A while back I wrote a "Critical Plot Elements" series that hit the highlights of a story's structure and progression. After recent developments in my own WIPs, and discussions with aspiring author friends, I realized I still hang my hat on these plot-points as CRITICAL for a story that delivers. So here they are, linked in story-structure order. Does your book have all the critical elements? Perhaps more importantly, do mine?
ACT 1
Beginnings #1 - World Building
Beginnings #2 - The Inciting Incident
Beginnings #3 - The Plot Mirror
Beginnings #4 - The End of the Beginning
ACT 2
Middles #1 - Schematics
Middles #2 - Raising the Stakes
Middles #3 - Catastrophe and the Missing Link
Middles #4 - The "Almost Lull"
INTERLUDE
The Black Moment
ACT 3
Endings #1 - Crisis
Endings #2 - CLIMAX
Endings #3 - Ribbons & Bows
THE PLOT ROUND-UP
Putting it all together
If you have questions, or would like me to add more beef to any of these bones (I wrote these a long time ago, before I was published), comment on the individual post and let me know. I'll help as much as I can!
ACT 1
Beginnings #1 - World Building
Beginnings #2 - The Inciting Incident
Beginnings #3 - The Plot Mirror
Beginnings #4 - The End of the Beginning
ACT 2
Middles #1 - Schematics
Middles #2 - Raising the Stakes
Middles #3 - Catastrophe and the Missing Link
Middles #4 - The "Almost Lull"
INTERLUDE
The Black Moment
ACT 3
Endings #1 - Crisis
Endings #2 - CLIMAX
Endings #3 - Ribbons & Bows
THE PLOT ROUND-UP
Putting it all together
If you have questions, or would like me to add more beef to any of these bones (I wrote these a long time ago, before I was published), comment on the individual post and let me know. I'll help as much as I can!
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