Creating a Great Plot

Plots are one thing every book needs. Unfortunately, coming up with the best plot is not always easy.

Sure, there are times I feel as if a particular story is already in my head, but, more often, the story hasn't been lived in my own life yet so I have difficulties presenting it to the world.

Let me explain what I mean.

"Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones," was already written; all I needed was an initial idea and it was pretty smooth sailing. With the second book in the series (which, by the way started out quite differently, with an old man as the main character) I was hung up on the plot. Everything I put to paper seemed wrong, that was, until the day I met with my sisters and shared my dilemma.

Ideas flowed after that. The lunch with my sisters got me started. I knew that the main character had to be the same as the main character in the first book, and she needed a new problem in her life, a problem that would take her to an entirely new level of living and responding to life.

I knew I couldn't write the book the same way; meaning I didn't want to have five stones again, or the same background story getting the main character to the end of the book, but I wasn't sure what would come instead.



Photo by: simple up, courtesy of Flickr

I began writing anyway. Through a few pages I realized something. Besides knowing what the woman's problem would be--not being able to have a baby--I knew that she would be struggling with the five stones; I also knew I'd need a new visual if you will and if it couldn't be the stones it would have to be something else.

A pink cupcake was born.

Now, I'm not going to tell you the meaning of the cupcake. And I'm not going to take you through the plot I have so far (I want you to read the book after all) but I want to clue you in about how to create a great plot, at least the way I create a great plot.

• Try not to rush it. Allow the story to speak through you. If you don't know the entire plot when first undertaking a book, begin anyway, the entire plot will come.
• Keep a distance. Sometimes you need to experience a part of life before you can truly understand what a particular character is going through.
• If the idea for a new book isn't coming at all, do some waiting. Ask questions of those you trust. They just may have an idea that will work for you.
• Make sure you have a big enough problem to carry the main character through the book, and don't have the character solve their problem too easily. I use the 5 times rule. The main character tries at least 5 methods to overcome his/her problem. Not one of them works until try 5 or 6.
• If your book is a series, make it unique enough to stand on its own. You don't want your reader saying, "This sounds just like the first book." You want the books to connect but you don't want them to mirror each other in the same way you would look at yourself wearing the same outfit. Writing a series is sort of like looking at yourself in the mirror wearing a pink outfit, but the mirror shows you wearing a red one. 

When it comes to creating a great plot, the plot will only be as great as you let it. If you try to push your views too hard, or push the plot in the way you like the best, you may find that a great amount of re-writing is needed.

Do it right the first time.

Dialogue that's Real


I don't know about you, but having a great conversation is the next best thing to eating a chocolate doughnut. I love to talk, and I love to listen, and I love words (no surprise there).


Photo by: stu_spivack, courtesy of Flickr

Dialogue comes in all shapes and sizes in real life just like it should come in the real world called our latest novel. But sometimes, (dare I say it?) we find that our book dialogue is stilted, untrue, long-winded, boring, and altogether unrealistic.

Yes, real life dialogue can run the same gamut, but usually it's real enough in getting us to continue with our conversation. If the conversation turns sour we usually stop speaking, leave the room, or speak with someone else in the group.

Unfortunately, in a novel, we really can't stop speaking. (There's something about pure setting that really bores the reader). We can't leave the room (because again we're looking around at the pretty rose bushes in the charming garden of our main character for all time) and we can speak to someone else in the group I suppose, though the main character will still need to speak at some point in our novel.

What we can do is to create real dialogue in the first place instead of something else. And that takes practice.

Here are some helps:

• Consider a real conversation and base your book dialogue off of that. What do people really say? "I can't believe it! Are you serious?" or do they say, "I am full of disbelief. You are talking to me like you're not very serious"?

I hope you chose the first option. No one I know says, "I am full of disbelief. You are talking to me like you're not very serious."

• Consider the actions that accompany the dialogue. "I can't believe it! Are you serious?" Charly tugged at her shirt, trying to cover up the offending navel. Or, "I am full of disbelief. You are talking to me like you're not very serious." Charly thought her friend didn't understand about the latest styles. She liked the style.  

Just say it without saying everything. Your reader will figure it out if you say it without so many superfluous 'explaining' words. We know in the first instance that Charly was wearing a shirt that showed her navel. We also know that her friend was 'offended' by it.

• Consider how often you use dialogue. I have said this before but it bears repeating. A great book has a mixture of dialogue and setting; one doesn't overrun the other, though dialogue usually plays a slightly higher hand than setting. Look over a page of your writing. Do you have more dialogue or more setting? Dialogue will keep your writing clipping along; setting gives it more of a pause. Let me put it this way: Have you ever skipped long winded setting to get to the next piece of dialogue?

In the end, dialogue that is real takes the pressure off your readers. Instead of hoping your story gets better, they can't wait to find out what happens next.

Speaking Your Mind in Writing

Especially if you're writing non-fiction, speaking your mind appears to be a general rule. You're writing your truth after all, and you have some you'd like to share.

Photo by: Balaji.B, courtesy of Flickr

Unfortunately, sharing your mind in writing can be like talking to a friend and instead of listening, telling her what to do. Self-help books fall into this category, but even with a self-help book there are moments for breathers if you will, moments for the reader to seek out some reflection. The best self-help books don't merely speak their minds through you, they offer ways for the reader to take a look at their own pace.

When you speak your mind in book form, it shouldn't be spoon feeding, (making sure your reader knows everything you know) in fact, a few ideas are better; and with these ideas folks can decide what works for them and what doesn't.

Stepping back a little is a good way to see if your writing is ready for the public. After giving your first draft a few weeks of sitting alone, read it again. Pretend as if this friend is speaking to you for the first time and sharing her ideas.

Photo by oddharmonic, courtesy of Flickr

• Take a look at how you feel. Do you feel guilty? Do you feel happy about what you're reading? Granted, there might be a very good reason you're feeling guilty, but at the same time there should be room in your non-fiction book for understanding and room for growth.
• Do you stop often in your book to reflect on what you've just read, or do you feel as if you don't need to think at all? Is everything handed to you on a platter?

My book, "Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones," had a little bit of everything that I've mentioned. Is it a perfect read? Nope. But there are some things I'd like to mention.

Some said the book was too simple.

Others said that the book was so deep that they took notes in the margins.

A few stopped reading at chapter 2. They couldn't read on because the book sounded too much like them and their struggles with Trust. They picked up the book later, after they'd had some time to think about it.

Others read the book through in one or two days, saying they couldn't put it down.

Some have read it twice. First as merely a novel with a story, the second as a story with opportunities to learn new things and take notes.

Often, in non-fiction, where the person is currently standing in their personal life, reflects the comments they give you. And that's okay too.

In speaking your mind you still need to be honest with the truth as you see it.