Plots and Plotting

by Diana Kimpton

  How will Seb and Jane find the rebels?

  What will happen when they reach the rebel base?

  Will Jane end up with Seb or Gareth?

  Will the aliens take revenge on Gareth for changing sides?

  Do the aliens run the whole world or just this part of it?

  Who hid the notebook?

  I don't know the answers yet, but I want to find out. So one day, I hope to work out the rest of the plot. It's going to take me a long time, but if you ever see Future Proof on the bookshelves, you'll be able to find out the answers too.

  I’m still not sure if the story is going to turn into one book, two books or a trilogy. That’s a decision I won’t be able to take until I see how the plot develops. But one thing I have decided is that the ending I previously thought would be Seb and Jane save mankind isn’t going to be a humans defeat the aliens scenario. I’ve already introduced one good alien so it’s reasonable to suppose there are others. As a result, I’m currently planning a good triumphs over evil ending where the good side are a mix of humans and aliens and the future involves both groups living in harmony.

  In chapter 3, I said that the theme for a book often starts to show itself while you're working on it, and that's definitely happening with Future Proof. As I developed the setting for the story, I spotted signs that the themes might be freedom, democracy and courage. Although those issues are still going to be important to the story, I now think the main theme will be that we're determined by the choices we make, not our race, nationality or gender. And now I know that, it will effect the way I develop the plot.

  I’ve still got a lot of work to do before I'll be ready to start writing. I may change my mind about many of the details if I think of better ideas, and if inspiration strikes, I'll be happy to follow wherever it leads. That's the fun of plotting: it's like a voyage of discovery, helping us puzzle out stories that are waiting to be told.

  Conclusion

  I hope this book has helped you discover a way of creating a story that works for you. Don’t worry if your method is not exactly the same as mine. We are different people. We think differently and have different lives so it’s not surprising if we work differently too.

  Your book is your own. It grew in your head, and it will eventually have your name on the cover. So please remember this advice from a gifted storyteller. He’s talking about retelling folktales, but his words also apply to all of us who create stories from scratch.

  Some stories are ancient, creaking, old as hills beneath the sky. It makes no difference how long a story’s been told for. Folklore is quite literally what you make of it. After all, and say it quiet, for here’s the secret of them all: we are the folk, now. Let’s tell our tales the way we want.

  Matt Kimpton

  Other books about plotting

  I've read many books about plotting and gained something from all of them, even if it was just the knowledge that I didn’t want to work that way. Here are the three that I have enjoyed most.

  How to write for animation

  by Jeffrey Scott

  Jeffrey Scott’s description of how he plots a story showed me how to unleash my own creativity.

  Doctor Who: The Writer’s Tale. The Final Chapter

  by Russell T Davies and Benjamin Cook

  This amazing insight into how a writer creates stories takes the form of an email conversation between Russell T Davies and Benjamin Cook while Russell T was writing and editing scripts for Doctor Who. You don’t have to be a Doctor Who fan to enjoy it, but you’ll probably find it helpful to watch the episodes they are talking about. You may be as surprised as I was to see the order in which he got his ideas.

  Story

  by Robert McKee

  This is the classic book about story structure. It talks about screenwriting, but it’s equally relevant to books.

  A note from the author

  Over the years, I've received plenty of help and encouragement from other writers. This book is my way of passing on the favour by helping you improve your skills. I hope you've enjoyed it and found it useful.

  If you have, please help other people discover the book by putting a review on Amazon, your blog or any other site. I'll be delighted if you do.

  This link should take you to the relevant page in your local Amazon store.

  https://mybook.to/plotting

  I've been a professional author for almost thirty years, and many of my books have been translated into other languages. You can find out more about me and my work on my website. You'll also find articles about writing and some free stories to download.

  dianakimpton.co.uk