Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea Into a Workable Plot

GROW A BOOK

Turning Your Story Idea into a Workable Plot

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by

Catherine Chant

Second Edition

Copyright © 2018 by Catherine Chant

All rights reserved.

First Edition

e-Book Edition ©2016

Cover Design © 2016 Catherine Chant

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Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TITLE

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

LESSON 1 - Your Story Idea

LESSON 2 - Main Characters

LESSON 3 - Character GMC and Story Problem

LESSON 4 - Escalating Conflict

BONUS LESSON - Loglines

LESSON 5 - Inciting Incident

LESSON 6 - Black Moment

LESSON 7 - Turning Points

LESSON 8 - Resolution and Character Arc

LESSON 9 - The Brief Synopsis

ADDITIONAL TIPS

STORY IDEA TO PLOT CHECKLIST

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

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For aspiring writers everywhere

You never know if you can write a book until you try

Introduction

Do you have a story idea but aren’t sure what to do next? Have you started writing a story, but now find your plot stuck in a corner? Have you lost interest in your story idea because the plot became boring?

Whether you’re a plotter who loves to outline or a pantser who prefers to hit the open road without a map, a broad strokes outline can help you avoid the pitfall of the unworkable plot.

Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea into a Workable Plot guides you in creating a broad strokes outline at the idea stage, so you get the big picture of the story right away and can more easily spot and correct plot problems, such as the sagging middle or superficial conflict, before they become writing roadblocks that waste your time. If you’re stuck in a story, the broad strokes outline can help pinpoint where you might have taken a wrong turn and guide you back to the right course.

You don’t necessarily need to write a bad first draft. A little planning can save you a lot of time during revisions. And a broad strokes outline, which only hits the high points of the story to keep you on track, won’t bog you down with so many details you feel stifled. You can still write by the seat of your pants, if that’s your style, but developing a broad strokes foundation before you start writing gives you some boundaries for your story that will keep you out of the weeds and away from dead ends.

As a bonus, you’re the work you do here over the course of eight lessons quickly translates into a brief synopsis and gives you a head start on your query letter.

So let’s get started!

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Lesson 1 – Your Story Idea

A story needs to start somewhere. That's where your idea comes in. Something pops into your head and gets you curious. It makes you want to explore it further. Maybe the idea is strong enough to become a story. It might be a short story, a novella or a full-length novel. Whatever form the story takes, it always starts with an idea.

How that idea becomes a plot is that you expand upon it.

First, let's talk about what a story is so we have the gist of where our idea should lead us eventually.

In a nutshell:

Story is a character who wants something coming up against obstacles that stand in the way, with the threat of disaster if he/she fails. While fighting those obstacles, the character learns truths about him/herself that makes obtaining the something possible when it was impossible before.

So, at the heart of every story is a character that wants something. Keep that in mind to start.

Starting with What If?

Sometimes a What if...? question sparks your imagination and gives you the idea for a story.

What if a girl who's always been one of the guys with the three brothers next door decides she wants one of them to notice her as a girl?

Sounds like it could be interesting. You have potential for a romance story there from the onset: Girl wants boy to notice her.

But of course if the girl wants the boy and he wants her back, that's the end of the story; and it's a little boring. Not even enough there to make a good short story.

So dig a little deeper by continuing to ask What If? Try