One Stop Shop for Writing Inspiration: Plots

Plots are what water is for humans—essential for survival. Without a plot you’re doomed for failure because the plot is your story. For example, in the Harry Potter series, the plot is about a boy wizard and his adventures which are namely trying to destroy the evil Lord Voldemort. But if you rip out everything that has to do with the plot than you’re left with wizards going to a mundane boarding school. On the bright side they learn some cool wizard magic stuff and the book receivers an award for being snooze worthy. Don’t let your story be snooze worthy. How do I know my story isn’t already a snooze? Good question. Let me break it down.

Plot

If I haven’t already convinced you—just have a plot. Make it as original or as unoriginal as you please, but just have one. Nothing is more confusing than a story with no plot. Here are some vague plot themes for those who have no clue what their plot theme should be:

Quest, Adventure, Rescue, Escape, Revenge, Rivalry, Temptation, Maturation, Love, Forbidden love, Sacrifice, Discovery

Most of those themes mentioned above are generally the type of stories readers are interested in. Heck, I’m interested in all of those puppies.

Not Everything You Write Will Move the Plot Along

I cannot stress this point enough. Whether it is you have too much detail the reader does not care to know or does not need to know.

Example: the overly used dragged out morning tasks:

“My alarm clock went off, signaling I should get up and get ready for school. I rose and stretched my muscles out, hearing them pop. Then I went to my closet and browsed through, not liking any of the choices. Then in the back I spotted my favorite band t-shirt and put that on. After that I found a pair of ripped jeans and slipped them on. Then off to the bathroom I went and groaned at how my hair looked…. Blah blah blah.”

Just stop right there. That up there does not in any way move the plot along unless your plot is the everyday life of a normal human getting ready for the day. Not one of your readers is going to care about the mundane routine because we all know about it and have done it since birth. The only exception would be if it’s a lot shorter and not boring. Generally, I like to follow the two to three sentence rule. That way I know I won’t have anyone snoozing away.

I’ll admit I have committed this sin in the early stages of my writing. Who isn’t guilty of doing so? It’s almost a default when writing, but, ease yourself slowly away from dragging out tasks. Your writing will be much better off without it.

The Predictable, I’ve Read It a Million Times Cliché

If you must be cliché go for it because who doesn’t love a great cliché to make the heart swell? But don’t make it predictable. Invent a twist or two. Keep the reader on their toes and don’t let them be able to see the end until the end is so near the readers fall out of their seats in surprise.

A classic but favorite cliché I enjoy is:

Boy meets Girl | Boy likes Girl | Girl hates Boy

I’ve seen many of twists on that one and they all are unique and intrigue me to keep reading. It’s not the twists that sell me though and they probably don’t sell others either. The characters make the clichés less predictable. Develop and mold them real good and let us feel the emotions and experience their lives. Chances are if you can do that, we don’t care how cliché your plot is. We are invested in those characters and their story. You have us hook, line, and sinker.

Basically, it is your story. You can be unoriginal and cliché filled because you will make it original and one of a kind. Go with whatever you please because you’re the writer and I’m simply the peanut gallery of the hater and lover.