Plot Rule One

[clarentine]

Plot, Rule One: make sure the opening conflict, the point from which your story begins, relates directly to the rest of your plot.

That is all.

::smacks self upside head::

Amongst the online discussions of Alfred Noyes' poem The Highwayman, there is one that ponders why Loreena McKennitt's [excellent, truly excellent] version omits verses that make it clear how the authorities learned about the bandit's plans to steal the gold and where to find him. This, it occurs to me, is a valid plot quibble.

And it's what was wrong with the opening for what I've been referring to, variously, as the pirate story, Josh's story, and the Highwayman story. I got two scenes down on paper, and stalled. Why? Because I didn't know what happened next.

Because it wasn't connected to what the story was about.

If, however, I make the attack that occurs in the first scene happen as a direct result of the conflict Josh faces through the rest of the book, then I suddenly know (a) the much less generalized location of the opening scenes, (b) the motive of the men participating in that first attack, (c) the motive of the men participating in the second attack, and (d) what happens next.

Color me pleased.

Comments

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

Wooo Chris! Having the plot click into place is a great feeling. Makes writing the rest of the book so much easier. *g*

[clarentine]

It's amazing, isn't it, that I still trip over such elementary concepts? I have to keep reminding myself that there is a reason things happen, and to make those reasons clear.

I suppose this is progress, though, because for earlier stories (most recently, Cavalier), I just started writing and let the story flow where it wanted, and lo and behold, I had plot! Weak, but plot. After much revision, sweat, and blood, it all made sense. >;-] Josh won't even talk to me without knowing why he's supposed to be doing something.