How to Plot a First Novel
Learn to Avoid Weak Plots and Coincidence
It takes determination and a huge investment in time to write a full length novel. There are many manuscripts stored in drawers and gathering dust that consist of the first four chapters and a few notes for future scenes.
There are several reasons why these novels are abandoned. The writer may truly not have had the time to devote to writing, he lost interest, the story was not the good idea he thought, or he may have been honest enough to admit he didn't have the chops, or the ability to tell a great story.
Working Out Plot Sequence
One of the main reasons novels are never finished is because the writer gets stuck in plotting a full length work. They reach a certain point in the story and have no idea where to go next, and it doesn't matter if the story is plot or character driven.
Problems arise when a writer has failed to think through the idea for the book. Not all writers outline the sequence of events in their novels, but for a novice writer, this may be the best way to ensure there is enough substance to the story idea to sustain a full length novel.
Writing an outline forces the writer to consider the arc of the story. It doesn't have to be overly detailed. It can be as simple as figuring out the main events in each chapter and which characters will be driving the action.
On the other hand, an outline can be extremely detailed and chronologically list the sequence of events in each chapter and scene. Setting can be included, along with character action and development. Writing an outline like this is very time consuming, but it could ensure that the novel delivers a cohesive story.
Problems With Weak Plots
A weak or wandering plot is difficult to read and doesn't sustain interest. For instance, if the novice writer decides to write a murder mystery, it's probably better if he knows who the murderer is when he starts the book, rather than trying to figure it out as he goes.
A weak plot leads the reader through a story where the events occur seemingly at random. True, writers do think that way and some will write a scene out of sequence, but later, the scene is inserted where it belongs. If the writer doesn't know who the murderer is, there will probably be few or none of those tantalizing clues that mystery lovers need and expect.
Every scene is designed to further the story in some way, either in advancing the plot or telling the reader something they need to know. Scenes that go nowhere or serve no purpose are the result of the writer not really knowing where they're going. Again, outlining the novel will help with this problem.
Coincidence in Plot
Events in a novel should not happen for no reason. If the writer can't figure out how his hero will find out where the bomb is hidden, he may have the hero just happen to sit by a stranger at a bar. The stranger, a guy whose conscience is bothering him, just happens to confess his part in the crime and tells the hero where the bomb is, and even more, what time it's set to explode.
That's cheating. Anytime something just happens out of the blue and it hasn't been set up in a previous scene, the writer is relying on coincidence, and the reader is going to pick up on it.
Coincidence can happen in many different ways. Information can be gained, people meet, certain documents are found-whatever the situation, it's never a good solution to a sticky plot issue. Give those scenes a lot of thought and go back in the draft and look for areas where the coincidence could perhaps be set up to occur.
How to Deal With Writer's Block
It happens to every writer. Things are going along well, six great chapters have been written, and suddenly, the writer has no idea what to write in Chapter 7. Although it's known as writer's block, it's also a problem of little or no plotting.
There are a few things that can help this problem. Again, a good outline can get a writer back on track. There may be holes in the story, but they can be filled in later. Some writers concentrate on the plot line, getting down the sequence of events first, then adding detail later.
Simply taking a break from writing and coming back a week or two later may give perspective to the manuscript, and the writer will see where the natural progression of the story is headed.
Another way to deal with this issue is to skip the next logical scene and write a scene out of sequence. For instance, the writer knows the killer will confess in Chapter 15. Go ahead and write that scene. It will keep the process going and just might provide a clue as to where Chapter 7 needs to go.
Final Words
Every story follows a natural progression, and careful planning of a story line is essential to a well crafted novel. Preparing to write a novel is almost as big a task as the actual writing, and a necessary part of the process.
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