To create anything, you need structure. This applies to anything - a garden shed, a cake or a piece of writing. Structure begins with a solid foundation.
Added to this comes a sturdy framework on which everything pins. Finally
comes the decorating, making it a wonderful piece of work and your very
own. Without structure things will collapse.
SOLID FOUNDATIONS
Your solid foundations when writing include your personal skills as a writer –
everything you’ve learned so far. You never stop learning. As writers we know
that a story needs characters, a setting, it needs believable dialogue which is
there for a purpose, we know not to pad with superfluous words, we understand
viewpoint, we know how to set a story out, and how to punctuate correctly
particularly around dialogue. We know a story needs conflict. We know not to be
satisfied with the first draft. Once these things are second nature to you, then you have solid foundations on which to build, it leaves your mind free to be
more creative.
FRAMEWORK
The framework of your story includes (in no particular order):
· Characters, setting, viewpoint, plot, conflict, dialogue, narrative, tense, theme, editing, presentation. All these aspects are the building blocks of your story. Some of these we will look at closer in a moment.
·
DECORATION
This is your personal style and flair, your descriptions, the depth of
the emotion woven into the story, the depth of emotional reaction between
characters, the depth of emotional response you get from readers. Can your
writing make them laugh or cry? The
decoration is how you describe the setting and characters, it’s how you build
the tension and create the mood and atmosphere for each scene. The decoration
is your twists and turns in the plot.
STRUCTURING YOUR
PLOT
You don’t need to know exactly where your story is going, nor do you need
to know how it’s going to end. Don’t be afraid to plot, you’re not writing in
stone, it’s merely a guide. You can use the 3 Act Structure, which is basically
the Beginning, the Middle and the End.
The Beginning. Here you
introduce the main characters, establish the setting – time and place, and let
the reader see there’s some sort of conflict arising. If you don’t have
conflict, you don’t have a story.
The Middle. The
development of the story, the development of relationships, more difficulties,
more obstacles hindering the protagonist. Here’s where you weave in sub plots
and story threads. You can make the story as straight forward, or as complex as
you want. Here’s where tensions
increase, rising constantly towards the climax of the story – the blackest
moment of the story, where it looks like your protagonist will fail in their
endeavours.
The Ending. Your loose
ends and sub plots should all have been tied up. At the climax of the story
allow the protagonist to overcome their problems through an action of their
own. Ie. Don’t send in the cavalry! This ending is where all the strands of the
plot come together, matters are explained and resolved. Once all that is done,
finish. Don’t drag your story on longer than needed.
STRUCTURE THE
CHARACTERS.
Characters need structure too. They need: appearance, personality, a
background, family/friends, relationships, fears and weaknesses, beliefs,
opinions etc. Take time in developing your characters if only in your mind. And
for this story give them something important
to strive towards. The difficulties they are facing in your story are crucial
to that character.
STRUCTURE THE
SETTING.
Don’t be vague or ambiguous about the setting. Bring it alive in the
reader’s mind. Describe each location using the sights, sounds and smells of a
place. Be specific about time and place.
STRUCTURE THE PLOT.
- Make your opening really grab the reader.
- Introduce your protagonist in such a way that the reader will instantly be interested in him/her.
- Create a setting that conjures up a picture in the reader’s mind. And make it an intriguing picture.
- As your story progresses, let it be full of high and low spots, rising tension and calmer scenes. Contrast light and shade.
- Balance the ratio of narrative and dialogue so it’s a comfortable read, i.e. no long boring passages! Don’t have pages of dialogue without interaction from characters.
- Keep the tension rising, create unexpected twists and turns. At the climax, let it appear that the protagonist is about to fail. Let them succeed or fail through their own actions and choices.
- Make sure the protagonist has learned something along the way.
- When the story has concluded, end it as quickly as you can – don’t let it drag on.
- The ending is hugely important, because the lasting impression you leave on the reader will impact upon the way they regard your story or book, and you as the writer.
STRUCTURE THE CONFLICT.
Conflict can be external or internal – or both. So, the protagonist is
facing problems beyond their control (external conflict); or their own inner
fears, phobias and beliefs (internal conflict). One can trigger off the other
for an even more emotional journey. Let each problem be worse than the last, so
the tension is continually rising.
STRUCTURE THE
VIEWPOINT.
If you’re having more than one viewpoint character, structure the
scene/chapter/viewpoint changes carefully. Do so to add more drama and suspense
to your story. Never ‘head hop’.
WITHOUT STRUCTURE
Without structure, things will unravel and fall apart. However, we all
know that once we get an idea for a story, we jump right in and start writing.
See where it will go. See where it takes us. This generally works fine – for a
time. Then you find you’ve written yourself into a blind alley. Or things
aren’t believable or logical. Or you can’t remember certain points about
certain characters. Or your main character is coming across as weak, or his
problems are solved too quickly – and who cares anyway? Maybe you’re getting
bored through lack of action or emotion. When your story starts to fall apart,
then you’ll probably find the fault lies in its structure – or lack of it.
Happy writing everyone.
