This article was originally posted to The Self-Pub Action Club on Substack, uploaded on September 28, 2023.
There are many types of story structure out there, but all of them are fueled by the same principles. The right one can potentially be any of them—or a completely new one that you developed for yourself! So while you’re developing your next manuscript (or getting ready for NaNoWriMo), it’s vital to prep for success without saddling yourself with extra work.
So let’s keep this article simple! Here are the 3 key factors that fuel any story structure.
There’s some discussion about what makes a story plot-driven or character-driven, or even if one is naturally better than the other. In my view, all plots are character-driven. Even if the main character isn’t the one calling the shots, the meaning of the story is about how their inner world is shaped by the plot.
Disconnection between character and plot can be a death knell for your story. Readers connect with a book through emotions. Let them dive into the character’s world with the inside scoop by showing how your character feels.
If you’ve ever reached the end of a book and thought to yourself, “…That’s it? What was the point of all that?” it could be that nothing really changed for the characters, despite how many words you slogged through to reach “The End.” Or the changes that did happen didn’t connect thematically with the rest of the story. Or the characters fixed their problems so easily that it was barely worth writing out at all.
Like my point about character above, uncovering what a story means for the characters is at the core of what we do as writers. The beginning and ending of a scene are usually marked by an action taken or a revelation discovered. Keep track of how often things change in your story (like with your rate of revelation) to keep readers engaged.
Effortless fiction writing isn’t actually effortless. It takes countless edits and constant tests to see what works best for the narrative. By the time a reader gets to the work, they expect all of the important thinking to be done for them. They trust you to create a satisfying ending while setting up the plot right in front of their eyes.
Not to say your story can’t encourage your readers to stretch their minds, but plot holes and leaps of logic repel readers. You need to make sure the reasoning behind character motives and plot events is in the text.
Think of the chain of logic like setting up dominoes before knocking them down. Even if one piece is angled wrong to placed too far away, the whole system doesn’t function. By keeping track of the milestones of change, as well as what they mean to the character, you can keep your logic chain working smoothly.
Set a timer for 10-30 minutes (whatever your schedule or mind allows) and free write about how each of these three types of story fuel power your story.
Look at how the world changes for your characters, and how they in turn change the world. What does their character development say about life? About ourselves? And rather than trying to plug any plot holes you’re already aware of, write about the possible misunderstandings you want to avoid when beta readers get a hold of your manuscript. Thinking more deeply about your story in the early stages will help you avoid problems down the road.
Author Accelerator certified book coach and founder of the Inkbound Writers Circle. She writes Epic Fantasy, Romantasy, and helpful articles on writing craft. She lives in Silicon Valley with her family and her handsome cat, Sherlock.
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Kristin Melville is a certified book coach with Author Accelerator. Specializing in Fantasy fiction, she helps writers brainstorm book ideas and bring their worlds to life. Sign up for private author coaching so you can build a career as a self-published author!
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