Tag: plot and structure

There are many kinds of plot beats, some being more important than others, with each being known by a variety of names. Objectively speaking, no plot beat is essential, yet their exclusion is more likely to harm a story than improve it. This is partly due to plot cohesion, but also reader expectations, especially in…

A chapter’s ending is likely where a reader will take a break from reading. Ideally then, chapter endings need to encourage a reader to return as soon as possible. There are three useful ways in which this can be achieved: intrigue, danger, or through revelation. Creating a sense of danger is clear enough, as the…

A dramatic opening to a story is important to hooking a reader’s interest: It was the day my grandmother exploded. (The Crow Road, Iain Banks.) Yet maintaining a reader’s interest throughout a story is just as important, and as breaks from reading usually occur at chapter endings, it is wise to ensure the next chapter’s…

An effective and compelling narrative flows organically from start to finish. The opposite of this is a story that feels overly wrought by an author; that is to say, artificial. A good plot is always organic (The Anatomy of Story, John Truby) plots ought (…) to be constructed dramatically; that is, they should be concerned…

People often read to enjoy a specific genre and will quickly abandon a story if it fails to evoke its essence. In genre fiction, tropes are ever-present and for many readers, a requirement for their reading enjoyment. Writers who want to succeed professionally must write the stories the business wants to buy. Simply put, the…

Plausibility is crucial for most fiction (the exception being comedy). If a reader notices implausibilities, their immersion will likely give way to questioning what they’ve just read. Too many of these questions, and the reader may well end up doubting the author’s ability to craft a compelling story. The writer must make the audience’s leap…