LOST writing class #8: Plot basics
You know who your story is about now, but what IS it about? Any clue? Maybe it started as a what if question: what if a plane crashed on a special island? Maybe you came up with a character. Maybe you started with the idea of a character: Jack is a doctor who has a compulsive need to fix things and ends stranded on an island where he can't. Or maybe you got your idea from some other show/movie/book: Castaway meets Survivor.
Doesn't matter where you got the idea or how the story started, what matters is where it's going. If character is the WHO, then plot is the WHAT of your story. What happens? What obstacles keep the hero from getting what he wants? What is the beginning, the middle and the end of your tale?
You'll need to know some terms that we'll be using for the next few weeks.
The PREMISE of your story is basically who wants what and why and the obstacles they come up against (remember our talk about GMC?). That's your jumping off point.
The INCITING INCIDENT is the action that spurs the story into motion. It's the first doorway your hero has to pass through (whether his choice or not). In LOST, it's the plane crash.
RISING ACTION is when the obstacles get bigger and require even bigger solutions. It's climbing up the mountain to reach the top. Look at how much bigger the finales have come since the first season.
BLACK MOMENT is the point of your story when all seems lost. The hero sees no chance of reaching his goal and wants to give up. There's so too many to mention here. One of my favorites is Locke pounding on the hatch door after Boone gets injured by the falling plane.
CLIMAX is the high point of your story. The do or die moment. The final showdown. This is where we're heading in the next season. YAY!
RESOLUTION is the point when your story's central conflict has been resolved. The ends are tied up and the hero reaches his goal. I don't know about anyone else, but I've got a countdown and can't WAIT to see how this will all turn out.
SUBPLOTS are interwoven with the main plot, often reinforcing the focus of your story or acting as counterpoints. They often get introduced later and are resolved sooner than the main conflict. If the main plot is the Losties getting off the island, then DHARMA initiative and the Others are subplots. Jin and Sun's relationship. The love rectangle of Jack, Juliet, Kate and Sawyer.
Next week will look at the three act structure and how to plot out your novel. So come back!
Doesn't matter where you got the idea or how the story started, what matters is where it's going. If character is the WHO, then plot is the WHAT of your story. What happens? What obstacles keep the hero from getting what he wants? What is the beginning, the middle and the end of your tale?
You'll need to know some terms that we'll be using for the next few weeks.
The PREMISE of your story is basically who wants what and why and the obstacles they come up against (remember our talk about GMC?). That's your jumping off point.
The INCITING INCIDENT is the action that spurs the story into motion. It's the first doorway your hero has to pass through (whether his choice or not). In LOST, it's the plane crash.
RISING ACTION is when the obstacles get bigger and require even bigger solutions. It's climbing up the mountain to reach the top. Look at how much bigger the finales have come since the first season.
BLACK MOMENT is the point of your story when all seems lost. The hero sees no chance of reaching his goal and wants to give up. There's so too many to mention here. One of my favorites is Locke pounding on the hatch door after Boone gets injured by the falling plane.
CLIMAX is the high point of your story. The do or die moment. The final showdown. This is where we're heading in the next season. YAY!
RESOLUTION is the point when your story's central conflict has been resolved. The ends are tied up and the hero reaches his goal. I don't know about anyone else, but I've got a countdown and can't WAIT to see how this will all turn out.
SUBPLOTS are interwoven with the main plot, often reinforcing the focus of your story or acting as counterpoints. They often get introduced later and are resolved sooner than the main conflict. If the main plot is the Losties getting off the island, then DHARMA initiative and the Others are subplots. Jin and Sun's relationship. The love rectangle of Jack, Juliet, Kate and Sawyer.
Next week will look at the three act structure and how to plot out your novel. So come back!
Labels: Lost, writing class
posted by Syndi Powell @ 9:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home