Writing Tips

First Thing's First: You Need a Plot

Maybe you're stuck in that forbidden place in which you want to write a book so badly but you just can't find that plot. If this is your first time writing, it's completely okay that you feel this way. I've been writing since I was five and I still have trouble finding that one plot. (Yes, I've been writing since kindergarten. I used to write little picture books. Granted, I've gotten better *cough* hopefully *cough*, and my spelling and grammar has gotten better *cough* again, hopefully *cough*.)

On the flip side, maybe there are too many plot bunnies hopping around and you want to do it all. This also happens to me, considering my mind never stops running.

Both of these scenarios have happened to the best of us (I mean, come on it's happening to you right now, and you should without a doubt be considered the best of us), so relax. I can try to give you some tips that might help untangle your mind or put it into action. Just go to the section you need down below.

Can't think of any plots?

Fear not, my friend. This doesn't mean you aren't creative. It just means you need to think outside of the box. Hopefully the following will help you:

1. Don't reject every idea that comes to mind. If you do that, the good ones could be long gone. Test out the ideas that you think are horrible. Maybe these are the ideas that'll work.

2. Find writing prompts online. Trust me, some of these are good ones. You could even combine some of the plots to make one big one. Remember: these are just story starters, not whole stories. Also, if you look at to many, you may find you have the opposite problem: too many ideas.

3. Create ideas out of dreams. Now this is a tricky one, because not all dreams are good. And this only works for if you have vivid dreams you can remember as if you actually lived them (not unlike myself). Dreams so vague you can only remember one detail might work, but only if it's a memory that could be turned into a plot. If you have a dream about your pants falling off in the middle of class, there's only a small chance that this could be turned into a dream. I'm saying 'small chance' because you could still turn it into a story, it just depends on context. However, , you could turn them into a good plot too. You don't have to go precisely off of the dream. For example, if the main characters are you and your friends/family/someone you know, you could create different characters to fill their places. Or, you could twist the dream around with some "What ifs?". (Example: what if instead of this happening, this happened instead?) It's okay if you don't remember each and everyone of your dreams, and it's okay if you don't remember them at all. This technique is not for everyone.

4. Read, don't watch. This may or may not have been obvious. Reading opens the mind to endless possibilities and takes us into worlds we thought unimaginable. It lets the imagination loose and exercises it until it's strong enough to work on its own. Watching TV could help you find a good plot to your story, depending on how your mind works, but it just won't work your imagination the same way reading does.

Can't put the reigns around one good plot?

Trust me: my mind is filled with unfulfilled plot ideas. This isn't a bad thing, but it also might not be a good thing. The water you're treading in has potential danger: too much of a good thing isn't good for any of us.

1. Combine ideas. Sometimes your ideas a good enough to combine into one giant story. But, these only work for like plots. For example, if you have an idea about next door neighbors falling in love and an alien invasion, you could combine them to create a story about two lovers defending humanity (I'm sure this has been done, but you get the point). However, if you have an idea about a superhero hotel and a wild western chick flick, please for the love of all things don't combine these two unless you're positive it'll make sense.

2. Write separate stories for your plots. This is dangerous territory you'd be walking into because I've tried to write several books at once before, and trust me: it isn't easy. If you can manage this, then awesome! If you can't, then don't put the stress on yourself.

3. Sit down and figure out which idea you like best. Sometimes you'll have no other option but to put aside some time to figure it all out. You don't even have to sit down to do this. Going for a walk, getting some fresh air, this should help.

Still stuck? Put your problems in the comments and I can attempt to help. If this chapter helped, let me know by clicking (or tapping) the vote button. If not, once again, put it in the comments. Thanks!