The Fawn’s Formula- Lesson 4: Plot

Hey Writer!

This is the fourth lesson of my free writing course, The Fawn’s Formula. This lesson is a chance to learn how to write interesting plots. Let’s dive right in!


Idea 1: Breaking Down a Plot

Have you ever noticed how every book, movie, or TV show starts slowly by building a world, then the world and actions build faster and faster until you are left with an abundance of emotions at an unexpected turn?

It’s a template. Most stories follow a set structure that slowly builds, allowing the audience to experience strong emotions that secure their attention and engagement. Let’s briefly explore this structure:

  • Exposition – This is the first part of the plot, where the setting, characters, world rules, and the situation starting off the plot are established.
  • Rising Action – This is the second and usually longest part of the plot. The characters begin to develop through a series of actions and events building in importance. When shaping characters, problems, and mini-situations, consider what aspects of the character remain static and what parts change.
  • Climax – The turning point. The conflicts presented in the rising action build into one big situation that could potentially shatter the characters’ worldviews.
  • Falling Action – The effects of the climax are revealed. How do the characters feel? How do they try to mend the consequences of the climax?
  • Resolution – How does it all tie together? The characters just experienced a series of emotions and revelations. What do they take away from everything? What solidifies their understanding of the events that took place?
    Another key aspect to consider is how the characters continue with their lives. Were there any changes that should be reflected at the end, allowing the audience to intuitively understand their future?

Exercise 1: The Potential of a Plot

  1. Choose one book from a series, one episode of a TV show, or any movie you enjoyed recently. Ideally, this should be something you remember in detail. If not, try rewatching or rereading the story.
  2. Write down the plot following the structure above as you watch or recall the story.
  3. For each aspect of the plot, write a “What if” statement. How could you create new, unique, and interesting plots from an existing story? Remember to write about the characters and their perceptions at each point of the plot.

Here is an example of this exercise with a well-known story: The Tortoise and the Hare.

As you can see with the diagram above, one small change in the character personalities and plot of the rising action can unfold a new series of events.


Conclusion

You might have noticed the character-centric nature of the plot. Although a writer can craft the most creative, unforeseeable plot, it is important to remember that characters are the ones experiencing the events. This means the plot should be written in relation to the characters and how they perceive the events around them.

By the end of this lesson, you will have a better idea of how to write creative, character-centric plots. In the next lesson, we will dive further into the nature of a character and what traits influence their decisions.

Ready to start the next lesson?

Here is Lesson 5.

This course is still in progress, with a new lesson coming out each week. If you would like an email update for when a new lesson is available, fill out the form below!

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