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I don't think there is really a difference between writing an erotic novel and any other type of novel, so everything here applies anywhere, but this is a comfortable place for this crowd. One of our faithful posed a desire to run a practice on plotting a novel length work, so I thought I'd start a thread outside the password so that we got the most participation.
To tee up the conversation, I was taught that we need to pick our character, set the dogs on them, run them up a tree, set the tree on fire, and watch what happens. That's a bit of an oversimplification, but also a good description. In super simple terms this is the basic framework for a novel length plot.
It doesn't hurt to give this basic journey to your antagonist too, and maybe even secondary characters, especially if the journeys are entangled and conflicting.
Thoughts?
To tee up the conversation, I was taught that we need to pick our character, set the dogs on them, run them up a tree, set the tree on fire, and watch what happens. That's a bit of an oversimplification, but also a good description. In super simple terms this is the basic framework for a novel length plot.
- Begin with a sympathetic character.
- Give them a problem.
- Show them the solution, make it impossible.
- Set them to trying anyway.
- Introduce an alternative (one good/one bad, if you have the space).
- Give them resolve to stay the course.
- Knock them on their ass.
- Let them wallow in self pity and make a few mistakes - complications to overcome.
- Stand them back up
- Reinforce the alternatives
- Let them realize that their journey has made the problem solvable.
- Choose a different path.
It doesn't hurt to give this basic journey to your antagonist too, and maybe even secondary characters, especially if the journeys are entangled and conflicting.
Thoughts?