So you’ve got a book idea. There’s a story image or event teasing your imagination. How do you develop a book idea in a germinal state into something detailed, more ready to begin your draft?
Category: Plotting
Plotting a story well ensures cohesion and connection between story events.
Find every article on plotting in Now Novel’s archives here.
Read helpful questions for plot development, and learn how to avoid common plot pitfalls. Learn what makes a good plot, and read plot structure examples that show how to connect story events in practice to tell a gripping story.
Categories
What makes a good novel plot? 6 insights
What makes a good novel plot? A strong plot has many ingredients. The 5 W’s – who, what, why, where and when – change in interesting ways. Tension builds and ebbs. Read insights from 10 of the top-rated books on Goodreads:
There are many different ways to plan and structure a story. ‘Three-act structure’ is one that some writers swear by and others shun. Learn what three-act structure is, why it’s controversial, and how to make it work for you if you use it to plan and write your story:
Many authors have shared interesting plot ideas, giving insights on how plot works and why it matters. Here are 6 authors’ ideas from essays and interviews about plot, and what they teach us:
Concrete plot structure examples teach us how to structure a story with purpose. Read illustrative examples of well-known stories’ plot structure, from children’s stories to famous epics and novels:
Many authors enjoy the creative freedom of not having any structure to begin. Yet writing a story outline has many benefits. A flexible plan makes brainstorming ideas, finding possible character arcs and other parts of the writing process so much easier. Read seven simple steps to write an outline for a novel that will help you progress further:
Learning how to develop a story so that you take readers on an unforgettable journey is key to becoming a great novelist. Here are 10 steps to ensure that the final draft of your book has a winning, memorable plot
Developing stories from the foundations of an idea to full novels is challenging. Yet the simple question ‘What if?’ is a powerful tool. Read 5 examples of ways you can use this versatile question to imagine story developments:
Learning how to plot a novel means first understanding the elements of great plots. Here are 7 tips for plotting a story that will engage readers from the first chapter: