structure
The three-act structure is a popular method for structuring your plot, dividing the story into three key sections:
Act One (Setup): Introduces characters, world-building, and the main conflict. The inciting incident propels the protagonist into the core story.
Act Two (Confrontation): The protagonist struggles with obstacles that keep them from achieving their goal. This is typically the longest act, filled with rising action.
Act Three (Resolution): The climax of the story and the resolution of the conflict. The protagonist faces their final challenge, and the loose ends of the story are tied up.
2. The Hero’s Journey
Popularized by Joseph Campbell, the Hero’s Journey is a plot structure found in many myths, legends, and modern stories. It divides the story into stages like the “call to adventure”, the “crossing of the threshold”, trials, and the “final confrontation.”
3. The Five-Act Structure
This approach builds upon the three-act structure by adding two additional acts to better divide the plot into smaller, more manageable sections. This structure is common in classical plays.
These structures are useful starting points, but when plotting to the extreme, we go beyond these basic templates.
Further Techniques
When you’re plotting at an advanced level, you're not just focusing on the what of your plot, but the how and why - and how every detail contributes to the emotional impact and thematic depth of the story. :
1. Creating Complex, Layered Plots
At its best, a plot is more than just a series of events. It’s a sequence of interconnected events that are thematically, emotionally, and logically tied together. You should aim to create a narrative where multiple layers of subplots weave in and out, affecting each other and building toward a singular climax.
Primary Plot vs. Subplots: Every good story has a central conflict, but to make it engaging, you’ll want to layer in subplots. Subplots can be related to your main plot, but often, they offer a contrast or deeper exploration of the themes you’re trying to convey. Subplots can involve secondary characters, provide more backstory, or explore secondary themes like love, redemption, or revenge.
Interwoven Motives and Actions: Make sure that your subplots don’t feel disconnected from your main story. Each subplot should influence the primary plot, and actions in the subplots should have consequences in the main storyline.
2. Foreshadowing and Planting Payoffs
An advanced plotting technique is foreshadowing. Foreshadowing involves hinting at future events early in the story, which will eventually pay off as the plot progresses.
Planting Information Early: A simple detail introduced early in the story - like a character mentioning their fear of drowning - can become an essential plot point later on when they’re faced with a life-or-death situation near water. This is an extreme version of foreshadowing, where every detail has the potential to link to a larger pay-off later.
Payoffs: Extreme plotting means paying off those early hints or seemingly insignificant details in satisfying ways. This can be done through plot twists or by revealing the true significance of something that was introduced earlier. By the time the payoff occurs, the reader will appreciate the careful planning and will be emotionally invested in seeing how everything ties together.
3. Non-Linear and Complex Timelines
Non-linear plotting can add depth to your story and keep readers on their toes. By playing with time and narrative structure, you can create a plot that isn’t simply a straightforward sequence of events.
Flashbacks & Flash-forwards: If done correctly, flashbacks and flash-forwards can help flesh out character backstory, reveal key motivations, and even hint at future events. This technique requires extreme plotting because it needs to be carefully coordinated to ensure that these shifts in time don’t confuse the reader or disrupt the flow of the narrative.
Parallel Storylines: If your plot involves multiple characters, consider running parallel storylines that intersect at key moments. This technique allows you to develop complex, interwoven plots and add layers of suspense and tension.
4. Integrating Theme
Plotting involves not just creating events but embedding themes throughout the narrative. Your plot should support the themes you want to explore, and vice versa - your themes should also guide your plot.
Symbolism: Extreme plotting often involves using symbolism to reinforce themes. For example, a recurring image of an untended garden could symbolize a character’s emotional state or the decay of their personal relationships. Pay attention to how your symbols tie into your plot, helping to deepen the emotional resonance of your story.
Questions of Morality: Incorporate deeper, often unspoken questions into your plot. For instance, if your story revolves around a character who questions the idea of fate, you can plot events in such a way that this theme is echoed through the character's choices and the consequences they face.
5. Character-Driven Plotting
At its extreme, plotting is driven by the characters. Characters’ decisions should directly influence the course of events, and their growth or transformation should shape the plot. Here are some ways to push your plotting in a character-driven direction:
Internal Conflict: Instead of relying only on external action, focus on the internal struggles of your characters. The way they grapple with their flaws, desires, and fears will drive the plot forward. Extreme plotting means making sure these internal struggles have real-world consequences, whether through relationships or actions.
Choices and Consequences: Every decision your characters make should move the plot forward. Don’t let your characters passively react to events - have them actively shape the story. And remember, every choice should come with consequences, which will ripple throughout the plot.
6. Twists and Turns
Plot twists are a hallmark of extreme plotting, but they must be handled with care. A good plot twist isn’t just a shocking event; it’s something that shifts the direction of the plot and redefines everything that came before.
Set-Up and Execution: A successful twist needs to be foreshadowed or hinted at throughout the story. Extreme plotting means building tension and expectations, only to subvert them in a way that feels organic. The twist should change the trajectory of the plot in a meaningful way, forcing the characters to react in unexpected ways.
Midpoint Reversal: Another advanced technique is the midpoint reversal. This is when, halfway through the story, something happens that changes everything. It could be the protagonist discovering that they’ve been fighting for the wrong cause, or that their allies are actually their enemies. This kind of reversal shifts the stakes and provides an additional layer of intrigue to the plot.
Conclusion
Plotting to the extreme isn’t about rigidly sticking to a fixed plan. It’s about building a story that feels intricate, dynamic, and deeply connected to the characters and themes at its core. As you develop your plot, remember that the best stories change over time, and that plotting is an ongoing process. You may start with an outline, but as you write, your plot should grow and adapt.
In plotting, every element serves a purpose in building something multifaceted. The more deeply you map out your story, the more likely it is that your plot will resonate with readers, leaving them not only satisfied but eager to read your next creation.
So, grab a pen and prepare to sketch out your story’s blueprint. The plot you create will shape your writing and will help you tell the kind of story that stays with readers long after they’ve finished the last page.
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