Are you making one of these plot mistakes? ❌
Plotting your novel doesn't have to be daunting — here's how to strip it down to the essentials.
What’s the most common piece of feedback I give writers on their early drafts?
It’s unclear what your protagonist actually wants.
The writing might be beautiful. The setting might be vivid and immersive. But if I can’t pinpoint what’s driving the protagonist forward, the plot will feel directionless — and the story will fall apart.
That’s how important your protagonist’s objective is. It’s the foundation your entire plot is built on.
But it may not be coming through in your draft as clearly as you think.
What “plot” really boils down to
I’ve seen too many writers tie themselves in knots trying to “get the plot right.” In an attempt to make the process easier, countless resources, methodologies, and worksheets for plotting have emerged:
Save the Cat!
The Hero’s Journey
The Three-Act Structure
The 7-Point Story Structure
The Snowflake Method
The list goes on. And as helpful as they can be, in actuality, you don’t need to follow any of them to create a solid plot.
I’m going to strip the complex concept of plot down to just three core elements. That’s truly all you need to create a compelling, page-turning story.
Then, I’ll walk you through a simple exercise that will help you stress-test your novel’s plot.
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My 3-ingredient plot recipe
Plotting is a lot like cooking.
It might feel like there are a million things that you need to plot effectively, but you don’t actually need a kitchen full of ingredients to make something delicious. The best recipes are the ones that get a few key ingredients exactly right.
At its core, every plot is built from just three elements working together:
