Home » Why Is Plot Important To A Story? What Is Plot?

Why Is Plot Important To A Story? What Is Plot?

Is plot important to a story or novel - featured image

The plot is probably the most important thing about storytelling. Plotting your story will help you make sure that all the pieces fit together in a logical way. Good story plot will ensure your readers enjoy reading your story as much as you enjoyed writing it!

In this blog post I’ll show you some steps for outlining and plotting out any kind of novel or other written piece from start to finish:

  • What is plot development?
  • How to create believable characters
  • Creating an outline with strong structure
  • How to develop tension throughout your story
  • Can a story be complete without a plot?

Video – Why it’s important to plot a story and how to do it

A good plot is essential to keep the reader turning the pages

These events are typically where all conflict and tension in your work come from, as well as where all of your reader’s emotional responses will stem from.

Why a good plot is important to a story

Plot refers to events that make up your work, which are typically where all conflict or tension in your story will come from (as well as emotional responses).

It’s important for readers to know not only about things happening but also why they’re occurring so they understand how these moments relate with each other.

Why is plot the most important?

The plot of your story is what makes it a cohesive whole, and without one you’ll just have an amorphous collection.

To help with this process there are many tools which can be used to outline or chart out the different events in order for them all fit together like puzzle pieces:

  • character arcs (which determine how characters develop)
  • act breaks
  • initiating incidents that break up sections into parts

These delineate moments when something happens before continuing on as if nothing had happened; climaxes provide readers’ emotional responses from their highest point so far whereas resolution gives closure by tying everything off nicely after they’ve reached peak interest level).

How do you write a plot summary outline?

These techniques allow authors give glimpses at future things happening while also not giving away major spoilers and help keep readers engaged.

How to write story plot?

Start with the characters!

First, brainstorm who these people are and what they want – this is important because readers come to understand why your protagonist or antagonist does things by understanding their motivations for doing so (elements of a good story).

You should also create an outline where you list out possible ways in which that character could get his/her wants met as well any stakes involved if he doesn’t succeed at all!

That way when writing scenes down it will be easier on yourself knowing exactly how much detail needs go into every moment vs having too little information about certain critical points OR going overboard detailing some unimportant moments instead while being vague during crucial time frames necessary push the plot forward more quickly without slowing pace.

Afterward then think up the most likely situation in which your character could be successful or fail (just like a law of probability, things don’t happen at random). In this way you’ll have the best chances for writing one helluva story.

What is a story plot example?

Consider how realistic are these scenarios as they unfold because readers want stories where people behave predictably – with complexities hidden beneath layers upon layer under such ‘gray areas’ rather than just knowing everything upfront.

This makes them care all sorts messier emotions while being engaged into both reading AND watching – not bored.

Think about how you will make your character’s choices ‘sticky’ to the reader and then write a story that is both believable/believable enough. Remember, people don’t feel things for no reason.

They have reasons behind their feelings – they can be complex or simple but either way we need them on an emotional level in order not just empathize with our protagonist, which makes us root for them even more.

Understand what caused these reactions through empathetically feeling those same emotions ourselves when reading it from within perspective of another person.

This means understanding motivation as well; think outside yourself, egos desires, while looking at life objectively – always ask WHY? Why did this happen now instead if later?), why was this the response, and how does this lead to a different outcome?

How to start writing a plot?

The first step to creating a plot is usually brainstorming. Brainstorm the events and conflicts that will happen in your story . Often, there are many different ideas you may have about where it could go.

As an author of course, this can be overwhelming because if all those major or minor details were added with no cohesiveness then they would just clash through each other.

One way around becoming overwhelmed by possible outcomes while ideating future plots on paper might come from thinking `big picture’ rather than individual scenes – what does protagonist want at the end?

Plot is the sequence of events that make up a story. Plot is what keeps readers interested in your story, and it can be hard to know where to start when writing one.

Writing tips plot development

Are you looking for a way to spice up your story? Do you want to be able to write about something other than a relationship or break-up? If so, then this blog post is for you! Here are a couple of tips that will help you develop an engaging plot.

Start with the basics: protagonist, setting and conflict. Your plot should revolve around these three things in order to be successful!

Show instead of tell your readers what is happening by using “action” words such as jogging or jumping over a hurdle rather than saying he ran five miles every day when you are trying emphasize his physical ability without mentioning it at all.

In this way we can see through our imagination how fast John was running because more details have been given about him physically moving himself on earth’s surface which will make for better reading experience where reader becomes engaged not only mentally but also visually.

What are the steps of plot development?

This will not only create strong impact on reader but also allow for better understanding about how things felt to the character at time events took place which makes the story more relatable, because we can remember moments when similar feelings overwhelmed us during our own lives even if never experienced exact same thing before.

This way you are able experience novel’s content yourself from inside the reader’s perspective that no other writer could ever provide since every person interpret events differently according to their unique set of personal experiences.

One of the best examples when this technique is used successfully comes from literary piece written by Franz Kafka called “The Metamorphosis”: protagonist wakes up one morning and realizes that he turned into cockroach.

It’s not just about what happened to him but also what it feels like for Gregor Samsa.

As a reader you are able see everything through his perspective, which makes the story so much more thought-provoking, because in addition we get a chance to understand motivations behind every single action a character takes.

How do you write a basic plot summary?

What is a basic plot summary?

The first step is to analyze the protagonist of your story. What does he or she want? How much are they willing go through in order for it happen, and how important this goal might be (from their perspective)?

Once you’ve answered these questions then start defining what’s going on outside the character, in the world that surrounds him/her, which makes them unable achieve desired goals.

Will there always be something new happening no matter he tries; there’s always some external force trying make sure our hero never succeeds!

In other words we need know who is stopping the main character achieving his desires and why. As soon as you understand both sides’ motivations, then outline the plot by asking yourself questions like: What would happen if …?

It’s important for every writer to know how create an outline and write a plot.

Meaning of plot in a story

There are many different ways writers organize their plots; one way is by using the three-act structure.

  • Act 1 is setting up stakes (introducing conflict);
  • Act 2 start the journey and building tension/rising action towards climax and struggle. This is usually the longest part story,because it contains most events.
  • Act 3 is the climax and resolution, where all main conflicts come together with the final outcome.

One of the most important things to do when writing a novel or story is outlining. This process will allow you, as an author/writer-to know what your plot looks like before diving into it!

It can also give someone who has never written anything for pleasure some guidance on how this whole thing works and feels so they’re not completely lost in space.

How do you find the plot of a story?

These outline should be clear enough where readers understand exactly what’s going happen next. These plots provide structure which gives writers something concretely to organize their thoughts about characters, actions, goals and setting up conflicts along the way.

It provides a sense of direction, like a road map through the story.

Writers should outline at least the beginning of an idea that they can work from. You’ll have willy-nilly ideas flying around in your head until you figure out which one makes more sense and can be crafted into this new thing called “a novel”.

It’s a great chance to put order into your thoughts and clarify whats going happen next. When a writer starts writing it all down piece by piece, the content becomes clearer.

Outlines start becoming visualized through scenes unfolding, like a movie where viewers watch actors interactively & providing reactions in real-time.

Some people might be thinking “Why do I need to know how this all works?” But everyone has stories they want tell and if plot is what propels them forward then it’s worth learning about.

Explain to a class of intermediate learners why a good plot is important to a story

The best way to instruct a class of intermediate learners about the importance of plot is use a great example of a popular book they all love, such as the Harry Potter series. Ask students questions like ‘What made you want to keep turning the pages?’ The answer will surely be ‘Because we want to see what happens next.’ This is the purpose of plot.

Characters should be established first, particularly the hero and villain. The reader must associate and love the hero, while detesting the villain, who must be truly evil. A good plot throws many challenges in front of the hero and also how he or she overcomes them.

Each challenge is worse than the last, but every comes together in the end when the hero wins the day and his whole world changes. It helps if the hero is an underdog to begin with. That way, his or her victory is all the more sweeter!

How to write a good plot summary?

It’s always good to keep in mind the three-act structure:

  • Setup, inciting event
  • The journey starts, events lead to conflict/climax
  • The hero defeats the villain and we have plot Resolution

Even if you’re not writing a screenplay or stage play, which usually adhere strictly for plot outline with lots of dramatic action scenes happening sequentially, it often helps readers better understand what is going on by outlining these parts separately.

How long should a plot summary be?

The majority of the content written from act one can be somewhat vague about what’s coming up, so this section should leave the reader wanting more without revealing too much detail.

The author needs to tease them into reading further just enough make their curiosity satisfied but still want to check out the next installment because there was something left unsaid (or some cliffhanger).

Act two can be more straightforward about whats going on, with a better idea of what’s to come. Always leave the reader asking ‘What happens next?’

How do you explain the plot of a story?

Writing a plot summary can be hard, but it can be done. It’s important to have an intro that hooks the reader and holds their interest through the whole post.

A good way to start is by introducing your protagonist or main character and what they want in life – something they are passionate about. The next step is to introduce what stands in their way of achieving this goal.

This might be an antagonist (a villain) or just some other obstacle like lack of money, lack of skill, etc. The next step is to introduce the turning point, which can be a decision our protagonist makes.

This could also involve an event that happens in their life and changes everything – it’s important for this part of your story summary outline not only tells what happened but how they reacted or felt about these events.

How does Plot Impact theme?

The author uses a series of interconnected plots, characters and settings to put the reader in their desired state.

The story brings about an emotional impact with its momentum-driven theme that is hammered home by each successive plot point, character flaw or setting detail.

What is theme of a story?

The theme of a story is the overall message that the author wants to get across to the reader. A theme examples are:

  • Love can conquer all
  • Family is more important than business
  • Persistence and determination overcome any obstacle
  • Love means you don’t have to say you’re sorry

Why is the conflict important to a story?

Conflict in literature is necessary for the creation of drama, suspense, and a sense of closure.

Without conflict there would be no story or plot to keep readers interested at all times- if everything went smoothly then every reader would just fall asleep because it’s so boring.

Key takeaways for writing plot structure for a story

Plot devices such as plot points are an important literary device and are valid even for a short story. Devices such as rising action make for a great story which is much more than a series of events. The main plot should have a fantastic hero and of course a really evil bad guy who needs to be thoroughly defeated to ensure a happy ending.

Plot elements are crucial to story structure. A story’s plot should tie up all the loose ends and draw the reader’s attention right up until the end of the story: this is great literary fiction.

Charles Dickens was acutely aware of a great plot throughout an entire story in all his literary work: think Christmas Carol. The plot type may change, but interesting characters with solid character development is another key to successful novels in genre fiction. Memorable characters are the life blood of exciting reading.

Even short stories have plot twists and each part of the plot needs to link a chain of events from the inciting incident to the falling action. All elements of a story fit together like a jigsaw and all story elements are important, making a well-crafted story worth reading.

Any type of story, such as Freytag’s Pyramid or the science fiction story Hunger Games has to get the reader interested in the main character’s life, each story event presenting an ever-greater challenge, even if it’s a natural event.

Secondary plots serve to make the novel more rounded and realistic, particularly if told from the first person and containing well-researched background information.

The best-selling author knows how to use elements of a plot to get the best results, using plot to create dramatic tension right up to the peak of the action. Great characters are central to a solid resolution to the main story and is one of the key elements of plot in the writing process.

A love interest always helps: bare hands on human flesh is always interesting to read about in simple terms. Literary agents love it and combined with external events is a powerful way to engage reader’s interest.

Other resources relating to the important of plot in a story

What Is a Plot? A Look At Plot And What It Means For Your Story

Why Is Plot Important To A Story? What Is Plot?

Plot of a Story Examples

11 Functions of Plot | Be the Story


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