Blogging Tips

Here at BloggingTips.com I generally focus my writing towards non-fiction writers and bloggers. But I am aware that many fiction writers also blog and visit the site. In my post, Using Fiction Writing to Improve Your Non-Fiction Writing, I suggested studying fiction to improve your non-fiction writing. Today I want to cover what some call the most important aspect of fiction writing; the plot. Why do some writers feel this is the most important? Because without a strong plot it doesn’t matter how great your characters are, people won’t be interested in them if they’re stuck in a boring, over-done, story line.

Let’s cover what a plot is and how it can apply to non-fiction writing.

A plot is a storyline that unfolds regarding a main character and his objective throughout the story. He should have confrontations (obstacles) and his story should end with a resolution. The plot (or story) contains three parts; beginning, middle and end.

In non-fiction writing, the plot would be the argument you intend to make, whether to inform or persuade the reader. Non-fiction writing also contains three parts; beginning, middle and end.

Should you plot out your plot? Some writers do, some don’t. But if you’re going to write a story–which must contain a plot–it’s usually best to know where this plot is headed in order to reach the destination. It’s the same with outlining non-fiction. You need some kind of road map along the way.

There’s a guy who meets the girl of his dreams. The guy can’t have her and does everything in his power to win her love. In the end she gives in, they live happily ever after.

Sound familiar? Of course it does–that’s how most romance novels unfold, but it’s only the foundation of the plot. Why can’t he have the girl? What stands in his way of having the girl? Why is the girl trying to avoid falling in love with him? Does she have secrets? Does he have secrets? What extremes is he willing to go to for her?

Until you answer those questions and come up with fresh ideas–you don’t have much of a plot. Maybe she’s locked in a tower or ate a poisonous apple and has been cursed to sleep until true love’s kiss awakens her. Maybe she’s the daughter of a Mafia warlord, and he’s the son of an opposing Mafia family–a modern day Romeo and Juliet? These plots have obviously been covered, but the old “boy meets girl, falls in love, wins girls heart” plot has stood the test of time because writers inject their own unique twists into the story. This is what plot is all about and why you need a road map–a destination. The majority of unique plots have already been written. That’s where a writer needs to get creative and plot out their plot–so it’s fresh to the reader and not the same old storyline.

Maybe you hate structure and don’t feel it allows your creative side to shine. What can you do? You can still plot the major points of the story while allowing the creative side to write the stuff between point A and point B.

There’s nothing wrong with plotting by the “seat of your pants”, however, without a destination and some new twists on old plot lines, you could be doomed for rejection.

How does all of this apply to non-fiction writing? Well, most arguments have already been made by someone else. The trick for you is to add new twists and turns so the same old argument appears to be new.

Let’s say you want to pose the argument that the world is round. It’s been covered before, so what can you say as a writer to shed new light on your argument? Can you come up with compelling ways to present the facts and/or your arguments? In fiction this is what determines if you’re a good storyteller. It can also indicate if you’re a good writer of non-fiction or a good journalist.

The bottom line is, learning how to create great plots in fiction or using plot structure in non-fiction is an essential tool that all writers need; if for nothing else other than to improve on their craft.

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