It’s been said that there are only seven basic plots across the entirety of the literary universe, and that all stories have one of these plots at their heart. They are:
1. Man vs. nature. 2. Man vs. man 3. Man vs. the environment. 4. Man vs. machines or technology.5. Man vs. the supernatural.6. Man vs. self.7. Man vs. God/religion.
Most stories have elements of more than one of these basic plots, and each plot can be subdivided and sub-subdivided and… you get the picture. The seven plots thing is grossly oversimplified. But it’s a starting point. In reality, though, there is an endless array of plot possibilities. It’s up to you, the author, to formulate one. So, what’s the best way to go about it?
First, ask yourself the following question: What is your objective in writing your book? Is it to make money and become famous? Do you want to make a significant contribution to the literary world, regardless of whether anyone buys buy your book? Or, perhaps you want to make a significant contribution to society. Decide what your purpose is, and look at models from other books that have accomplished the same purpose.
Second, construct the story. Here’s where an outline comes in. Beginning with an outline will not only help keep your story “tight,” but it will be of invaluable help when it’s time to write your book proposal. You may find it difficult to build a complete outline from scratch, so consider doing this: Take a book you love, a book you wish you’d written, and outline it, from start to finish. This exercise of outlining someone else’s work will undoubtedly inspire you. So, take notes, copious notes. Then, start your own, either writing a linear outline, or putting all the plot points on different sticky notes and playing around with order. You’ll find a logical one will emerge.
Third, construct your characters. Yes, while you’re writing, you may decide to add new ones, or you may change your existing characters, but make sure that you stay on point. With story and characters, documentation is all-important. Whether you use a writing software package, post-it notes, a log, a journal or a bulletin board with stickpins doesn’t matter. But you must keep track of everything you’ve written, every trait you’ve assigned to your characters and every plot twist and red herring used in your story.
Finally, as you formulate your plot, remember one word: compelling. Your story must be compelling, your characters must be compelling, everything must be compelling. You should ask yourself at least a million times while writing your novel, “Is what I’ve just written compelling?” If the answer is no, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.