To Suck or Not To Suck? [Writing Tips]

|28| Coming Up With A Plot

Requested by: @raelotte

Thanks for requesting!

This is similar to starting a story, but it requires a bit more thought and details. You can't just jump into a story without any idea where you want it to go. Well, you can, but chances are it won't work out very well. You'll get lost somewhere after chapter 10, and then because you're lost you lose passion for it. Therefore, the story is unpublished.

Now, I'm not going to tell you that you need to plan everything out, but it's nice to know where you're going. You know what I mean?

Anyway, a friend of mine once brought to my attention that you have to know how a story is going to end before it begins. It was something their preacher told them in a sermon that I don't really remember the context of, and I didn't think much of it then. Though as I started writing more, I realized they were right.

When I devise a plot I have a good idea on what I want to lead up to what. I usually have how I want everything to end already thought up, then I write a beginning, coming up with things to put in the middle randomly. I won't provide spoilers, but I did this with my story "Take Care" and I've already got the ending planned for "A Winter to Remember".

I think when you know where you're going, it's easier to get there. Where do you think you'll end up if you just jump in the car and drive without a destination? That might work in some indy rom-com, but I'm sure most people always have a destination in mind.

So to help you guys understand how to come up with a plot, I'm going to devise my own right now as I'm typing this chapter up. Seriously. Let's please not steal any of this. This is my brain child, and I might publish it one day. Keep in mind that these are the steps I use, so yours can go however you want them to.

1. Choose your Title. Okay, so you don't necessarily have to have a title first, but I'm going to chose a random one. My title is Fireproof.

2. Choose your Main Characters. If it's a WWE fan fiction, it's wise to have your characters chosen before you start to plot. Not every plot will work with every character. My main characters are going to be Sami Zayn and an OC named Dawson, nicknamed Monty.

3. Choose your Supporting Characters. The story can't all be about the two main characters. They need friends that are going to keep them grounded and just hang out with them when needed. My supporting characters are AJ Styles, Summer Rae, Emma, Kevin Owens, Naomi and Cesaro.

4. Choose your Setting. You've gotta know where and when the story is happening. This helps you add little details when writing that include the weather. If they're in Alaska, I highly doubt your characters are going to dress in shorts and go surfing. My setting is wherever WWE happens to be for the day. Let's say, for the first chapter, it's October in Chicago.

5. Choose your Description. A description, as I've said plenty of times before, draws people in. Short and concise work just as well as long and detailed, provided that long isn't a substitute for "drawn out". A description puts your plot into perspective. I'm not going to reveal my description just yet, since I got half way through it and hit a blank.

6. Choose your Ending. Jumping the gun? Nah, not at all. Somewhere in between steps 1-5, I decided that I am going to publish it, because lovely Sami Zayn needs more fanfics. This is why I'm not giving away an ending. It's not hard to end a story, which I'll actually be writing a chapter about soon, so I'm not going to go any deeper into that.

7. Choose your Beginning. You can choose any beginning you'd like. It can involve both of your main characters, or just one of them, or one of them and a supporting character. My beginning is going to involve Monty and AJ Styles.

8. Choose your Middle. This is basically a lot of steps watered down into one. To get from the beginning to the ending, you need a middle. And it can't just be random things thrown in that aren't relevant to the plot. The things can be random, but they indeed have to further the plot or the development of the characters. A trip brings the two main characters together, or a supporting character puts the main character in their place. Middle details are the easiest to come up with, because you can take your time cruising through the plot and to the end.

Those are the eight steps I use when creating a plot, although now I realize that this entire chapter was basically about putting together a story, so I don't think there's a need to ever request that. I just handed you all the steps on a silver platter.

But really an idea for a plot can hit you at any time. When you hear a quote on a television show, or listen to a song you really love. Ideas come to me even when I try to stop my brain from plotting stories I know I'll never have time to write. I just created the plot up there by picking a title and characters, and if I can do that you can to.

I now present you with this small excerpt of chapter one:

"Why are you out here anyhow," AJ asks after he's taken a drink of coffee. "It's cold as all get out."

The two stare at the cars passing by on the highway from where they sit on a bench at the back of the hotel, Monty stirring her coffee gently with its thin black straw before she takes a sip. "I like the cold, Allen." They're in Chicago and ever since she's been working with WWE, she gets a nagging feeling in her stomach whenever she steps foot in the Windy City.

I included Chicago, the cold, and AJ + Monty just like I said I would while plotting. It really is that easy. Hope this chapter was helpful and see you guys in the next one where I will be discussing writer's block. Until then, be on the lookout for "Fireproof".

To Suck

Jumping into a plot with no idea at all where you're going to go with it. This can lead to loss of passion, plot complications/contradictions, and confusion to yourself, as well as the reader.

Not To Suck

If you don't like planning before writing that's fine, but you must have at least one important piece of the plot thought up before writing. Figuring out the end first is one of the easiest ways to navigate from the beginning to the end. You spend less time worrying about how you're going to wrap everything up if you already know. The only thing you'll have to worry about is middle details.

Coming up:
-Writer's block
-POC shortage in stories
-How we know we're good writers
-Ending stories

*Requests Closed