#plot types

[lildarkmatchbook]

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fant...

[jsevick]

Plot Types: Epic vs. Procedural

Plot Types: Epic vs. Procedural

Plots can be categorized and described in a thousand ways; at the same time, in other ways, no two plots are exactly alike and thus cannot be too closely associated. While accepting the incredible subjectivity and ultimate pointlessness of separating plots into different categories, I do find it helpful when trying to determine which kinds of plots I like, thus what kinds of stories I should try…

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[jsevick]

Plot Types: Immersive vs. Daily Life

Plot Types: Immersive vs. Daily Life

Distinguishing between plot types and story structures is often an incredibly subjective exercise, both because the analyst’s personal opinions can sway the designations and because stories are individual and eccentric creatures that don’t always fall into neat categories. That being said, as a writer trying to find a story, as well as trying to figure out what kinds of stories she likes and…

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[bluestarwolf12]

For some reason I have a sudden desire to talk about types of plots/characters that just make me irrationally happy for some reason? Dunno. I seriously can't explain what it is about these that I like so much. :|

-In which a character perceived as being terrible at everything involved with the main character (say, an office-based military computer geek stranded on an island with a soldier trained as a survivalist) is placed into their own element (something the other character is terrible at) at either the plot's climax or another major conflict, and finally earns the other character's respect.

-In which a character perceived as inhuman/perfect/inhumanly powerful/the character viewed as almost God-like by the 'main' character for most of the plot (is reveared/hated/feared/respected/what have you) is shown (exclusively to the main character) to be just as human/capable of weakness + emotion as everyone else. The main character's opinion of them changes accordingly.

-Two seemingly unlike characters are trapped/stranded in a location with no outside communication, and must work together to survive/escape. This can result in romantic interest or an unlikely friendship. Even better if, after returning to their original lives, those around them disapprove of the friend/relationship and try to split them up to (eventually) no avail.

-Body, Gender, or Situation swap, but only for fanfics/well established characters. Universe in which this is a sudden change rather than something established pre-fic is ideal. Return to original situation/body/gender willingly or forcibly is optional.

That's all I can think of atm. Might post some that make me unhappy/uncomfortable later. We'll see. :3

[incarnadind]

Twenty Basic Plots

After you come up with your own system for generating ideas, the next step is to put them in some recognizable story form (the basic plot idea), build your central conflict (the story premise sheet), then build your character and underlying themes (the thematic premise sheet. 

QUEST - the plot involves the Protagonist's search for a person, place or thing, tangible or intangible (but must be quantifiable, so think of this as a noun; i.e., immortality). 

ADVENTURE - this plot involves the Protagonist going in search of their fortune, and since fortune is never found at home, the Protagonist goes to search for it somewhere over the rainbow. 

PURSUIT - this plot literally involves hide-and-seek, one person chasing another. 

RESCUE - this plot involves the Protagonist searching for someone or something, usually consisting of three main characters - the Protagonist, the Victim & the Antagonist. 

ESCAPE - plot involves a Protagonist confined against their will who wants to escape (does not include some one trying to escape their personal demons). 

REVENGE - retaliation by Protagonist or Antagonist against the other for real or imagined injury. 

THE RIDDLE - plot involves the Protagonist's search for clues to find the hidden meaning of something in question that is deliberately enigmatic or ambiguous. 

RIVALRY - plot involves Protagonist competing for same object or goal as another person (their rival). 

UNDERDOG - plot involves a Protagonist competing for an object or goal that is at a great disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds. 

TEMPTATION - plot involves a Protagonist that for one reason or another is induced or persuaded to do something that is unwise, wrong or immoral. 

METAMORPHOSIS - this plot involves the physical characteristics of the Protagonist actually changing from one form to another (reflecting their inner psychological identity). 

TRANSFORMATION - plot involves the process of change in the Protagonist as they journey through a stage of life that moves them from one significant character state to another. 

MATURATION - plot involves the Protagonist facing a problem that is part of growing up, and from dealing with it, emerging into a state of adulthood (going from innocence to experience). 

LOVE - plot involves the Protagonist overcoming the obstacles to love that keeps them from consummating (engaging in) true love. 

FORBIDDEN LOVE - plot involves Protagonist(s) overcoming obstacles created by social mores and taboos to consummate their relationship (and sometimes finding it at too high a price to live with). 

SACRIFICE - plot involves the Protagonist taking action(s) that is motivated by a higher purpose (concept) such as love, honor, charity or for the sake of humanity. 

DISCOVERY - plot that is the most character-centered of all, involves the Protagonist having to overcome an upheavel(s) in their life, and thereby discovering something important (and buried) within them a better understanding of life (i.e., better appreciation of their life, a clearer purpose in their life, etc.) 

WRETCHED EXCESS - plot involves a Protagonist who, either by choice or by accident, pushes the limits of acceptable behavior to the extreme and is forced to deal with the consequences (generally deals with the psychological decline of the character). 

ASCENSION - rags-to-riches plot deals with the rise (success) of Protagonist due to a dominating character trait that helps them to succeed. 

DECISION - riches-to-rags plot deals with the fall (destruction) of Protagonist due to dominating character trait that eventually destroys their success. 

(Note: Sometimes #19 & #20 are combined into rags-to-riches-to-rags (or vice versa) of a Protagonist who does (or doesn't) learn to deal with their dominating character trait.)