First things first:
- Plotting serves as either detailed planning or a rough outline of the story
- It provides structure while still leaving room for spontaneous ideas
- There are several methods, such as the Hero’s Journey and the 3-Act Structure
What does “plotting” actually mean?
When plotting, you plan and structure the storyline of your writing project before you begin the actual writing process. This means deciding how your characters will develop, what will happen in your story, and how the individual scenes will come together to form a coherent whole. Alongside the main plot, which is the central storyline of your story, you can also deliberately define subplots and unexpected twists. Depending on how extensively and in how much detail you plan your story in advance, plotting can serve either as a rough guide or as a detailed framework for your writing project.
Benefits of plotting
By planning your storyline deliberately, you can avoid logical inconsistencies more easily, maintain a clear overview of the different storylines in your work, and place plot twists at the most effective moments. Plotting also gives you strong orientation during the writing process itself, while still leaving room for spontaneous ideas, since you can always adjust and refine the framework of your story. In the end, this structure can even save you time, because you are less likely to lose your way in the story and will need to revise less afterward.
Different plotting methods
The Hero’s Journey
The Hero’s Journey is a narrative pattern that we know, for example, from many myths and legends. The individual stages of the Hero’s Journey are then filled in with the specific events of your own story.
The 3-Act Structure
Some people may still remember the 3-Act Structure from school. With this method, you divide your story into three basic sections that serve as your guide: beginning, middle, and end. The first turning point takes place at the end of the beginning, additional turning points occur in the middle and at the end of the main section, and the ending brings the story to a close.
Die 3-9-27-Methode
The 3-9-27 Method is an extension of the 3-Act Structure. In this approach, the 3 acts are divided into 9 blocks and 27 chapters. Each act is therefore split into 3 blocks, and each block in turn into 3 chapters. With this planning structure, you can map out your story in more detail than with the simple 3-act model, which is especially helpful for those who want not just a rough outline, but a detailed structure they can follow while writing.
Final notes
Plotting can be a valuable guide for your writing process, but authors with perfectionist tendencies in particular should be careful not to flesh out too much at this stage. Plotting is not meant to replace the entire writing process, but to provide orientation for it. Those who feel too restricted by a predefined framework and prefer to let their creativity run completely free may find greater success with other approaches. However you choose to work on your manuscript, GRIN wishes you lots of enjoyment and success with your writing project!
Are you looking for guidance and unsure whether you have considered everything when plotting your book? Download our free, practical checklist and find out whether your plot is ready for publication:
Checklist: Structuring and Planning Your Plot
Enjoy working on your project!
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