Plotting a novel can seem like an overwhelming task for beginner writers. The idea of structuring a full-length story from start to finish often leaves writers feeling unsure where to begin. But with the right approach, plotting can be both manageable and enjoyable.
In this post, you’ll learn how to plot a novel like a pro. We’ll cover essential tips that will help you develop a compelling story structure, keep your readers engaged, and set you on the path to successful writing. Whether you’re drafting your first novel or working on your fifth, this guide is packed with practical advice.
Why Plotting a Novel Matters
Plotting your novel is essential to its overall success. A well-planned plot ensures your story has structure and purpose. It helps you:
- Organize ideas into a coherent story arc
- Ensure your characters evolve in a meaningful way
- Create tension and conflict that hooks readers
A solid plot structure will make writing your novel a smoother, more focused process. Understanding how to plot a novel like a pro can help you avoid common pitfalls and keep your story on track.
Understanding the Basics of Plot
Before diving into the specifics of how to plot a novel, let’s go over some essential plot structure elements. Every story follows a similar structure, even though the details vary.
Key Elements of a Novel’s Plot
To create a compelling novel, you need to understand the core building blocks of any great plot. Think of these elements as the skeleton of your novel. They support the weight of your ideas and give the story structure.
Exposition: Setting the Stage
The exposition is the opening part of your novel, where you introduce the main characters, the setting, and the primary conflict. Here’s what should be covered in this section:
- Introducing the protagonist: Who are they, and what do they want?
- Setting the scene: Where and when does the story take place?
- Establishing the conflict: What is the problem the protagonist faces?
A strong exposition grabs the reader’s attention while laying the groundwork for the conflict to come.
Inciting Incident: The Event That Changes Everything
The inciting incident is the turning point that propels your protagonist into the main conflict. It disrupts the status quo and forces the character to take action. This moment should be:
- Unexpected and dramatic
- Intriguing enough to make readers want to continue
Understanding how to plot a novel like a pro involves creating an inciting incident that leaves readers eager to learn what happens next.
Rising Action: Building Tension and Conflict
As the story progresses, the rising action develops the central conflict, introducing obstacles and complications that the protagonist must face. This section should:
- Increase the stakes and challenge the protagonist
- Provide twists that keep the reader engaged
The rising action leads up to the climax, the most intense point of the story.
Climax: The Turning Point
The climax is the pinnacle of the story where the main character faces the most significant challenge. This moment is:
- High-stakes and emotionally charged
- The point at which the character’s growth or failure is determined
A satisfying climax is critical to creating a compelling plot. It should feel like the culmination of everything that’s happened before.
Falling Action: Resolving the Tension
After the climax, the falling action provides the necessary resolution. It’s the part where:
- Loose ends are tied up
- The aftermath of the conflict is shown
- The character deals with the consequences of their actions
This section should feel like a natural progression from the climax and set the stage for the resolution.
Resolution: The Story’s Conclusion
The resolution is where the protagonist’s journey ends. It answers any remaining questions and reveals the character’s final outcome. A strong resolution should:
- Provide closure
- Be satisfying to the reader
What Makes a Good Plot?
Now that you understand the key elements of a plot, let’s explore what makes a good novel plot. It’s not enough to simply follow the structure—your plot needs to engage and captivate your readers.
A Compelling Premise
At the core of any great plot is a premise that hooks the reader. Your premise should:
- Be unique and interesting
- Offer something new or different from what readers have seen before
The premise is what draws readers into your story, so take time to develop one that’s both original and exciting.
Forward Momentum
A good plot moves forward, always progressing toward the climax and resolution. There should never be a dull moment where the story feels stagnant. To maintain momentum, ensure that:
- Each scene serves a purpose
- The stakes keep increasing
- Characters evolve with each challenge they face
Forward momentum is essential for keeping the reader engaged and invested in the outcome.
Meaningful Conflict
Conflict is the driving force of your novel. A strong plot involves conflict that is:
- Internal (within the protagonist) and external (with other characters or the world around them)
- Complex, making the resolution satisfying
Without conflict, there is no story. Crafting meaningful and multi-layered conflict is one of the key aspects of how to plot a novel like a pro.
Strong Pacing
Pacing is the rhythm of your novel, determining how fast or slow the story progresses. To maintain strong pacing, ensure that:
- Tension rises gradually
- The pace varies to keep readers on their toes
- You don’t rush through major plot points
Well-paced novels balance high-action scenes with quieter, reflective moments to give readers a chance to catch their breath.
Satisfying Payoff
The payoff is the resolution to the story’s central conflict. It should be:
- Earned through the protagonist’s actions
- Emotionally fulfilling
Readers want to feel that the story has reached a satisfying conclusion, where the struggles and challenges faced throughout the novel have led to meaningful outcomes.
How to Plot a Novel Like a Pro: The Best Techniques
Now that we understand the basics of plot structure, it’s time to dive into some proven techniques for plotting your novel like a pro.
Step 1: Gather Your Puzzle Pieces
Before you start outlining your plot, it’s essential to gather all the key elements that will make up your story. Think of it as assembling a puzzle—each piece plays a crucial role in the final picture.
These key elements include:
- Protagonist: Who is the hero of your story, and what do they want?
- Antagonist: Who or what stands in the way of your protagonist’s goals?
- Setting: Where does your story take place? What world do your characters inhabit?
- Theme: What message or idea will your story explore?
- Conflict: What challenges will the protagonist face, and what are the stakes?
- Plot Events: What major events will drive your story forward?
Once you have all your pieces in place, you’ll be ready to begin structuring your plot.
Step 2: Use a Story Structure
With your puzzle pieces assembled, it’s time to arrange them into a coherent structure. The three-act structure is one of the most popular and effective ways to do this.
Act 1: Setup
The first act introduces your protagonist and establishes the world they live in. This act includes:
- Character introduction: Who are the main characters, and what is their situation?
- Inciting incident: The event that disrupts the status quo and pushes the protagonist into action.
Act 1 sets the stage for everything that follows, and it’s crucial that you lay a strong foundation here.
Act 2: Confrontation
Act 2 is where the bulk of the story takes place. The protagonist faces increasingly difficult obstacles as the tension builds toward the climax. This act includes:
- Rising action: Events that complicate the conflict and raise the stakes.
- Midpoint: A significant event that shifts the direction of the story.
Act 2 is often the longest part of the novel, but it’s essential for developing characters and driving the plot forward.
Act 3: Resolution
In the final act, the protagonist confronts their greatest challenge, and the conflict comes to a head. This act includes:
- Climax: The turning point where the protagonist faces the most intense challenge.
- Falling action: Events showing the aftermath of the climax.
- Resolution: The story’s conclusion and the character’s new status quo.
By following the three-act structure, you’ll ensure that your plot has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Step 3: Develop Subplots That Enhance Your Story
While the main plot is the backbone of your novel, subplots are equally important for enriching the narrative. Subplots provide depth and complexity, giving your characters more dimensions and providing the reader with a fuller experience.
What is a Subplot?
A subplot is a secondary story that runs parallel to the main plot, often involving supporting characters or different themes. Subplots can:
- Enhance character development: Show the growth or struggles of side characters.
- Build thematic depth: Explore other aspects of the story’s themes, such as love, betrayal, or identity.
- Create contrast: Provide a counterpoint to the main plot, adding balance and variety to the story.
How to Integrate Subplots
When integrating subplots, consider these tips to ensure they complement the main plot:
- Tie subplots to the main plot: The events in the subplot should have some relevance to the protagonist’s journey. For example, a subplot about a secondary character’s romantic struggle might impact the protagonist’s choices or growth.
- Keep it balanced: A subplot should never overshadow the main plot. It should run in parallel, offering depth without taking the focus away from the central conflict.
- Resolve subplots by the end: Like the main plot, subplots should come to a satisfying conclusion by the end of the novel. Ensure that loose ends are tied up.
By including well-crafted subplots, you’ll enhance the overall depth of your novel, creating a richer and more immersive story.
Step 4: Create Detailed Character Arcs
A great plot goes hand in hand with well-developed characters. One of the best ways to plot a compelling novel is by focusing on the character arcs—the internal journey your characters go through.
What is a Character Arc?
A character arc is the transformation a character undergoes throughout the story. It’s a journey from one state of being to another, often involving personal growth, realization, or a shift in perspective. There are several types of character arcs:
- Positive arc: The character grows and overcomes obstacles, emerging stronger.
- Negative arc: The character’s flaws or weaknesses lead to their downfall.
- Flat arc: The character remains relatively unchanged but helps drive the plot forward.
Plotting Character Arcs
When plotting a novel like a pro, it’s crucial to plan your character’s arc carefully. Here are some tips to help:
- Know the starting point: Where is your character at the beginning of the novel? What do they believe or want?
- Define the end goal: What change will the character experience by the end? What lesson will they learn, or how will they be transformed?
- Map out key moments: Identify critical points where the character must make decisions or face challenges that push them toward their arc’s resolution. These moments should be integral to both the plot and character development.
Creating a character arc that aligns with your novel’s plot will give your story emotional depth and allow readers to connect with your characters on a deeper level.
Step 5: Use the Hero’s Journey Framework
If you want to plot a novel that feels timeless and universally resonant, consider using the Hero’s Journey as a framework. This structure is used in many epic stories, from The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, and offers a powerful way to organize your plot.
What is the Hero’s Journey?
The Hero’s Journey is a narrative structure that follows a hero as they embark on an adventure, face trials, and return transformed. It includes several stages:
- The Call to Adventure: The hero is invited to embark on an adventure.
- Refusal of the Call: The hero initially hesitates or resists the call.
- Meeting the Mentor: The hero meets a guide who helps them on their journey.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero leaves their ordinary world and enters a new, unfamiliar world.
- Trials and Challenges: The hero faces challenges and obstacles.
- The Climax: The hero confronts the main antagonist or conflict.
- Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home, transformed and equipped with newfound wisdom or power.
How to Plot Using the Hero’s Journey
To plot a novel like a pro using the Hero’s Journey, follow these steps:
- Apply each stage: Use the stages of the Hero’s Journey as a framework for your plot. Start by introducing your protagonist and their ordinary world, then move through the various stages as the story unfolds.
- Adapt to your story: While the Hero’s Journey is a powerful tool, feel free to adapt it to fit your narrative. Your story doesn’t need to follow the exact order of events; instead, focus on ensuring that the hero undergoes a meaningful transformation.
- Make the hero’s return significant: The hero’s return home should show how they have changed, having learned important lessons or gained new skills.
Using the Hero’s Journey as a framework can provide a rich, archetypal structure to your novel, appealing to readers who enjoy stories of personal growth and adventure.
Step 6: Outline and Plan Your Novel
Once you’ve developed your characters, subplots, and story framework, it’s time to create a detailed outline. This is where you’ll plan out each chapter, scene, and turning point.
Why Outlining Works
Outlining is one of the most effective ways to plot a novel like a pro because it gives you a roadmap for your story. It helps:
- Ensure consistency: A detailed outline keeps the story focused and consistent.
- Maintain pacing: By mapping out the major events, you can balance the story’s pace and build tension effectively.
- Spot potential problems: Outlining helps you see plot holes, pacing issues, or inconsistencies before you start writing.
How to Create a Plot Outline
There are several approaches to outlining, and the method you choose depends on your writing style. Here are a few options:
- The Snowflake Method: Start with a simple one-sentence summary of your novel, then expand it into paragraphs, pages, and eventually full scenes.
- Scene-by-Scene Outline: Break the novel into scenes, planning out each one’s purpose and key details.
- Chapter-by-Chapter Outline: Plan out your novel chapter by chapter, outlining the main events, character developments, and conflicts for each chapter.
Regardless of which method you choose, the goal is to have a clear, organized plan to guide your writing.
Step 7: Stay Flexible and Embrace the Process
Finally, it’s essential to remember that plotting a novel is not a rigid process. As you write, new ideas may emerge, and you may find that your plot evolves in unexpected ways.
Embrace the Changes
Sometimes, as you write, the characters and story may take on a life of their own. This is a natural part of the writing process, and it’s okay to let the plot shift as needed. Just ensure that the changes stay consistent with the overall direction of the story.
Keep Iterating
Plotting doesn’t end with the outline. Throughout the writing process, you’ll likely need to revise and adjust your plot. Each draft should bring your story closer to the final vision, so don’t be afraid to revisit your plot outline and make adjustments as needed.
Conclusion: Plotting Like a Pro
Plotting a novel can seem intimidating at first, but with the right techniques and approach, you’ll be able to create a compelling, well-structured story. From outlining your novel to crafting rich character arcs and subplots, the process of plotting is what makes your story come to life.
By following the steps outlined in this post and keeping in mind the tips on how to plot a novel like a pro, you’ll develop a solid foundation that will help you navigate your writing journey with confidence.
Start small, stay flexible, and remember that every novel is a work in progress. The more you practice plotting, the easier it will become, and soon you’ll be plotting your novels like a pro every time.