Want to plot a novel in 5 minutes? That’s good. Want to decide whether your story is worth
writing before you spend countless hours writing it? That’s real good. Then
answer these eight essential questions, which define the most important parts
of your overall story’s plot, in one specific sentence each:
1. (Inciting Incident)
What is the Inciting Incident that happens to your Protagonist which first
disturbs their normal, everyday world, connecting them to the Antagonist while
setting off the chain-reaction of your story that all things afterwards happen
because of?
2. (Plot Turn 1) Why and
how does your Protagonist finally decide to commit to solving your story’s main
problem?
3. (Pinch Point) What is
the First Obstacle for your Protagonist that represents the Antagonist’s forces
in some way while also showing some part of your Protagonist’s character
growth?
4. (Midpoint/Reversal)
What does your Protagonist learn the truth about that raises the stakes while
changing everything from this point forward so that they swear to resolve it
because Now, it’s personal?
5. (Punch Point) What
happens to your Protagonist that strips them of their Allies and resources to
the point that the Antagonist seemingly wins?
6. (Plot Turn 2) What
needed inspiration does your Protagonist receive that takes them out from their
lowest point and propels them into a new plan of attack against the Antagonist?
7. (Subplot Wrap-ups) How
are all remaining subplots outside of your Protagonist resolved while they
implement their new plan of attack against the Antagonist and their last
remaining forces?
8. (Climax/Resolution) How
does your Protagonist defeat the Antagonist one-on-one as only your Protagonist
can (or die trying)?
If you plotted well then
you now have a logically plotted outline you will build the rest of your story
around, because:
#1 happens toward the
beginning of Act 1.
#2 at the end of Act 1.
#3 in the middle of Act
2A.
#4 at the end of Act 2A.
#5 in the middle of Act
2B.
#6 at the end of Act 2B.
#7 is the first half of
Act 3.
#8 is the last half of Act
3.