This an extracted profile, a narration of a famous story teller who’s career has spanned three decades of novels, film, and television work. The focus on the literary yogic “chakras” which are activated for characterization, enveloping the precise use of plot structure in story. This the methods of a true legend.
These far from being random choices, nor are they selected based on the intelligence or the thoughtful essays on their particular relationship of their successful translation on paper, or of any mythical world proportions.
Rather, they’re considered paramount because what they create is a bond, a precise weld between the inner world of the writer forming words, and the external audience eager to grasp the meaning of these sentences, the finished work, the message sent to the world.
The Plot Structure
A plot structure is considered nothing more than a tool for the organization of events, this in temporal sequence. While the history of events tells us that there’s always more such structures than there are writers, few of them ever meet what the majority would even consider a critical test.
Are they easy to use and apply. A simple tool although limited, can be of greater use than activating a complicated one which requires years to master. Know that for the greater quality of your writing begins with mastering the basics.
Outlining The Structure
Begin by providing yourself with a rough sketch of what the structure of the story is, the dry skeleton, as you would vision in your minds eye. This includes the entirety of story arcs, the beginning, the rise, the climax, introduction of the characters, the main themes, pivotal events, the plot points which are intended to maintain tension.
Initially, there’s no need for it to be extensive, but have it set aside so you can refer back to it, and then flush them out and then expand on them, as the most important points occur to you. After you’ve developed a workable frame of outline, then you can use it like a mind map.
As much as possible, try avoiding adding ideas or snippets on pieces of random paper, and thus be forgotten or misplaced. Instead, incorporate them directly into your outline where they belong.
If you’re not certain where they exactly go, then mark them with an asterisk, which would serve as a reminder to review and move later.
The Development Of Character Traits
List all of the vital statistics of your characters, leaving room to add detail to the data. As you begin developing the appropriate back story for them, including their traits and thoughts, list them here.
If they are the main characters in a long piece, then consider setting up separate documents for all of them, an entire database of points. Then begin charting a timeline for the characters as you move forward, noting developments such as growth or decline, back story, conflict, the relationships with the other characters.
All of these thoughts should be working in tandem with the outline which you’re developing, keeping in mind that most of the character development be done via dialogue. This the best known and most reliable method of creating vivid characters which the readers can embrace. Readers will usually believe in spoken clues to a character over expository ones.
Also inject a bit of wit into the main characters, a personality, but not beyond the point where it begins creating sympathy, as the main protagonist should never be felt sorry for. There are exceptions, but the general rule is to keep them as likeable and heroic as possible.
Defining Exposition
Use this as a device for increasing tension while augmenting the dramatic tone of your work. Make sure that you limit the self-indulgent wallowing or extensive repetition.
The topics should include goals, fears, plans, and dreams. Exposition should be minimized and not be long winded, and should offer variety. Build up on previous revelations, and vary short as well as long sentences to offer rhythm and punch.
Keep in mind that if the readers become bored, this is the information which they’ll usually skip over. So make sure that your exposition is as readable and as concise as possible. If you’re going to lose a reader, this is most likely where it’ll happen.
Creating Constant Conflict
Any story is all about conflict. So conflict becomes an essential element of fiction writing. In the story structure, there should be at least two distinct secondary fights in the story. There should also be one grand conflict which develops and continues throughout the entire story, one that’s ultimately resolved, favorable or not.
The secondary conflicts are needed as what they’ll do is propel the reader through the dry parts of the story, which sustains tension while carrying momentum. Make sure that you diagram out the story by conflict first, this so not to jump the shark which can alter the storyline.
The Fun Of Adventure
You should also include a bit of humor into your storytelling, one that your readers will sense. One of the most effective ways to do so is expressing and then incorporating it with your enthusiasm, which then translates in its flow and pace.
So wherever your starting point may be, what you’re doing is creating something, a new adventure, perhaps the story of your life. The more interest that you generate, the more excitement that’s captured during the process, retaining your reader as they become nail biting captivated.