Plot
From UnknowableWiki
Plot is essential to any piece of fanfiction with the possible exceptions of crackfics and PWPs. It is, essentially, the story. Plot can move your characters to action or be moved by them, but without it, your story goes nowhere.
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Different types of plot
Here are just some kinds of plots:
- Romance: Any version of the idea the Character A meets Character B and they fall in love. They may not fall in love right away, they may have trials after they have fallen in love, there may be a Character C creating a love triangle, but a romantic plot generally ends with a pair of happily loved-up people.
- Drama: Plots that twist and turn, plots that change and develop. These plots usually involve a character having to do something easy, but something or someone despised makes this task far more difficult.
- Tragedy: Plots where the pair of characters who are perfect for one another do not end up together, plots where the bad guy wins, plots where wonderful characters die: it's all tragedy, folks.
- Angst: Somewhat similar to tragedy: bad things happen to good people.
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Clichéd plots
- Fairy tales. Take, for example, the Disney movie Snow White. Everyone knows it, everyone knows the archetypes of the Damsel in Distress, the Evil Stepmother, the Prince. So why is Snow White so great? It was before the cliché. In a sense, those old Disney fairytales like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty created the ideal of the modern fairy tale.
- Movies. If there's one thing you take from this page (besides what not to use as a plot device), let it be this: don't take the entire plot of a movie and use it for your story. Not only is it boring, predictable, and a little bit of plagiarism, no one wants to read a fic titled How to Lose a Wizard in Ten Days.
Situations used as plot devices
Often, these events serve to kick things off or to bring two characters closer together in a romantic relationship.
- War is possibly one of the most common catalysts of a plot. It seems to be the one thing which affects every character - good, evil, neutral, rich, poor... you get the picture.
- Rape is probably one of the worst ideas for a plot device ever created. Seriously. We mean that. Rape is a highly sensitive matter, and should be treated with respect.
- Tragedy is a well-used plot device for both general plots and romantic subplots, but should be handled with caution. A common pitfall is to use a tragedy such as the death of a loved one to drive Character A into Character B's arms, then, once the ship is established, have Character A get over the death as if it had never happened.
Subplots and how to use them
Subplots happen separate from the main plots of a story but are still vastly important to the story's resolution. Often, a subplot will aid to find the resolution to the main plot - see for example House, whose main protagonist (or antagonist, depending on your view) often finds the cure for the main patient by diagnosing clinic patients.
Several subplots written through out a story can bring incredible richness and depth to a fic, but too many of them will entangle the reader, confusing them. If a reader has to have a cheat-sheet to read your fic, you've got too many subplots. Consider taking out a couple, and possibly giving them the chance to flesh out and become plots in your next fic.
External links
- Plot development at MuggleNet. A nice essay that also expounds on clichés.
- Giving Depth and Dimension to Over-used Plots by Heather Grove at Burning Void. This website also includes a list of writing exercises beneficial for professional writers or fanfiction authors.
- One of Us Creative Writing Website's section on plot and subplot. Quite helpful, as are the rest of their Creative Writing tips.
