First, story and plot are two different things.
Story is what you are telling, plot is how you are telling it. There is more than one plot for any given story, and every plot can fit a number of different stories. A detective story can be told from the point of view of the killer, or from the investigator's perspective - two different plots for the same story. Similarly, a mystery thriller plot can be used to tell the story of a crime as much as it can be applied to the story of a sports victory (how did they do it?). Story and plot rely on each other to speak in your own author's voice. The fit you choose is up to you.
I take my cues from scriptwriting, which has a very structured format for writing stories based on the plot often referred to as the 'Hero's Quest'. This plot structure is based on the premise that the main protagonist, or Hero, will venture out through the course of the story with the aim to achieve something.
This is not a formula, it's more of a recipe. It doesn't mean that what will come out will be good, or even the same as someone else using the same recipe. It just gives you a set of tools to build your narrative. It doesn't replace your voice. Nothing can. The cake doesn't bake itself, it always needs a cook.
There are broadly ten turning-points in this plot structure, all spaced out somewhat evenly in a script, somewhat less so in a novel:
1. Introduction
defines tone, time, setting and main character
2. Enticing incident
something happens that opens up the quest
3. Refusal
the hero turns down the quest, for whatever reason
4. Commitment
the hero commits to the quest with a plan, but with the option to quit
5. 1st hurdle
the hero confronts the main obstacle (usually the villain), shows strong potential to win but suffers a setback. The hero chooses to press on with the same plan but can still quit
6. 2nd hurdle
the hero confronts a larger obstacle, suffers a bigger setback but continues to believe in his/her plan and pushes on, still able to quit later
7. Point of no return
the hero goes all in, bets everything on victory through his/her existing plan, certain to succeed and no longer able to quit in case of failure
8. Abysmal failure
the hero fails catastrophically, loses everything and abandons all hope. This is the low point, where all seems lost
9. Angel moment
something or someone gives the hero a new perspective, or a new opportunity. This leads the hero to conceive a new plan with solid chance of success
10. Victory
the new plan succeeds and the hero defeats the villain, thereby achieving his/her goal and completing the quest
Since this is a very broad plot, it can be used with almost any story. As such, here are the 10 tips I have garnered from using this technique:
1.Let the characters drive
Everything that you will write will need to make sense from the point of view of your characters. It is therefore crucial to make sure that all their choices are motivated by who they are, rather than what you want
2. Work the structure before the prose
Don't start writing anything until your structure is rock solid. This will save you valuable time. When you write with your structure clearly defined, it gives you a roadmap to aim for. Think of it as driving at night with the headlights on (your structure) or off
3. Find your ending then work your way back
You need to know where you're going in order to map out how you will arrive there. Shape your ending properly, then step back through to the beginning. Be open to changing the ending along the way
4. Break things down into turning-point moments
As in the structure above, there are turning points where your characters will make choices that will have important repercussions. Those are the pillars holding up your story, so you should use them and place them well, letting everything else derive from there
5. Start with broad acts
The first act leads up to the commitment to the quest, the second act brings us through to the abysmal failure of the hero, and the third act gives us victory. Once you see where your acts begin and end, you are ready to dig deeper
6. Place your turning-points within the acts
Armed with your turning-point pillars, you can flesh out each act and test that they are fluid. Be sure to compare your acts with one another in terms of length and density of important moments
7. Flesh out sequences that link your turning-points
Once all your turning points are defined and placed within your acts, all you need now is to link these points together with short and punchy sequences, or scenes, that will drive the narrative. Bullet points are enough, just be sure to include every scene you need to write later so that you have the full plot before you
8. Test your hero
When your hero fails, it has to hurt. It has to be tough, and then some. For your reader to feel empathetic towards your protagonist, you need to put them through the ringer. That's how heroes are made. Push it
9. Push yourself
And while you're at it, push yourself too! Don't take the easy way out, don't go for the simple resolve. Go further. If you use coincidence to put your hero in trouble, never use coincidence to pull them out of it. Aim high. Then aim higher
10. Rewrite
It's never right the first time and it can always be better. I recommend letting your first draft rest for a day or two, but not too long. As time passes, you change as a writer, so you might re-write something not because it's weak, but just because you've changed. Stay in the mood of your story, just give it a little space, but then make sure to come back and polish it. Once it's out there, it'll be too late to change it.
Please let me know how you feel about these tips, I'm always happy to hear thoughts and ideas that I may have missed or omitted.
Enjoy, and happy writing!
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