Creative Writing 101

Lesson 4: Plot Building.

Roadmaps.

The Roadmap method of plotting is similar to the Situation method. It begins with an idea and progresses to a situation, but results in a much more detailed plan.

What are the advantages of Roadmap plotting?

(1) It is very logical.

(2) It saves time.

(3) It allows you to control the length of a story or novel.

(4) It helps with pacing.

(5) It allows for theme to be plotted alongside storyline.

WHY IS IT CALLED ROADMAPS?

This method is called "Roadmaps" because it provides a map for you to follow. In Lesson 3 I mentioned the shadows cast by every novel, the choices not made. You can visualise your plot as a journey, with the road running between story events and leading from one to the other.

STORY EVENTS.

Story events are the important happenings in your plot. They are the things you would mention if you were telling someone about a film you have seen.

Roads don't always run straight, and quite often you reach crossroads or intersections where there might be a choice of ways. It is your job, as author, to make the best choice (for that particular book) each time. If your book is a comedy, you will discard dull or sad events in favour of funny ones. However, you will probably include a few that are poignant, to give your story some soul.

You can't buy a map for a story, so you must make one yourself. You do this by starting at the beginning, then using question and answer to forge a path. Each story event is signalled by the prompt; "Next". And this is where the length-control and pacing come in. By keeping control of the number of "Next" prompts, you can forecast the length of the novel. And by keeping control of the strength of the "Next" prompts, you can keep up the pace.

PACE.

Pace is the rate with which events or revelations occur in a story. If pace is too slow, the story is boring. If pace is too fast, the reader is whirled along and confused.

BEGINNING.

As usual, your book or story will begin with an idea, which can be built into a situation. Let's look at how the Roadmap for 'In Search of a Husband' might have been made.

Idea; Woman's fiancé vanishes.

Situation; Woman searches for her vanished fiancé and falls in love with her stepson-elect.

And so? This leads to danger and unexpected revelations.

In the end; Mystery is solved and romance ends happily.

To begin your roadmap for a story like this, you need to appoint a beginning. Back in Lesson 1 in the section on autobiography, I mentioned the need to decide on a starting point. Birth? First memories? Family background? When plotting a novel you need to choose a jump-off point.

When beginning a novel it's a good idea to choose a period of change in your protagonist's life. Beginning a new job, meeting a new friend, an accident, loss of a spouse or making a fateful decision are all fruitful starting points.

So, where would this plot begin? The heroine is engaged. She thinks she's about to marry. Really, her fiancé is about to disappear. A period of change.

Beginning; Rue's fiancé, John, vanishes just before their wedding.

Immediately, there is a question to ask. Why did he vanish? Rue doesn't know.

Another question. How does he vanish? It can't be dramatic, otherwise the police would be involved. So- he goes on an ordinary errand to his country property (Golden Lode) and doesn't come back.

Why didn't she go with him? Because she's nursing a slight injury.

So, what next?

If you don't know what comes next, you can ask yourself questions. "What could she do?" or "What would she do?" This is where the logic comes in. To make your story believable (within its genre confines) choose a reaction that seems probable.

Next. Rue tries (and fails) to contact John.

(Why doesn't she call the police? Because no one would worry about a grown man who hasn't called home! Because she doesn't want to look stupid. Because there's really no need to worry.)

Next;

(Since this is a romance as well as an adventure, it's time to introduce the hero.)

Next; A strange man comes looking for John. He claims to be John's stepson. This is a shock for Rue, who has been led to believe Stepson is a teenager. The stepson (Marcus) is shocked to find John has a fiancée.

(Sets up the notion that John might have been bending the truth.)

Next; Marcus intends to find John. Rue insists on going too.

(Why? Because she would, and also for genre reasons.)

Next; Cross-country journey through the outback. More revelations about John. "John's" country property (Golden Lode) actually belongs mainly to Marcus. John has a life-interest. Rue and Marcus are attracted to one another, but Rue rejects his advances.

(Why? Because this is a romance. Also, because of the uncertainty over John. He's been lying, but why?)

Next; A flood threatens them.

(Why didn't they realise? Other things to think about. Radio on the blink. It could have been a fire or an earthquake, but flash floods are likely.)

Next; Too late to turn back, they must risk crossing to an old track.

(Why "old"? To make it likely the road would be in bad repair, and that they won't find help.)

Next; Their vehicle runs off the road. They lose their phone and Marcus is injured trying to fetch it.

(Keeps the pace up by piling disasters. One problem leads to another. Also pushes the romance along as they depend on one another.)

Next; Now in love, the two hope to survive to make a life together. And to find out about John.

Next; They find their way to a neighbouring property. Neighbours are cool to Marcus.

(Why? More of John's machinations.)

Next; Rue is air-lifted home, but Marcus decides to make another attempt to get to Golden Lode.

(Why? It's logical. Marcus knows his way about here. Rue doesn't. Also sets up next stage of romance since they are parted.)

Next; Some time later, Marcus arrives on the Gold Coast. He and Rue marry.

(Something needs to go wrong now. Flooded properties often lose value, and Rue is wealthy so-)

Next; A chance comment by Marcus after the wedding makes Rue believe he has married her for money. Golden Lode is in debt after the floods.

(Chance comments are fictional staples; however, Rue and Marcus don't know one another all that well.)

Next; An estrangement. Finally Rue admits her suspicions and offers help to bail out Golden Lode.

(She has to, otherwise the estrangement would continue.)

Next; The problem is sorted out, comment explained, Marcus also explains his private finances are not tied in with Golden Lode's. Her help is not needed.

(Now, the problem remains; where is John? what has he been doing? His character suggests something crooked, and Golden Lode was named after a lost gold mine...)

Finally; John shows up with a plausible tale about an inheritance and a message that wasn't delivered. He pretends to be hurt that Rue has married Marcus, but already has a new scheme in mind.

This Roadmap shows major story events and also some pointers as to how the romance will develop. Note that John's character develops in absentia. Information and suspicion about him must be sown throughout the novel, or the revelation at the end would seem unlikely. Right up until almost the end, the roadmap could have been pointing to John's being kidnapped, amnesiac or dead.

Notice how the flood and its aftermath come in as major dramatic story events. Something else could have substituted, but whatever it was needed to be medium-term and life-threatening enough to make Rue consider a major step.

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