Whether you start your novel by first creating a great character or your start with a specific plot in mind really doesn’t matter. It’s the old story of the chicken and the egg. Which came first? No one really knows. So it is with character and plot. Either one will start a novel.

First let’s define plot. It is whatever happens in a story. It is what holds the story together and tells WHY it all happened. It is a detailed outlining of a story that includes the maneuvering of your characters and events to achieve a certain outcome.

Another way of looking at plot is that it is the PLAN of the story. A story is just the telling of events, while a plot involves the cause and effect of the character’s behaviors both externally and internally as s/he tries to understand and deal with the various actions and emotional events that keep occurring.

Basically, and we love the basics, there are four kinds of plots or conflict:

1 – Man against Man
2 – Man against Nature
3 – Man against Society
4 – Man against Himself

Within these categories, there are many sub-plots such as quest (Don Quixote which is Man against Society), revenge (The Count of Monte Cristo, or Man against Man), adventure (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea or Man against Nature), transformation (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or Man against Himself)

Plot development can be divided into seven stages:

– The initial situation or introduction
- the inciting incident that triggers conflict
- setting
- introduction of main character(s)
- other necessary facts to introduce plot

– The conflict that faces the main character
- large or small problem that turns life upside down - - - - dilemma or problem that needs solving

– The complication that comes because of the conflict
- obstacles the main character has to overcome

– The events which intensify the conflict
- suspense or tension as the complication gets worse
- more complications each one a bit more difficult to overcome

– The Climax, when all seems lost
- main character overcomes all, solves dilemma or problem

– The resolution of the complication

– The ending or follow-up if needed

Here is yet another way of explaining plot:

1 – a character
2 – in a specific setting
3 – has a problem
4 – that s/he has to solve
5 – character tries and fails
6 – tries again and fails
7 – until all appears lost
8 – character overcomes all odds to make one final try
9 – and finally succeeds
10 – bringing validation for this character

This might seem like a simplistic explanation, but the purpose is to help you get started on your book. These stages are at the base of almost every novel. Extra complications and subplots can be placed in your book, but the main story will follow this model.

How will you plot your novel? Because there are so many different methods of plotting and everyone does it their way, we are not advocating any certain method. Some people need a detailed outline, while others find it easier simply to start writing.

However, plots can be tricky animals to keep straight. Perhaps you are on Chapter Four and you suddenly realize that that second murdered victim needs to have made an appearance several chapters back. To help keep track of your plotting we are providing a number of plotting forms that you can use. Experiment with them and see which works for you. Visit the Plotting Form page for an explanation of the forms.