Lesson 2: Intriguing Plot [Part 2]

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by ForeverTall

by ForeverTall

Part 2: Intriguing Plot

Abbreviation: MC = Main Character

Think of a CONFLICT (something wrong that your MC must fix):

Examples:

*Something has been stolen and your MC must get it back

*Someone is in trouble and your MC must save him/her

*A bad force is trying to take over the land

*A new leader is in charge and is harming the people

Add a DILEMMA – two equally terrible choices your MC has:

*If Harry decides not to take on Voldemort, Voldemort will take over the world. If he DOES decide to take on Voldemort, he risks his own life

*Katniss either has to let her little sister go to the Hunger Games, and she will certainly lose, or go herself and risk being killed.

*If Woody doesn’t rescue Buzz, his friends will hate him forever. If he tries to rescue him, he might be lost in the outside word forever.

Questions:

*Who is your character’s enemy?

*Who is your character’s ally?

*Who is your character’s mentor?

*Who is your character’s leader?

You might be asking yourself, “How do I make my plot more intense and intriguing?”

Here’s an example of intensifying a story:

Jade has loved writing all her life, and when she gets the opportunity to go to England for a competition, she’s ecstatic. When the whole school is called down for an assembly, everything changes. The principal announces the two competitors that will be flying to England. When Jade’s name gets called, she proudly goes to stand up next to the principal. Then the second name is called, and she can’t believe her ears. Her best friend entered the competition as well. Later on in the halls, Jade approaches her best friend, Kate.

“How could you? You know I’ve loved writing for my entire life! Why would you enter? You don’t even like it as much as I do.”

“It’s always been about you, Jade. It’s my turn to be in the spotlight.”

You might be asking yourself, ‘How was that intense?”

What made it intense was that Jade found out that her best friend joined the competition in a public place, so not only did it make it awkward, but it made it surprising and unexpected. Second, her friend seems to be sick of Jade stealing the spotlight, so you can tell they won’t exactly be friendly when the competition rolls around. After all, they’re going to be competing against each other for the prize.

Now, what I mentioned about it being public is important. If you want to make something intense or awkward happen, MAKE IT PUBLIC.

Why?

It intensifies the story and intrigues your readers.