K.M. Gallagher

Characters but no plot? This is the post for you!

Try choosing one character to focus on as your protagonist, or the one who will move the story forward. Think about what they might need to learn and how they could change for the better (or worse).

Depending on the type of conflict in your story, you may also want an antagonist. Bear in mind that an antagonist isn’t necessarily evil, they just stand in the protagonist’s way, usually due to conflicting goals.

Decide who succeeds and who fails. Depending on the type of antagonist (nature, society, the protagonist’s self, technology, another person, and so on), your protagonist’s life might be at stake.

Consider your setting. If, like me, you have a variety of characters with full lives planned out, you may need to zero in on a specific time or place in their lives. How old are they? Where does the story take place? Are there any relevant events in your world that might directly impact your characters?

Make sure your characters’ actions have consequences. Have the things they do and say affect the outcome of the story.

Look into plot structures like the Three-Act Structure, Freytag’s Pyramid, and the Hero’s Journey. Use them as guidelines, even if you don’t end up writing a physical outline.

Think of scenarios that will push your characters outside their comfort zone and force them to adapt in some way. Put them in situations where their existing strengths will not be of use and make them find new ways to overcome the problem.

Decide on a theme. What are you telling the audience by putting your characters through this story? What does the outcome communicate? Is the message that love conquers all? That it’s okay to ask for help?

• Your theme will be intertwined with your protagonist’s flaw and how they learn to deal with it.

In its simplest form:

• Give your characters goals and motives. Give them backstories and desires, and then make it difficult for them to attain those goals using conflict between characters or other obstacles.
• Decide who, if anyone, walks away victorious. Make your characters sacrifice to get the things they want, and force them to choose between getting what they want and keeping what they already have.
• Create multiple conflicts based on the above guidelines. Your central conflict, around which the climax of the story will be based, should stem from your protagonist’s primary flaw. whether they successfully face their fears will determine the outcome of the resolution.