Step Four - Plot

You now know what your book is about, where it is based and you have extensive knowledge of your characters. Now is the time to plot out your novel.

Take a scene by scene approach to plotting as you can work out your timeline and inclusion of significant details before you start – this can save hours of rewriting. If you want to group more than one scene into a chapter you can do this after writing the first draft – again much easier as you may want to add scenes or reorder them.

If you like using a computer you can plan your scenes using a word-processor or, if you prefer, use a set of index cards.

At this stage you don’t need to worry about where you should start your novel; you don’t even need to create your scenes in order – you could start at the end and work backwards or create your major scenes and then fill in the gaps.

If using index cards using a separate card for each scene; if using a word-processor leave a space between each scene. Do not number them at this stage as you may decide to add, remove or move scenes.

For each scene use the following headings and then complete the details:

Scene title:

• Purpose:
• Characters:
• Location:
• Description:
• Hook:
• Notes:

Your details might look something like this:

• Scene title: Susan meets a prospective new client.
• Purpose: To create tension between Susan and James (her fiancée) which could jeopardise their wedding
• Characters: Susan, Peter (new client), James
• Location: Cafe
• Description: Susan meets Peter to discuss what her company can offer; if he agrees to work with her this could bring her company back from the brink of collapse. Susan has never met Peter before however the conversation and comments seem to suggest he knows a bit about her. Peter agrees to come to her office to further discuss her proposals. As he get up to leave he leans towards her – at that moment James walks past the café window, he knows Peter very well and suspects Susan of having an affair.
• Hook: How does James know Peter? Why does James despise Peter? How will James behave when he next sees Susan?
• Notes: Include a scene prior to this one where James catches a fleeting glance of Peter.
• Complete the details for all of your scenes, use the notes section to ensure you have included all of the information your readers need to keep them hooked and not feel cheated because you neglected to share with them some important detail. Use your hook to ensure you keep the readers engaged and that all questions are answered before the end of the book.

Look at the order of your scenes, do you need to move things around. If you do ensure you keep related information in the correct order – this might mean scene rewrites. In the above example you need to ensure that James spots Peter before the café scene.

Check that all scenes are necessary – if they serve no purpose delete them.

Check for missing information – either add this into an existing scene or add a new scene.

Decide where your novel starts and ends – this may mean deleting scenes.

Do a last check for flow, timelines and continuity – you don’t want an eleven month pregnancy – and you’re ready to start writing.

Next week you will be writing the first draft.

Happy writing.