WHO I AM

My name's Lo. I am an avid reader, writer, content ambassador, and Wattpad user. I write under the username cndelo. I've been writing off and on for most of my life, but just really got into Wattpad in 2018. And since then, I've learned a lot about plot.

In this guide, I'll share some of the things I've learned on my journey so far, most of which have been sourced from the all-seeing, all-knowing internet.

THE FEAR OF PLOTTING

Plotting, at first glance, seemed righteously overwhelming to me. The idea of sitting down and organizing an entire novel into detailed parts sounded exhausting. My first go at writing a novel, I attempted to skip plotting altogether. However, I quickly realized that it was a mistake. I'm no pantser, no matter how badly I want to be.

I found myself constantly rewriting and reordering scenes, getting stuck, and just generally doubting my writing ability. I soon realized that if I had plotted out the novel first, it would've solved 99% of my problems. The only trouble was, I hated the idea. I had no clue how to do it effectively or efficiently.

So, like all things I don't understand, I took it to the internet...

...And was immediately overwhelmed all over again when I saw the amount of writing advice to sort through. Writers, apparently, really like to share their opinions, especially when it's giving writing advice.

I researched. I scoured. I fell down rabbit hole after rabbit hole, determined to find the best, most efficient, and let's not forget... the quickest, way to plot a novel.

Bleary-eyed and caffeine high, I emerged from the depths and brought with me the cherished knowledge that I so desperately sought.

You're welcome.

FOCUS:

This guide will be focused on the basics of plot, story structure, creating characters, and many of the other elements that make up a story's bones.

We'll cover beginning topics such as theme, genre, and word count.

We'll take a look at common problem areas like your story's middle and what to do if you get stuck.

We'll examine story structure as a whole, covering everything from the large-scale, overall plot structure to the small-scale structure of chapters, scenes, and paragraphs.

This guide will also include tips, techniques, and resources to help you on your writing journey.

From the beginning writer to the seasoned veteran, there's something for everyone. I've attempted to structure this guide in a way that you can simply touch on the basics or go as deep and as in-depth as you'd like.

PLEASE DO:

- Ask questions.

I'll try my best to answer them. Keep in mind, I'm just an amateur who's been researching her ass off. I make mistakes like everyone else. That's why we're here—to learn and better ourselves and our craft. Your brain and your novel will thank you one day.

- Leave comments.

- Add your own advice and links to other resources that have helped you.

And remember, I'm looking for TRIED AND TRUE tips, tricks, techniques, and advice. Only share things that you have personally utilized and found helpful, and try to keep it relevant.

RESOURCES

The last chapter will be a resources page where I will list books, websites, Youtube videos, blogs, etc. that I have gathered information and tips from, created by people who are far more learned than me in this topic, so if you are the type who likes to learn and discern for yourself, you can dive right in.

Without further ado...