Lesson 2: Intriguing Plot [Part 1]

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by ForeverTall

Dedicated to WandererAtHeart

by ForeverTall

Lesson 2: Intriguing Plot

Like it or not, we all know the plots about the good girl falling for the bad guy, correct? Or, in the movie ‘Megamind,’ for example, where the villain falls for the good girl (the reporter) which is basically the opposite of the first sentence.

Let’s face it.

We can basically guess the ending from the first paragraph. Okay, maybe the second. Or third. You get the point. Not only is it annoying (well, to me it is), but it’s so commonly overused that I’m seriously wondering what people’s state of mind is when they write this stuff. I mean, how many times do you have to repeat the same story line over and over again?

If there’s no conflict, there’s no story. Simple as that. All books/stories are about a character, who wants something, and something get’s in the way. You have a story if you have these three things.

Who is your main character?

What does your character want?

Examples of what your character might want:

*To win (the game, the contest, the war, etc)

*To complete a quest (get the magical cupcake, save someone, travel around the word in two days)

*To find love/friendship

*To solve a mystery

Why do they want it?

What is conflict?

*Man vs. Nature

*Man vs. Man > Enemies (clear bad guy)

> Two people who want the same thing (could be a friend)

*Man vs. Self > Have to overcome a weakness

> Want opposing things at the same time

Who tries to keep your main character from getting what they want? Why?

How do you make the conflict even MORE intense?

Pick the Right Location:

*Where is the most awkward place for your conflict to occur?

‘Hitting Below the Belt’ or Bringing Up the Past:

*What other issues can characters dig up to make the situation even worse?

Example of ‘Hitting Below the Belt’: “You’re just like your mother. A whore.”

Allies and Enemies:

*Who does your character want on their side? Who do they view as an enemy?

Create Win-Win Situations

Make sure to create so-called win-win situations throughout your story. Don’t make everything into a conflict.

[I cannot take credit for this entire lesson, for I got some of the information from a workshop handout. This information is ONLY meant to help fellow authors here on Wattpad.]