A Solid Plot

We all know rocks are solid, and they make a pretty good dent on a window, or should I say, through a window.

Photo by Hugo_Fstop, courtesy of Flickr

Plot should be just that solid.

If our story lags mid way through the book or story, there is something wrong with our plot.

If our ending is less than to be desired; especially if our ending has a "white knight" who saves the day or the ending is forced or too predictable, we may have a problem with plot.

Plot is a little like life with all of its variables. Some variable are planned; others are surprises that yet take us to the happy ending. We may have been trying to pay off our debts and are suddenly able to do it, we may be saving for a new house or struggling with a divorce. The end of our dilemma doesn't need to be necessarily "happy" but it needs to be understandable and "real." It needs to be something that would really happen.

Of course, romance writers would tell me something different, (writing rules are made to be broken) and yet the ending still needs to reflect what the main character has been going through during the entire book. We can't have a problem solved suddenly of "forgiveness," for example, usually in one chapter, and definitely not completely at the end of the book if the character hasn't worked through the problem throughout the story. 

When you are working on your plot it may be a good idea for you to outline it, but don't get stuck on keeping the plot the way you've constructed it, especially if one of the characters tells you during the writing that this new plot in this particular arena, will work better. Listen to your characters, let them tell you what they will say and do in any given situation. 

Photo by Jude Doyland, courtesy of Flickr

A solid plot can break through your main character's problems, but a weak plot's resolution appears forced. You've probably been reading a book and suddenly rolled your eyes because you really didn't think that character would drink the glass of wine, or visit with that particular person in that way, or get a job in that field.

Mystery writers may be raising their eyebrows now. "But what about the stupid things that people do, like tasting that class of wine when they don't trust that person who poured it?" Sure, characters do stupid things, even out of character sometimes, but the brunt of the plot has solid characters, those that do what they do because of who they are.