Plot

The plot is the series of events that occur in the story. It’s what happens in order from beginning to end. The most basic plot is one in which the hero is presented with a problem, seeks to resolve it and either succeeds or fails. A more involved story has more plot elements to it.

1. Introduction – We are introduced to the hero and his world before he is faced with his problem.

2. Inciting Event – An event occurs which presents a problem for the hero which must be resolved.

3. Rising Action – Our hero attempts to solve the problem but is met with difficulty. There can be any number of rising actions.

4. Climax – Events build up to an exciting scene known as the climax. There can be more than one climax between rising actions.

5. Falling Action – after an exiting scene in a story, events wind down a bit before the next climax.

6. Resolution – The problem that began our story is solved for better or worse. We see either a new world or things are brought back to normal.

Plot can be very difficult to weave together in an involved story. I suggest developing notes in other areas fist and saving plot for last.

Scene

Maybe you don’t have the full story mapped out yet, only a romantic scene like the hero confronting the dragon or scaling the tower to rescue the princess. This is fine. Your can use your scene to develop a foreground and background. In other words, deciding what happened to lead up to that scene and what happens after. You can continue to build scenes until you have a story.

1. Where does the scene take place?

2. Describe what the hero senses here – see, feel hear, smell, taste?

3. What do you like best about this scene and why should readers like it?

4. From who’s point of view is the scene presented?

5. What events took place to lead up to this scene?

6. What events will happen because of this scene?

7. How do the events of this scene affect the characters?

Crossroads

A crossroad is a point in the story where the hero must make a difficult decision that will affect the rest of his life. It is not unusual to make important decisions but we don’t always recognize the decisions we make as being important. The crossroads decision represents your hero’s awakening. Your hero is no longer as ignorant as he was before and is aware of the gravity of the choices that need to be made.

1. What choices are open the hero?

2. What choice does he make and why?

3. What are the consequences of the choices?

4. Where in the setting does he make this decision?

5. How does the hero come to realize she is at a crossroads?

Tools (Artifacts, Weapons, Etc.)

Great and mysterious artifacts such as magic swords, wand, rings, or cups, are interesting to say the least and are a source for grand stories. They also assist the hero in finding his way and completing tasks.

1. What tools assist your hero on her quest?

2. Describe them?

3. Are these tools magical?

4. Where does she find them?

5. How does she find them?

6. Is the villain looking for the tool also?

7. Was the tool won from the guardian/monster?

8. How does the hero learn to use the tools?

9. How does the tool help in the quest?

10. Is the tool dangerous to the hero? How?

11. How did the tool get to where it was found?

12. Where was it made?

13. Who made it?

Animal Familiar

An animal familiar is a friendly helper. It’s often an animal like a dog, cat, horse bird, etc. but it doesn’t have to be. It helps the hero along his quest for little reason other than loyalty to the hero. The animal familiar recognizes the inherent good within the hero. Even if the animal familiar doesn’t understand the quest it understands the hero.

1. Who or what is the animal familiar?

2. What does it look like?

3. What are its special abilities?

4. How did it meet the hero?

5. Why do they like each other?

6. How do they complement each other?

7. How do they communicate with each other?

8. How does it help the hero?

9. Why do the work well together?

10. Where did it come from?

The Guardian

If you had a valuable treasure that everyone else wanted to take from you, would you leave it on kitchen table? You would most likely hide it and if you could you would post a guard to protect it. This is the guardian. Toward the end of your quest, just prior to finding what your hero is looking for, she will need to confront its guardian. The guardian is either intelligent or monstrous or a combination of both. If the prize at the end of the quest is meant for only a special person, the guardian needs to be intelligent enough discern those who deserve it from those who don’t. Maybe he gives the hero a challenge or a riddle. If no one is supposed to claim the prize, then there is no reason for an intelligent guardian. The guardian can be a fearsome monster like a dragon or hydra renown for horrible deeds. The guardian may also be the very last test of heroism before your hero confronts the villain. If your hero has a special weakness, getting past the guardian may resolve that weakness once and for all.

1. What or who is the guard protecting?

2. Is the guard good or bad; cruel or kind?

3. How does the guard reflect the hero’s fear?

4. Where did the guard come from?

5. What doe he/she look like?

6. How did it become the guardian of the treasure?

7. What is the guardian’s weakness?

8. How does the hero defeat the guard?

9. How does defeating the guardian lead to the treasure?

10. What are the guard’s strengths or special abilities?

11. What is fearsome about the monster?

12. Describe the guardian?

13. Describe his lair.

14. How is the monster like the hero?

Your Hero’s Guide/Protector

The guide is the fairy godmother in the fairy tale, the person who directs the hero and helps in times of need. Why does the hero need a guide? The hero is on a quest as opposed to a simple search. The word quest implies there is a question to be answered. The hero needs a guide because he doesn’t know exactly what he is looking for. Maybe he begins looking for one thing but realizes what he’s looking for is really something greater, more important. The guide has a better idea of what needs to be found and knows that the hero is the best one to find it. However, the hero is ignorant of many things on the road ahead. The guide gives the necessary tools or training needed for the hero to finish the quest. In children’s fairy tales, the origin of the guide is often answered by explaining that everyone has one. If this doesn’t ring true for you, your hero will need an origin. Often the guide knows things about the world the hero must enter and can give readers information about your fairytale world as he gives it to the hero. The guide is like a mother or father figure in this way. There was a time when we were amazed at how much our parents knew about the world. Their vast knowledge seemed magical, mysterious. This mystery makes the guide questionable. Is she really someone we can trust?

1. Who is the guide?

2. What doe he/she look like?

3. Where did the guide come from?

4. How does the guide help the hero?

5. Why does the guide help the hero?

6. What things does the guide know that the hero doesn’t?

7. What are the guide’s special abilities?

8. Are these abilities apparent or hidden?

9. Is the guide male or female?

10. Is the guide an adult or child? What age?

11. List three adjectives that describe the guide.

12. Describe yourself in 10 to 20 years. How will you be like your hero’s guide?

13. Why does your hero like the guide?

14. Why does your guide like your hero?

15. How do others see the guide?

16. Was the guide always guide like he/she is now?

17. Give examples of his wisdom?

18. What does the guide fear?

19. What are you guide’s strengths?

20. List two more adjectives that describe the guide.

21. How is your hero similar to the guide?

22. Give another example of his wisdom.

23. Where does the guide come from?

24. What is the guide’s job?

25. Who does the guide work for?

26. Who works for the guide?

27. Is there anything special about the way the guide was born or where he came from?

28. Describe something funny that once happened to the guide.

29. Describe something dramatic that once happened to the guide.

30. How did the guide get his/her special qualities?

31. How should readers feel about the guide?

32. What does the hero learn from the guide?

33. How does the hero meet the guide?

34. How do the villain and the guide know each other?