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What is meant by the four letter
word, plot? The plot, problem,
unfolds to tell a tale. It is the
action that keeps readers wanting
to know the story's end. It thins
down to the structure of your story.
Plot is the idea of a story. A
character almost succeeds, but
some unseen problem, force, creeps
in to frustrate him/her. Happiness
is peeled away.
A character must try and fail, at
least, three times before reaching
a goal.
An obstacle urges a character to
try something, anything, else.
Conflict
On page one, introduce the main
character(s), and show what issue(s)
is involved. The conflict serves
to hold the reader's attention.
People will connect, in some way,
to the story.
He/she could dislike a character,
and want to see how the tale plays
out. You never know who will be
liked or hated in fiction. The
writer's goal is to engage the
reader's attention.
If people aren't hooked by your
fiction, re-read this post. Next,
contact me.
Rising Conflict
Everything, in the story, leads
up to this point. Suspense is
heightened.
Climax
This is where the emotion is
highest, turning point.
Actions Falls
The problem(s) is solved.
Short stories, usually, have one
problem.
In long fiction, more than one
issue is required. A big problem,
and a minor one. Some writers throw
in several complications. Read over
my example.
Mrs. Dawthorne knocked on Thomas'
front door.
He opened it, yawned.
"Curb yer trash. Nobody understands
why ya not takin' it to the curb."
Mrs. Dawthorne argued.
"Yeah, right." Thomas slammed the
door in her face.
Mrs. Dawthorne and her cane
limped home.
He paced down the street to Mrs.
Dawthorne's house as she reached
her bottom step.
"Why ya all up in my business,
old lady?"
People gathered around them. Mrs.
Dawthorne was looked at as the person
everyone turned to with problems.
"Back-up, boy," Mr. Darthy stated.
"Let him go," Mrs. Dawthorne said.
The crowd parted to let Thomas
through.
"I'll get him to curb his trash."
Mrs. Dawthorne told Mr. Darthy as
they walked away.
Everyone dispersed.
The next day, Mrs. Dawthorne went
to Thomas' house, bumped into Gail.
She's Thomas' girl-friend.
"Hey, Gail," Mrs. Dawthorne spoke.
"Hey."
"Thomas won't take his trash to the
curb, and we tired of doin' it for him.
Can you get him to understand that?"
"Ain't my problem. Gail stared at her.
"Ya need to stop hatin'."
"Ya mean leave his garbage on the
porch, and let the summer heat cook-up
a stink."
"Whateva." Gail motioned to unlock
Thomas' front door.
Mrs. Dawthorne fell against Gail in
an attempt to move too fast.
Thomas snatched open the door.
Gail lost her footing as a result of
Thomas' action. She bumped
her head on the porch's rail. Mrs.
Dawthorne broke her fall by grabbing
onto the rail.
Several neighbors rushed to Mrs.
Dawthorne's side, steadied her.
"What the..." Thomas began.
"Accident," Mrs. Dawthorne
interrupted.
"Like I believe that." Thomas told
Gail to get inside of the house.
Gail remained motionless.
Thomas pulled-out his wireless
phone.
"Gail," Mrs. Dawthorne called.
"Get off my porch!" Thomas
ordered.
"Watch how ya talk to her," Mr.
Darthy warned.
"Let's go," Mrs. Dawthorne
commented, "his fault anyways."
Mrs. Dawthorne, Mr. Darthy, and
the others left.
Several hours later, Mrs. Dawthorne
knocked on Thomas' door.
"What?" He positioned the door
between them.
"Just wanted to know how Gail was."
"She all 'ight. No, she ain't go to
the hospital." He closed the front
door back.
"Just curb the garbage!" Mrs.
Dawthorne went home, retired
to bed.
Thomas knocked on Mrs.
Dawthorne's door, the next
morning.
"What do you want?" She hollered
through the door.
"I'm done hasslin'." He paused.
"Ain't no problem with me curbin'
my trash."
Mr. Darthy opened the door.
"That's all we wanted." Mrs.
Dawthorne's eyes rolled to the
floor. "How's Gail?"
"Stubborn, but all 'ight."
Thomas retreated.
In closing, a good plot
boils down to conflict and
suspense. Those two will
hook the reader.
