Write Great Fiction--Plot & Structure (34 page)

A knockout ending in a commercial novel leaves the reader satisfied that the major questions have been answered, and most often that the Lead has triumphed. In a literary novel, there is room for ambiguity at the end, but the reader must feel knocked out by the feelings created.

STRUCTURE

The three-act structure is solid and will never steer you wrong. It is simply another way of saying beginning, middle, and end. When the story unfolds in this three-act fashion, readers are able to connect with it better.

Beginnings are always about the who of the story. The entry point is a Lead character, and the writer should begin by connecting reader to Lead as quickly as possible.

Beginnings also present the story world, establish tone, introduce the opposition, and compel readers to move on to the middle.

Middles are about confrontation. It is a series of battles between the Lead and the opposition. Middles deepen character relationships, keep us caring about what happens to the Lead, and sets up the final battle to come at the end.

The best endings wrap up all the strands of the story, give us the outcome of the final battle, and leave a sense of resonance.

Early in Act I (the beginning), something has to disturb the status quo, to make us feel there's a threat or challenge happening to the characters. This doesn't have to be a big disturbance, just something to indicate problems to come.

The Lead moves into the confrontation of the middle by going through “a doorway of no return.” This transition creates the feeling that the Lead
must
go into the conflict of Act II.

The transition from Act II to Act III is another doorway of no return. Usually it's some major clue or discovery, or a major crisis or setback, that sets the story heading toward the climax.

PLOT IDEAS

There are dozens of ways to come up with plot ideas. The key is to have a regular creativity time and use exercises to come with lots of ideas without editing yourself. Later, you choose the best ones.

Nurture your ideas by looking for ways to make characters, setting, and plot elements unique.

Write your novel only if you have a passion for the story, see its potential, and are precise in your plot goals.

BEGINNINGS

The first task of your beginning is to hook the reader.