These 3 plotting methods that are sure to get you writing!
Have you ever had a brilliant story idea, sat down at your computer, and written for hours? Only to discover, hours later, that your story rambled here and there, only vaguely hinting at a plot?
I know I’ve been in this situation many times.
Look, I’m going to tell you a hard and simple truth: a story without a plot is NOT a story. A plot is like a skeleton… it’s unseen, sometimes forgotten amidst great characters and immersive settings, but it provides the very essence and structure of a story. You need to sit down and plot before you do anything else.
Even as an editor, aspiring author, and graduate student of English Literature, plotting is still my nemesis. I can create engaging characters, original settings, even moments of a story so easily, but sitting down to plot is absolutely, maddeningly frustrating.
So, I began researching various methods of plotting. I realized that a simple outline is not the only way to plot a novel – not at all! Many people have created their own individual plotting methods, and in this post, I’ll share 3 of the best ones that I’ve found!
Snowball Method - invented by Randy Ingermanson
This method is so brilliant. It is great for pantsers who may prefer to ‘discover’ their plot as they write.
The method is this: write one summary sentence of your novel. Try to keep it short and sweet and succinct. Then, write one paragraph that expands upon that sentence. Then, take each sentence in the previous paragraph and expand upon it; creating another paragraph from each sentence. And continue doing this until you have enough moments / plot points to begin arranging and rearranging those plot points. It is a brilliant method. When I use this one, I prefer to color code my first sentences using highlighters, so that I can visualize my work even better.
Why this method is great: you may find yourself writing pieces or moments of your novel that you hadn’t even thought of before… it aids discovery.
Why this method is not so great: If you prefer more linear plot outlines, this method might feel scattered and lack structure.
Post - it / Index Card Method - often used in Hollywood
This method is one of my favorites. In this method, write out all your known plot points or moments of your novel. It is okay if you do not know each plot point yet. Just write the ones you do know. After doing this, stick or pin each post - it / card to a wall, corkboard, poster, or anywhere. Visualize your story, see where there are gaps in the plot, mull them over and fill them in.
Why this method is great: It allows you to visualize your novel, and rearrange plot points as you wish.
Why this method is not so great: Honestly, I see no downsides to this method.
Character Timeline Method - famously used by J.K. Rowling
This method is great for keeping track of ones’ various plots and subplots. It is pretty simple, too. It consists simply of columns that correlate to the time / individual chapter on the left-hand side.
Like so:
Chapter - Time - Chapter Title - PlotPoint - SubPlot
Why this method is great: it is very helpful to keep all your information in one easily-accessible outline.
Why this method is not so great: it is quite condensed. So, I suggest writing further plot details in a separate notebook.
So, there you have it, 3 of the best plotting methods I’ve come across in my endless search for plotting aids. Please try these out, and let me know your thoughts!
-Bridget H
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