3 Quick Tips on Plotting Your Book

Plotting a book can seem an overwhelming task when you're just starting out, but it does get easier when you understand various plotting strategies.

Here are 3 quick tips that could be all you need to get you started:

• One: You'll find it useful to analyse published books.

• Two: Decide on the main events

• Three: Use a synopsis as a plotting tool

Tip 1: Work Out How Other Writers Do It

Here's something you can do if you get stuck: borrow some books from the library - the most popular books would be good! - and go through them while wearing your writer's hat. Jot down short notes about what happens in each chapter - and also look at how the author ends each chapter. If the author is skilled, they'll have some kind of chapter hook (something the reader wants to know) to keep the reader turning pages. This kind of analysis is quite fun - it's always interesting seeing how other authors structure their books and get their effects!

Tip 2: Decide What You REALLY Need to Include

Not everything that happens in your character's life is a plot. What a boring story if you recounted everything even in one day. Readers couldn't care less about the myriad details that make up most of our lives. Do you really want to know what the character eats, how he eats, what toothpaste he uses, where he keeps his car keys, etc etc.. .all of these things are part of his life, but they're (mostly) not part of your book's plot.

Choose the details you include carefully. A plot is a specific collection of events that affect that outcome of your narrative. If a story event is not relevant to the narrative - pluck it out.

Tip 3: Write a Synopsis First

It helps to write a synopsis of the story before you start. (Yes, I know that lots of you like to 'just let it all flow' and you don't know what's going to happen next. Hmmm. Fast way to write yourself into a corner.)

Use the synopsis to plot your book. It doesn't have to be perfect. Your "planning my story" synopsis can be as rough as guts, actually. It's just for you; it's not for an editor. (You can polish it at your leisure somewhere down the track if you want to send it to a publisher.) But in the initial stages, just jot down the high points of your story. A lack of detail at this point is likely to be your friend - you'll see quite clearly if something is irrelevant.

(c) Copyright Marg McAlister

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

---

Voice in Narrative and Dialogue - A Contrast of Writing Styles

One of the nice things about being an author is... Read More

Childrens Stories - The Essentials

There is no specific formula for children's fiction. There are,... Read More

Five Keys To A Successful Query Letter

Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More

A Simple Contest with a Strong Message: Wake Up Your Writing Spirit

The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More

Piecing It All Together

There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More

When I Run Out of Ideas

I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More

Publish It Now! No Matter What It Is

Do you want to publish something? An article, a non-fiction... Read More

Use Real-Life Templates For Writing Success

At some point along the way, most of us have... Read More

Writing from Home: It Can Be Great and Not-So-Great for Mothers

I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More

Making The Time To Write That Novel

Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More

Top 10 Tips to Complete a Creative Writing Project Without Losing Your Creativity

Have you ever started a creative writing project with great... Read More

Learn How To Write Poetry!

A poet isn't born; you must work at crafting your... Read More

Writing the KAIZEN Way

Over the past eight years or so, I have tutored... Read More

Writing Made Them Rich #3: Richard Bach

One day in the mid-1970's a young man stumbled into... Read More

The Cost of Being a Writer

You are the only one who knows what being a... Read More

I Am Biodegradable - My Writing Is Not

My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More

If The Viewpoint Character Is A Secondary Character, Have You Established Who He is?

Creative Writing Tips ?I have said above that if a... Read More

Basic Word Processing Tips for Writers

Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More

Time to Write

SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More

A Quick Guide to ISBNs for Self-Publishers

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a... Read More

Pairs/Groups Of Words Often Confused - Part 5 of 6

PASSED, PASTPassed is the past tense of pass. Past means... Read More

Writing the Chapters of Your Life: Surprising Insights Using This Special Journaling Technique

List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More

How To Stay Fit While Writing

Day after day, writers tend to sit for hours writing... Read More

Top Seven Mistakes Writers Make and What to Do About Them

Writers often get stuck because they make assumptions about writing,... Read More

The Importance of Writing Clearly for Business

Creating written documents reveals so much about you and your... Read More

Getting Published Is Different For Everyone: Two Paths Among Many

One obvious question that can get overlooked in the process... Read More

Writing For the Joy of It

As a child, I loved to write. I can't remember... Read More

How to Create Stories that Sizzle

How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More

Mind Mapping Your Journal Entries

Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to... Read More

What you Dont Know About Book Publishing Can Cost You

Dream that your book can be a number one best... Read More

Sense of Place

What is Sense of Place? It's the image of a... Read More

Alternative View Points and the Lamp of Creativity

Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More

Essay Types and Modes Youll Need to Write for College

~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More