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Plot A Problem
Author: Arline Chandler
Webster’s Dictionary defines a plot as the plan or main story of a novel, a play, or a poem. The late Lee Wyndham, author of Writing for Children and Teenagers, says that a plot is a plan of action devised to achieve a definite and much desired end—through cause and effect.
Note the key word in both definitions: PLAN.
Plans for writing are as varied as the writers who create them. Some claim they have no outline—even in their mind. They merely write from beginning to end. Author and historian, Velda Brotherton (www.veldabrotherton.com) is one such writer. She says that once she outlines a book, she is no longer compelled to write it.
Others insist that a structured outline is the “right” way to go. An outline, however, can be vast. It may be a mind map that resembles a spider web, or a series of storyboards—each housing various scenes. It may be a series of ideas written on index cards and spread across the floor or sticky notes stuck to a wall—all endlessly rearranged. Or it may be a table consisting of chapter titles and the main action in each chapter.
However you plot your problem, Nancy Lamb, author of Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children, says, “Think of structure as a series of road signs posted along the journey of your story. Think also of structure as the rails that keep you from straying from the true course of a story.”
Lamb goes on to say that the most basic element of a plot is: beginning, middle, and end. “In the beginning, define what your hero wants and why he wants it. In the middle, create obstacles the hero must overcome in order to accomplish his goal. In the end, resolve the situation in a believable and logical way.”
Lamb uses chapter-by-chapter charts to plan the main action and the side plots of her stories. Whether she is writing fiction, non-fiction, short books or long ones, she always breaks down each chapter and notes which characters and situations are involved—to provide an overview of the entire book.
In Sandy Asher’s book Wild Words: How To Tame Them To Tell Stories, she gives an example of plotting a story beginning with a character who wants something. Something the main character wants is also defined as the problem, and every effective story must have a problem for the hero or heroine to resolve.
Next, Asher introduces obstacles into the character’s life that come between her and her goal. The obstacles could be physical, such as an illness, a handicap, a house fire, a storm, a creek too deep to ford, or a family’s relocation. The list is endless.
Obstacles could also be other people: an indifferent teacher, an overworked parent, a bossy friend, or another friend who stoops to cheating in competitions. The obstacle could be within the heroine, herself: she is shy, fearful, superstitious, lacking in confidence, or dependent on the approval of others. Or the obstacle can be a mixture of issues.
There is, however, one caveat when it comes to children's storytelling. In a children’s book or story the writer must get to the problem immediately.
Writer, Lee Roddy (www.leeroddybooks.com,) says “After establishing what the character wants, introduce a series of incidents. Alternate favorable with unfavorable. Have your character win, lose, win, lose. Save the biggest and worst hurdle for the incident right before the ending. When it looks as though the rug has been yanked from under your character, then resolve the problem.”
And remember the solution to the problem must come from your hero or heroine. Allowing a parent or teacher to step in and make things right never satisfies young readers.
Remember the solution to the problem must come from your character. Allowing a parent or teacher to step in and make things right never satisfies young readers. Once the problem is solved—the character gets what he wants—the story ends. Resist explanations. Leave the ending in the minds and hearts of your readers.
This column first appeared on DM in 2009, but we think you'll agree that it still has some good information!
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