#plot development

[deception-united]

Writing Tips Master Post

Edit: Some posts may be deleted

Character writing/development:

Character Arcs

Making Character Profiles

Character Development

Comic Relief Arc

Internal Conflict

Character Voices

Creating Distinct Characters

Creating Likeable Characters

Writing Strong Female Characters

Writing POC Characters

Building Tension

Writing Grumpy x Sunshine Tropes

Writing Sexuality & Gender

Writing Manipulative Characters

Writing Mature Young Characters

Plot devices/development:

Intrigue in Storytelling

Enemies to Lovers

Alternatives to Killing Characters

Worldbuilding

Misdirection

Things to Consider Before Killing Characters

Foreshadowing

Narrative (+ how to write):

Emphasising the Stakes

Avoid Info-Dumping

Writing Without Dialogue

1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Perspective

Fight Scenes (+ More)

Transitions

Pacing

Writing Prologues

Dialogue Tips

Writing War

Writing Cheating

Writing Miscommunication

Writing Unrequited Love

Writing a Slow Burn Btwn Introverts

Writing Smut

Writing Admiration Without Attraction

Writing Dual POVs

Worldbuilding:

Worldbuilding: Questions to Consider

Creating Laws/Rules in Fantasy Worlds

Book writing:

Connected vs. Stand-Alone Series

A & B Stories

Writer resources:

Writing YouTube Channels, Podcasts, & Blogs

Online Writing Resources

Outlining/Writing/Editing Software

Translation Software for Writing

Writer help:

Losing Passion/Burnout

Overcoming Writer's Block

Fantasy terms:

How To Name Fantasy Races (Step-by-Step)

Naming Elemental Races

Naming Fire-Related Races

How To Name Fantasy Places

Ask games:

Character Ask Game #1

Character Ask Game #2

Character Ask Game #3

Miscellaneous:

Writing Tips

Writing Fantasy

Miscommunication Prompts

Variety in Sentence Structure (avoiding repetition)

[imastoryteller]

20 Plot Twist Ideas That Will Shock Your Audience

One of the most effective tools in a storyteller's arsenal is the plot twist. A well-executed plot twist can leave your audience reeling, questioning everything they thought they knew about your story. It can turn a good story into a great one, leaving a lasting impact on your readers or viewers. In this post, we'll explore 20 plot twist ideas that will shock your audience and elevate your storytelling game to new heights.

1. The Unlikely Hero:

Turn the tables by revealing an unexpected character as the true hero. This can be someone seemingly insignificant or even an antagonist who redeems themselves at a crucial moment.

2. The Double Agent:

Introduce a character who initially appears loyal to the protagonist but is secretly working against them, only to later reveal their true intentions.

3. The Long-Lost Sibling:

Uncover a secret sibling, separated from the main character in their early years, and use their sudden appearance to shift the narrative.

4. Time Travel Paradox:

Play with time travel to create a paradox that forces the characters to confront alternate timelines or unforeseen consequences of their actions.

5. The Mastermind:

The story's villain is revealed to be a puppet in a larger scheme, controlled by a mastermind who has been operating behind the scenes.

6. The Supernatural Twist:

Introduce a supernatural element, like ghosts or mythical creatures, that the characters and audience believed were mere myths.

7. The Doppelgänger:

A character's doppelgänger appears, causing confusion and chaos as they try to determine who is the real one.

8. The Reversal of Roles:

Switch the roles of the protagonist and antagonist halfway through the story, making the audience question their allegiances.

9. The Untouchable Hero:

Create a seemingly invincible hero who unexpectedly meets their match, forcing them to reevaluate their abilities and tactics.

10. The Forgotten Past:

Unearth a character's forgotten or repressed memories, leading to a shocking revelation about their true identity or past actions.

11. The Betrayal Within:

One of the protagonist's closest allies betrays them, throwing their entire mission into disarray.

12. The Hidden Identity:

A character is not who they claim to be, and their true identity is revealed, impacting the story's direction.

13. The Inception Twist:

Blur the lines between reality and illusion, leaving the audience guessing what's real and what's a dream or illusion.

14. The Time Loop:

Trap your characters in a time loop where they're forced to relive the same events repeatedly until they can break free.

15. The Shapeshifter:

Introduce a character with the ability to change their appearance, creating doubt and suspicion within the group.

16. The Truth About the Mentor:

The mentor figure, who initially seems wise and benevolent, is unveiled as the story's true antagonist.

17. The Lost Artifact:

The much sought-after artifact or treasure turns out to be a fake, and the real item is something entirely unexpected.

18. The Pseudo-Death:

Fake a character's death to shock the audience and later reveal they were alive all along.

19. The Prophecy Reversed:

Subvert the traditional hero's journey by defying a prophesized destiny and taking the story in a different direction.

20. The Unreliable Narrator:

Reveal that the narrator has been lying or misrepresenting events, casting doubt on the entire story's accuracy.

Conclusion:

These 20 plot twist ideas are just the beginning, and by incorporating them into your narratives, you can leave your audience stunned, shocked, and eager for more. Remember that the key to a successful plot twist lies in its execution, so take your time and craft a twist that seamlessly integrates into your story, making it an unforgettable experience for your readers or viewers.

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[icamefromadream]

°•°Habits to Give Your Characters°•°

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Constantly crosses legs when sitting

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Doodles when zoned out (if there's no paper around they could trace doodles like little hearts on a table or even on the back of their hand)

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Crucks knuckles

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Braids hair when their bored (or just generally plays with their hair)

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Stands way to close to people when talking to them.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Avoids eyecontact when people talk to them.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Clutches on to other's sleeves.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Bites nails when nervous

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Raises their eyebrows when interested.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Offers food to others, before taking a bite themselves.

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Scratches top of nails (like when you're scratching the coat of nail polish off your nails.)

╭┈◦•◦❥•◦ Whistles to ease nerves.

Follow @paranoia-art for more!

Do message me if you have anymore you would like to add!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Inciting Incident

Inciting incident of a story - the event that sets the main character/s on the journey that will occupy them throughout the narrative.

Typically, this incident will upset the balance within the main character’s world.

In classic detective films like The Big Sleep, for example, the inciting incident is the detective being asked to take on a new case.

In moments big and small, an inciting incident changes the life of a character, and the ensuing story is the fallout from that change.

Tips for Using Inciting Incidents in Your Writing

A compelling inciting action can be the difference between a gripping story and a forgettable one. Here are 3 techniques to make sure you’re writing the most effective possible beginnings to your stories:

Keep to your timeline. To make your reader or viewing audience emotionally invested in an inciting incident, make sure it takes place during the timeline of the story you’re telling. When an inciting action is a past event that others make reference to, it lacks the visceral truth of an incident that the audience has experienced.

Let your inciting action stimulate something sustainable. Your inciting plot point should drive a character to behave a certain way throughout the narrative. Make sure that the driving force will be sustainable throughout the full course of your story. A detective driven to solve a complicated case will sustain throughout the story. A man bitter about not getting the last slice of pizza could potentially be funny, but it won’t sustain a particularly long story.

Make your inciting action cause a noticeable shift in your character. A compelling inciting action will make your character take actions she would not have otherwise. In The Fugitive TV series, Dr. Richard Kimble loses his wife to murder and, worse still is accused of that murder. These traumatic events change Kimble, and they launch him onto a quest so compelling that it sustained four full seasons of television.

An inciting incident exists to launch a story.

If Shakespeare had begun Romeo and Juliet somewhere in the midst of the young lovers’ courtship, the story might have been entertaining, but it would have lacked the emotional stakes created when the two protagonists first lay eyes on each other in the play’s inciting incident.

It inspires the protagonist’s central motivations throughout the story.

In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the protagonist Charles Marlow finds his motivation when he learns about a Mr. Kurtz, in the story’s inciting incident.

The story goes on to detail Marlow’s obsessive quest to find Kurtz, and the horror he encounters when he finally finds him.

Every event that follows within the timeline of the story achieves its significance insofar as it relates to Marlow’s inciting action.

Types of Inciting Actions in Literature

As a general rule, inciting actions fall into one of 3 categories.

Causal inciting actions. Inciting actions involving a deliberate choice made either by the protagonist or about the protagonist. This deliberate choice informs all story elements to come. An example of this is Luke Skywalker’s recruitment in the original Star Wars film from 1977. The inciting action is the first step in Luke taking the archetypal “hero’s journey,” as famously described by Joseph Campbell.

Coincidental inciting actions. Inciting actions stemming from random chance, coincidence, or a protagonist “being in the right place at the right time.” In C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series, the children inadvertently stumble upon a magical land through a portal in the back of a wardrobe. This chance discovery leads to all subsequent actions in the story.

Ambiguous inciting actions. Inciting actions that occur under circumstances that are not fully explained. The audience is left to guess whether the protagonist is placed in her situation by choice or by chance. Such inciting actions are common in thrillers and mysteries like The Sixth Sense, and the true story is rarely revealed until the very end of the film.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[agronzky]

⠀⠀⠀𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 & 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐏. ♡

under the cut you'll find a list of 56 diverse outings and trips to use in starters or replies withing plots. this can be used to bring new cenarious to plots, starters and rps, helping to differ threads and put characters in new experiences.

Walking in nature

A bicycle ride

Visit to an art museum

Historical city tour

Boat trip on the river/lake

Mountain trail hike

Visit to a botanical garden

Picnic in the park

Bird watching

Gastronomic tour of the city

Hot air balloon ride

Cave exploration

Visit to a zoo or aquarium

Shopping itinerary in local stores

Winery tour

Panoramic train ride

Visit to historical sites

Trip to a neighboring city

Kayak/canoe trip

Tour of movie locations

Drive-in cinea

Walk on a beach

Visit local fairs and markets

Photo expedition

Horseback riding

Visit to an astronomical observatory

Urban art trail tour

Excursion to a theme park

Traditional cooking class

Helicopter ride

Camping trip

Visit to a cultural festival

Tour of haunted places

Surf lesson or other water sport

Motorcycle ride

Exploring historical ruins

Regional dance class

Treasure hunt tour

Tour of panoramic viewpoints

Rollerblading or skateboarding

Day at an amusement park

Visit to a nature reserve

Quad bike ride

Participation in a local marathon

Wildlife watching

Zip line ride

Tour of architectural monuments

Participation in a spiritual retreat

Sailing boat trip

Motorcycle ride

Visit to a contemporary art exhibition

[wordsnstuff]

This might sound strange... writing a romance I started to see romantic potential between my lead and a side character, rather than strictly between the two leads... I'm starting to swerve. How can I suit my writing/mindset to keep the relationship with the side character platonic?

When characters develop minds of their own...

Writing is one of those mediums where people tend to overlook the importance of experimentation. It's seen as a fairly linear process: brainstorm, map the plot, write the draft, edit the draft, publish. If any other type of creation was done this way, most would see the process as incomplete, because experimentation is imperative to creativity. Curiosity is the key to finding satisfaction, and no matter how brilliant you think an idea is at its conception, the best way to do it justice is to question it.

If you find yourself in a situation where your story begins to develop outside your control, don't strangle it back into the shape you imagined for it at first. See where it goes. Let it bleed outside the lines and see what you prefer. You can always return to the original plan. The beauty in fiction is that it has infinite possibility, and if you have the talent to write characters and worlds that determine their own trajectory, enjoy the reward.

In your case, you've designed a romance between two characters but the chemistry of a different pairing has become more compelling, so see what happens. There is a good chance you've simply written a secondary character that serves the story better in a leading role, and there's no harm in experimenting to see if that's correct. If it doesn't work and you're convinced the relationship is more suitable in the platonic category, you will find the reason along the way and that reason will speak for itself as you return to writing the original pairing. If anything, this might become an organic way for you to misdirect the reader in order to make the payoff of your original idea more substantial.

Writing should be an intuitive process. If you're swerving in another direction, satiate your curiosity and then make decisions with all of the information. Just like any other artistic medium, you will only know what's right once you've established what isn't.

Best of luck,

x Kate

[tahbhie]

The 3-Scene Rule to Instantly Level Up Your Plot

Plotting your story but feel like it’s dragging its feet? Don’t sweat it! The 3-Scene Rule is here to save the day—and cut down those long hours of painful brainstorming. Think of these scenes as the ultimate power trio:

1. The Catalyst:

Boom! This is the moment where everything changes. Your characters' boring old lives? Gone. Welcome chaos, adventure, or a problem too juicy to ignore. Let this scene kick off your story with a bang. Ease your readers in with a compelling premise rooted in the main character's life. While keeping some secrets to unfold later, make every breadcrumb just as intriguing as the big reveal to come. Nail this, and your readers will be hooked.

2. The Turning Point:

Uh-oh, didn’t see that coming! That’s the exact goal here. This is where things get spicy—big choices, shocking revelations, or a shift that turns everything upside down. In every turning point, something must change. Whether it’s for better or worse is up to you. Just make sure the tension’s through the roof and the stakes even higher.

3. The Climax:

This is it—the grand finale, the fireworks, the big “OMG!” moment. It’s time to bring out all the juicy drama you’ve been saving. Tie up loose ends, connect every dot, and deliver the answers your readers have been dying for. Make it unforgettable with action, emotion, and twists that pack a punch.

There you have it! These three scenes will supercharge your plot, keeping readers glued to every page. So, what’s stopping you? Go on—start plotting, and own that story!

💜💜💜

Ready to make your story a masterpiece? Say hello to The Ultimate Plot Progression Printable Planner—your best mate for nailing those Catalyst, Turning Point, and Climax moments like a pro!

Packed with tools, tips, and tricks, it’s the cheat code you’ve been waiting for to keep your plot tighter than ever. Oh, and as a little bonus treat, grab your FREE exclusive prompt gift (featuring 40 different prompt ideas to create compelling plot scenes) when you snag the planner. Don’t wait—your next brilliant story is just a click away!

[emilywrites185]

List of Quirks

(The categorized lists are below)

What is a quirk?

Quirks are habits, attitudes, mannerisms, or behaviors that are unusual, unexpected, or strange.

People have quirks, and your characters and locations should too. Think obsessions, a silly or unusual laugh, habits like pacing around the room, knuckle cracking, or braiding or twisting hair while thinking. Someone could always be cold, even in the summer without AC. An old man could have the habit of checking his mailbox twice a day, so much so that there is a path of trampled grass leading to his mailbox.

Locations can have quirks. The front door might have to be pushed or pulled in a certain way to engage the lock. The sink faucets could be switched. The hot water tap could really be the cold water tap despite the label.

Think of somewhere you've lived or a person you knew. What stood out to you about them? What did you find bizarre, aggravating, or charming about them?

Quirks will serve as the little details that will make your characters and settings lifelike. These quirks will say a lot about what you are describing, and they can even be used to allude to something important in your plot. There could be significant explanations to the quirks you choose which can add a layer of depth to your story.

Personality Quirks:

Thorough planner

Never plans for anything

Lone wolf

Needs approval

Adventurous

High strung

Takes things seriously

Skeptical of everything

Loves to argue

Avoids people

Avoids touching people

Honest to a fault

Impulsive liar

The Martyr

Sensitive

Abrasive

Compulsive flirt

Ambitious but lazy

Behavioral Quirks:

Picks at nails

Smokes only certain brands

Drinks a homemade concoction of choice

Tops their food with a specific dressing or additional ingredient

Loud laugh

Subdued laugh

Whistles or hums when walking

Always misses the trash can

Touches their face when they talk

Gets a stomachache at tense moments

Stutters when talking to someone attractive

If they clean is always a deep clean

Avoids public restrooms

Collection of ducks

Collections in general

Very loud sneezes

Kitten sneezes

Hisses when thinking

Always sounds angry even when they aren't

Has a hard time articulating feelings or desires

Often gets cliches or common phrases wrong

Physical Quirks:

Twitchy eye

Twitchy foot

Extremely flexible

Extremely inflexible

Two colored eyes

Chipped nails

Long perfect nails

Distinctive weight distribution

Very short

Very tall

Distinctive marks like birth marks or scars

Clothes/accessories:

Wears new clothes but has an old beaten-up suitcase or bag

Fingers full of rings

Never seen without makeup

Never wears their hair down

Cracked glasses

Socks never match

Old people sweaters

One sock pulled up, the other falling down

Half tucked shirt

Always a pen in the shirt pocket

Wears only a specific color

Crooked pins or name tag

Wears anything with their favorite animal

Wears slippers out in public

Location Quirks:

Squeaky steps

Window that jams

Lot full of old trees

A popular place of business with limited, inconvenient hours

House locks that are hard to open

A front door without weather stripping

Plumbing that rattles when water runs

Whistling windows

Creaky couch

Wavy, uneven floors

Always windy

A yard where critters are always seen

A public place that seems to attract certain people or animals

Always spotless

[rheas-chaos-anthology]

How to come up with a story based on vibes that (probably) doesn't suck aka how to come up with a plot

First, identify the vibes. Maybe you already know. If so, great! If not, well that's what I'm here for. What are books/movies/shows that have what you're trying to achieve? A song or an image? Come up with a list of as many things.

YAY now you know what vibes you want.  

Then you are going to make a list about the things (or your favorites if you have too many).  Look at themes, characters, genres, settings, style, etc.  If you have no idea where to start, pull up their wikipedia pages and read them.  Anything similar WRITE IT DOWN (you will forget, don’t lie).

Take that list and find your favorite/most common things.  These will be what gives you your vibe.  

Take this list and invent a little guy who lives in this list.  YAY now you have a character.  What does this guy want?

It wants to live.

Now look at me.  No.  Look at me in the eyes.  Stare into my soul.  

You’re gonna let him live.  

Use your vibe list to create a little world.  Do you mostly like horror/mystery?  BAM this guy lives in a horror/mystery.   Do you mostly like historical fiction? BAM this guy lives in the past.  Do you like dystopian things? BAM this guy lives in a dystopian world.  Do this with whatever genre you want.

Now what does this guy in this world want most?

And how are you going to do everything in your power to stop him?

[acurtist]

Irritating Character Tropes:

1. Meddler: Had to share explosive commentary about everything and everyone.

2. Gossip-monger: Make up stories and spread them far and wide like a virus.

3. Riddler: Speaks in puzzles and keeps people on toes the hidden meanings in their tales.

4. Jester: Everything and everyone is a joke. Must crack a few ones to earn them wages.

5. Rat hole: Has to sneak in in nook and crannies like a rat to uncover secrets.

6. Interrogator: Wouldn't stop asking same questions with different angles.

7. Petty Thief: Kleptomaniac and pickpocket extraordinaire.

8. Quarreler: Need to pick a fight about everything and anything.

9. Idiot: Speaks out of turn, doesn't know what they are talking about.

10. Lame Poet: Make everyone suffer with their awful compositions.

11. Liar: Conjures up lies out of thin air without skipping a heartbeat.

12. Plotter: Manipulative, calculative, untrustworthy, and narcissistic.

13. Personality Divergent: Sucks living daylights and happiness from people around them.

14. Chaotic: Unorganized messy scatterbrain.

15. Peeping Tom: Needs jail time.

16. Impersonator: Either mentally disturbed or suffering from insecurities.

17. Man child: Regardless of gender acts like a child that needs supervision and extra attention.

18. Foul-mouthed: Starts and ends every sentence with one cursive word or the other.

19. Daydreamer: Always have head stuck in cloud and couldn't focus for more than 5 minutes.

20. Overzealous: Strict adherence to authority figures. Will not hesitate to commit crimes.

21. Righteous Prick: Nothing they do can be wrong or at fault.

22. Existentialist: Make others depressed with their annoying cynicism.

23. Overly-enthusiastic Schmuck: Out of touch with real world and impervious to any challenges. Thinks goodwill is enough resource and help.

24. Undoctor: Has a home remedy for every disease and ailment. Usually a chain-smoker with a protruding belly.

25. Know-it-all: Grammar Nazi, encyclopedia, general knowledge enthusiastic. Insufferable.

26. Geek: Lack of boundaries and respect for privacy.

27. Dare Devil: Needs to get hurt before setting anyone else on fire.

28. Psychoanalyst: Wouldn't shut up about what you actually think, need, and want.

29. Fortune-teller: Spew nonsense out their ass and present it as divine revelation.

30. Manufacturer: Breaks more things than repairs.

31. Conspiracy Theorist: Busy in organizing telepathic peace talks with president and alien civilization.

32. Over-committed Logician: Acts like a machine until an emotional explosions.

33. Otaku/Fic Connoisseur: Spoilers spoliers everywhere.

34. Drama Queen: Nonstop emotional blackmailer.

35. Fatphobic: Anorexic, suffering from health and psychological issues.

36. Glutton: Overweight, hates skinny people. Could use some exercise.

I mean the list doesn't ends. I can honestly think of just as many more of these.

Gotta add them all!

[novlr]

How to create an effective plot?

How to Quickly Craft an Effective Plot

Crafting an effective plot is no easy task. It's a delicate balance of character development, dramatic tension, and narrative progression that, when done right, can turn your story into an unforgettable journey. It’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed with plot development, so here’s a quick guide to help you quickly and easily craft an effective plot that will hit all the main narrative beats.

1. Start with your protagonist

Start by creating a well-rounded protagonist. Consider their strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, fears, and quirks. Each of these characteristics can be woven into the plot and will shape how your story unfolds. The most fundamental part of any character development is determining their goal, motivation, and conflict. It’s the backbone of any good story.

Goal

Your protagonist should have a clear goal they want to achieve by the end of the novel. This goal can be tangibly external (like winning a competition) or internal (like overcoming a fear). In fact, a well-rounded character should have both an internal and external goal.

Motivation

Your protagonist’s motivation to reach their goal will be the driving force of your plot. While a clear goal gives your character a direction, their motivation is what fuels their journey. Their goal is what they want, and their motivation is why they want it.

Conflict

Conflict is what prevents your protagonist from easily achieving their goal. It increases the stakes and propels your story forward. This can come in many forms, from a physical adversary to a personal flaw or external circumstances. Whatever the conflict, it should challenge your protagonist in a way that pushes them towards growth.

2. Establish the Ordinary World

Establishing the ordinary world is an essential first step in crafting an effective plot. You sety the scene for your readers, providing a glimpse into your protagonist's daily life before the main plot takes off.

The Ordinary World is the comfortable, familiar environment your hero inhabits, acting as a baseline for their normality. Use this stage to introduce the protagonist's routine, their relationships, their hopes and frustrations, as well as any prevailing societal norms or conditions of their world.

3. The inciting incident

The inciting incident is a crucial event that sets the whole plot in motion. It disrupts the comfort of the protagonists' ordinary world, bringing a problem or situation that makes them take action.

The incident you choose will depend entirely on the kind of story you want to tell and could be anything from a personal catastrophe to an intriguing mystery or an unexpected opportunity. No matter your genre, however, the inciting incident’s critical function is to permanently disrupt the status quo and set your protagonist on their journey. It's the spark that ignites the story

4. Build your story

With your set-up complete, you enter the stage of your story where you have the most freedom and can explore your chosen genre. Your characters will grapple with the challenges and obstacles that your story presents and forms the bulk of your story, spanning from the inciting incident to the climax.

During this phase, you want to introduce conflict to raise the stakes, increase tension and keep readers engrossed. As your characters navigate their way through these trials, they grow and evolve, adding depth to their personalities. It's in this section that your characters' motivations are tested, and their true natures are revealed. It's also where plot twists and turns come into play, and you can start developing subplots.

5. The crisis

The crisis, often known as the climax, is the most intense point of your story and serves as the turning point in your plot. It's a crucial moment where the protagonist confronts the main conflict head-on, and the tension reaches its peak.

The stakes are highest at this point, and the outcome is uncertain. It often forces your protagonist to make a critical decision or take decisive action, which will ultimately determine their fate. Whether that's an epic battle, a heartfelt confrontation, or a shocking revelation, the crisis should be a moment of high drama that pushes your characters to their limits.

6. The resolution

The resolution is where all loose ends are tied up, and your characters’ journey concludes. By the time your plot resolves, all your character’s initial goals, motivations, and conflicts should be resolved despite, or perhaps because of, the conflict and obstacles faced.

The resolution should provide satisfaction to your readers, offering both a sense of closure and an insight into what the future holds for the characters. Whether it's a happy ending, a tragic one, or something ambiguous, it's crucial that the resolution ties in with the story's overarching narrative and themes, and marked the end of your character’s personal journey.

[deception-united]

Let's talk about pacing.

Pacing is crucial to consider in plot development. It refers to the speed at which events unfold in your story.

It's important to vary the pacing to keep readers engaged. By effectively managing it throughout, you can maintain reader interest, build tension, and create an overall compelling narrative.

Fast-paced scenes: Use quick, action-packed scenes during moments of high tension, such as intense action sequences or pivotal plot points. Short sentences and rapid-fire dialogue can help create a sense of urgency and keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Slow-paced scenes: Slow down the pacing during moments of introspection, character development, or when you want to build atmosphere. Take the time to delve into emotions, descriptions, and inner thoughts to deepen the reader's connection to the characters and world.

Transitions: Smoothly transition between fast-paced and slow-paced scenes to maintain momentum while allowing readers time to catch their breath and process information. (See here for more on how to effectively implement transitions!)

Avoid prolonged lulls: While it's essential to have slower moments for character development and world-building, be cautious of prolonged lulls in the story where nothing significant happens. Keep the plot moving forward, even during quieter scenes, by introducing new information, conflicts, or character dynamics.

Balance: have a balance between fast-paced and slow-paced scenes throughout your narrative to create a dynamic reading experience. Too much action without sufficient downtime can exhaust readers, while an excessive number of slow scenes may lead to boredom.

More writing help on my blog! ❤

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[develop-your-villain]

Did your OC have any good life before they became a villain?

[icamefromadream]

°•°More Character Quirks°•°

➸ Uses their arms, or others arms as a pillow when sleeping.

➸ Sleeps with whitenoise

➸ Responds to everything with "I think" (Idky but like probably because they don't want to be the reason why someones life is ruined after giving them advice. "I said I think! I didn't mean for you to actually do it")

➸ Has to read a block of text twice or three times because they didn't pick up the information on the first read.

➸ Twirls their rings on their fingers.

➸ Clutches on to their necklace when excited, scared, mad, sad, etc. (The necklace could be something someone important gave them)

➸ Window shops ONLINE, BUT DOESNT BUY ANYTHING.

➸ Over explains things (This can make their lies more believable since they when you lie you over explain lots of details.)

Follow @paranoia-art for more!

[brittanyearnestauthor]

How to Improve Plot

Crafting an engaging plot is key to making your story unforgettable. However, improving plotlines can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this post, I’ll share essential tips to help you refine your plot and captivate your audience.

Tips to Enhance Your Plot

- Structure: Establishing the right structure is crucial for your plot. It ensures that your story unfolds logically and smoothly across chapters, keeping readers intrigued and engaged.

- Pacing: Aligning the pacing with your story structure is vital to make sure everything flows naturally. Proper pacing maintains the momentum of your plot and keeps your readers immersed in the narrative.

- Formula: Experiment with different elements to create a unique formula for your story. Mixing and matching themes, genres, or ideas will help your plot stand out and capture attention.

- New Plot Ideas: Introducing fresh, original concepts will make your story more intriguing to readers. Avoid relying solely on overused plotlines—find exciting new twists and perspectives to surprise your audience.

- Research: Explore online platforms like Reddit or comment sections where readers share their preferences. Learning what people want to read can provide invaluable insights to shape your plot effectively.

- Polls: Creating polls to directly ask readers about their preferences can help you understand what resonates with your audience. This feedback allows you to design plots that keep them coming back for more.

Conclusion

Improving your plot involves focusing on essential elements like structure, pacing, and originality. While this post outlines some key strategies, you may discover your own methods that work best for your writing style. Remember, crafting an effective plot takes creativity and exploration—so embrace the journey and create amazing stories!

Happy writing!

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

the free 50 book creation prompts collection: vol. 1

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linktree is fully updated with all my creative writing content links! 🩷

go check it out and head over to my kofi to snag the first volume of prompts free of charge!

ALL 80+ of my in-depth character creation, world-building, and story structure prompts and templates will be uploaded to my ko-fi website within the coming weeks as well.