Sinking/Stinking Plots

One of the worst feelings for a writer is to write a story, read it, and realize the plot is pointless and nothing compelling happens. Usually, writers give up on stories like this. Sometimes it's for the best; more often than not, it's actually for the worst -- especially if you've created wonderfully crafted characters.

You Can Save Your Story

Yes, it's actually quite simple. You really can save it.

For a novel length work, it's important to come up with your overall theme. What is the theme of your story? A common theme in literature is coming of age. It's overused, but let's use it as an example anyway.

Say you have a main character -- we'll call him Bart. Bart is an underachieving loser who never gets the girl, and everything always goes terrible for Bart. That is your setup.

Now think of an ending. For example: Bart gets the girl he's been pining for since junior high. (Cliché, I know but go with it -- it's an example, after all.)

Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to take Bart from Point A to Point Z. There has to be things that happen in the middle that helps Bart realize his goal. It's your job, as a writer, to plot the novel from beginning to end. The easiest way to do this is to think of specific points that happen along the way, like pitstops on a long journey, that are meaningful in terms of Bart reaching his goal. For instance, perhaps Bart's older brother teaches him how to successfully ask a girl out on a date. That's something that you could use to help Bart reach his goal.

But, as with all good stories, there also has to be roadblocks. Something has to make it difficult for Bart to reach his goal. For instance, the girl of his dreams could be engaged or something of that nature. Since she's engaged, Bart thinks he doesn't have a shot and loses all hope. It's something that stops Bart dead in his tracks and makes him feel as though, once more, he is a loser.

With tension and conflict comes resolution, and that's what ties your story into a neat little bow. Resolution doesn't always mean a happy ending. Instead of getting the girl of his dreams, Bart might realize that the girl he's been obsessing over for ten years is happy with her fiance and he decides to move on. But, with the confidence he's gained over the course of his journey, all sorts of new events are close on the horizon.

But seriously folks -- with plots, it's sink or swim. You, as a writer, can and will swim if you just sit and think your way out of any stinking plot.