When an author's novel is rejected because the plot is not strong enough, many writers believe that the editor is telling them the plot is not as sensational as it should be . Their first reaction is to put more action scenes into their novel. Burning buildings, tornadoes and terrorist attacks are all good scenes for a sensational novel. But having a high-concept plot does not necessarily guarantee a stronger plot.
A strong plot and a sensational plot are not one and the same. A novel with a strong plot doesn't have to include a series of world-shattering disasters. It can be as simple as a story about two people falling in love. A strong plot is one that every reader can relate to on some level. In order to have a strong plot, a story must have likeable characters, rising tension, and a universal theme.
A Strong Plot Must Contain Likeable Characters
If a reader doesn't like or cannot immediately connect in some way to the main character, chances are the author will lose them. A strongly-plotted novel must have characters that readers care about and can relate to.
What is happening to the characters in the story must seem to be happening to the reader personally. The reader's interest grows as he follows the main character through a series of setbacks and successes.
Strengthening a Plot by Creating Rising Tension
A strong plot must have rising tension. Adding a series of disasters will not necessarily make a stronger story unless the main character has something valuable at stake, and unless those stakes escalate. The best way to strengthen a plot is to get the most out of the tension that has already been created. For example, a random tornado, earthquake or fire serves no purpose unless the main character will suffer some personal loss as a result of it.
The secret is to link a series of obstacles to the main character's personal goal and throw them in as blockades so that it appears he will never succeed in attaining his dream. A natural disaster, such as a tornado, serves some purpose if it keeps a character from obtaining a personal goal, such as hanging on to the family farm. Readers will then want him to be able to keep his farm, and the tornado has now become an obstacle to the main character achieving that goal, not just a random event from the sky.
A Strongly-Plotted Novel Has a Universal Theme
Most strong novels have a theme that goes beyond the confines of the basic storyline. For example, John Steinbeck's novel The Pearl seems at first glance a simple tale about a poor man who discovers a precious pearl that leads to great wealth. The smaller picture is what will happen to this man and his family? Will the pearl bring him happiness or despair? The bigger picture is the universal question that everyone can relate to in some way--can wealth ever buy happiness?
Every book, whether it is a literary work or a genre novel, becomes deeper and more meaningful if it has a big-picture theme. If John loses his farm, workers will be unemployed, food won't be produced, and the entire community will suffer. Going even deeper, if all farmers lose their family business, a way of life will die, and the world as this character knows it will be permanently changed. It is really values rather than the farm that is at stake. It is a good idea for an author to practice writing a few meaningful statements about the story to find the exact theme so it can be developed as the book is written.
Two books that are helpful in developing a strong plotline and a universal theme are Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas, and the accompanying Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler is also an excellent source for plot-strenghtening.
Readers may also enjoy these Suite 101 articles on writing: Do You Need a Plot Outline? ,The Three Points of View in Writing, and Fiction Elements--What is the Darkest Moment?
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