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One of the aspects of novel writing that most new writers worry about is whether they should plot beforehand or ‘go with the flow’. It seems there is no straight answer to that and different writers have different methods.
For example, some writers like to have the plot of their story all planned out before they even sit down to write the first word. Others, like Stephen King, confess to having no idea where the story is going at all and prefer to start with a situation and let the characters find their own way through the story. To Plot Or Not To Plot In his book ‘On Writing’, Stephen King explains that the reason he plots as infrequently as possible is that in actual fact our lives are mostly plotless. He also believes that spontaneity is better than plotting, which can make the story feel artificial and laboured. King describes his writing process as putting his characters in a situation then sitting back and watching them as they try to break themselves free. Sometimes the outcome is just as he expected but other times even he is surprised at the ending.
The advantage of writing like this, King says, is that it keeps the reader in a state of page-turning anxiety. On the other end of the scale is a writer who firmly believes in plotting – Larry Brooks of Storyfix.com. Brooks, also a best-selling writer, has turned story structure into a fine art, breaking down a story into 4 parts and pointing out when twists should occur in the story or at what point the story should kick into higher gear.
Brooks even has a name for non-plotters: Pantsers, or people who write by the seat of their pants. Model of a Plotted Novel In his ebook ‘Story Structure Demystified‘, Larry breaks a novel down into four parts: Part 1: The Set-up. In this part the writer should set the stakes for the story to come. Readers should get an insight into the characters and what matters to them.
This part of the novel lays the groundwork for the story that is yet to begin. The main character is at the Orphan stage, where we see his life before the obstacle presented in the story has been shown. Part 2: The Response. Part One should end with Plot Point 1, where an event kicks the story into gear. In Part 2, the main character is fleeing the antagonist and not yet sure how to defeat him. Anything he tries is not enough. That is why he is the Wanderer. Part 3: Attack In Part 3 the main character gets his act together and launches into an attack on the antagonist. He overcomes any internal conflicts which are preventing him from reaching his goal and also has a definite idea how to defeat the bad guy. He is the Warrior. Part 4: Resolution In the final part of the book, the main character must emerge the hero through his own capabilities rather than being rescued or assuming a supporting role. Through brilliant thinking and courage the protagonist earns the right to be called the hero of the story. He is the Martyr. So, getting your novel written will require some experimentation with technique.
You will surely eventually discover what works best for you: treating your novel like an archaeological dig where you gently unearth your story and bring it to light; or a less intimidating pre-planned structure which you follow step by step towards a completed novel.
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