How do Plot and Scene Work Together? Part 1

Updated August 2020

Many fiction writers struggle with what plot is and how to develop it, including me. We envision the end product and wonder how we’re going to get there.

Some writers develop their plot through first writing outlines (called plotters); some write by the seat of their pants (called pantsers). But much like a chef, our work has basic elements. The chef has meat, veggies, fruit, dairy, and spices. He combines these to create a delectable, unforgettable dish.

The writer has characters, goals, conflict, and setbacks, and blends them to create a riveting (best-selling, we hope) novel.

At its very basic, plot is characters attempting to reach goals, but who meet with conflict and setbacks along the way. Whether you are a writer who works with or without an outline, if these elements are missing from your manuscript, you do not have a story. So let’s look at how these elements fit together to build a plot.

Characters

• Like the movies, a story has lead characters (the protagonist and antagonist),
• supporting characters (those who support the protagonist or antagonist)
• and minor characters (those who never get a name).

Goals

• The protagonist has a goal and is working to reach that goal throughout each scene.
• The antagonist has a goal, which directly or indirectly opposes the protagonist’s goal. The antagonist believes in the “rightness” of his/her goal.

Conflict

• The primary conflict of your story is the opposing goals of the protagonist and antagonist.
• Conflict often includes the interior conflict of these characters, their own doubts and fears and false beliefs about their lives. In some stories, the interior conflict is the primary one.

Setbacks happen when a character fails to meet a smaller goal in her overarching plan to reach her major goal/dream. Each scene should have its own goal and setback that builds and moves the plot forward.

Example:

• Protagonist’s goal: build a strip mall.
• Antagonist’s goal: maintain the small town mom-and-pop businesses that a strip mall would destroy. (You could just as easily switch these roles.)
• The opposition of these goals is the crux of the conflict of your story.
• Setbacks occur as the antagonist blocks the protagonist’s attempts to build the mall, forcing the protagonist to find a new way to reach that goal.

This is plot at its most basic. So skeletal it is ghost like.  These are the foundational elements you build on as your create your story. As the chef may choose to wrap a slice of bacon around a filet mignon, this series will add the flavors of other story elements to build our final product.

Randy Ingermanson’s book allows you to develop your plot and characters. I find his method very helpful as you work on plot, then characters, then plot again, then characters again, building as your go.

Next time, we’ll discuss scenes.

Do you find plotting difficult? What helps you conquer your plotting issues? Have you found a book particularly helpful? Please share your experiences in the comment section.