by
Delores Thornton
Good writing should have: unity, clarity, and coherence. Readers look for unity
in the book, for this ties the ideas together. Clarity makes sense of the total
idea, and coherence presents the story in an orderly disposition. When you
think plot, try to enmesh, perplex, and intrigue the reader.
Keeping in mind that the plot is the design and plan of the work, jot down one
sentence which sums up the book! This sentence should state succinctly the
objective of the story. Next, think of incidents and occurrences; then turn
them into events. Examples of incidents:
1. You write an essay on the outsourcing of America jobs. Now ask
yourself, "What if" I lost my job to an overseas company?
2. Man wins lottery, then dies on his way to claim prize. Now ask
yourself, "What if" I won the lottery, what are some changes my life
would see?
3. Your neighbor buys a used car. Now ask yourself, "What if" I
discovered human remains in the trunk when I was invited to inspect the
vehicle.
Now that the incidents have spawned events, it’s time for the story plan, which
includes the outline for the beginning, middle, and end of the story. After the
story plan is formulated, it is time to create the plot, or main story
development, which introduces a problem to solve. Make sure to include complex
issues that surround the problem; then build a story with transitions, events,
and scenes. Maintaining a tight story should be the ultimate goal since the
writer knows that the reader will likely do an analytical search of the work.
Remember that the satisfying solution does not have to be a happy ending. It
can, in fact, be a sad ending if it provides a sense of closure.
The author should have a main theme that he/she divides into sub-topics and
themes. Be aware that the reader will have to discover the author’s intention.
What problem is he/she trying to solve? In romance books the plot is
usually simple. Boy falls in love with girl; boy loses girl; boy regains girl.
A good story has several parts that should stand independently, yet fit nicely
with the whole of the book. The lead character should be involved in the
conflict of the story, and he/she must have a problem to solve with curves
thrown into his/her path. This will keep the reader engrossed. Include a cast
of secondary characters to add color to your story. While some stories don’t
demand a definite setting, in some cases this is desirable. Make certain that
the time and place of the story is evident very early on.
Finally,
the plot is the cord that strings together the events of the story making them
a complete work. While the writer has completed an outline and filled it in,
the reader will examine the work and peel back all of the niceties to reveal
the sum of all the parts in an attempt to make the book his/her own.