Did I really mean that? There are only 2 essential keys to building a captivating plot in any genre? Yes. If you understand these 2 elements and can implement them, you can write any kind of plot effectively.
Key #1: Understand your genre thoroughly
Every genre has its own rules that authors have to meet in order to satisfy readers. I grew up on mysteries, starting with Saturday mornings in front of the tv enjoying Scooby Doo. (Actually, if you’d like to write a traditional mystery and want to understand the basic rules to it, watching a Scooby Doo episode from the original series, “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?”, or the updated series, “What’s New, Scooby Doo?” is a great introduction to mystery writing.)
The rules of an effective mystery are so much a part of my thought patterns that when I watch any crime show now, I immediately begin to analyze the story structure: okay, they’ve introduced three viable suspects so far. Was that conversation a red herring? The detective is using one of his quirks to deduce a clue.
You probably want to write a novel in the genre that’s your favorite. So you probably already have a good understanding of how that genre works. Keep reading novels in the genre you want to write in with a thoughtful eye so that you become steeped in the rules of what you can and can’t do in the genre.
One of the helpful things about writing genre fiction is that if you understand the rules, you’re on your way to achieving the second key to writing a captivating plot.
#2: Write with tension
Most genres have tension built in. How does the couple end up together in a romcom? How will the detective solve the mystery? How will the hero end his quest?
Why is this important? Because, like I said in my post on writing about uncomfortable settings, tension is the engine that keeps readers turning the page. Understanding how the rules of your particular genre deliver tension will provide the framework for you to add more tension in your specific story.
When I write a mystery, I know the detective has to solve it. But I get to choose the kind of detective, the crime, suspects, clues, and red herrings. So how do I add tension? Well, one of the major suspects could be the detective’s brother. He could believe a witness and then find out he swallowed a whole pack of lies. He could find a clue and then lose it. Anything that happens in a story which makes readers want to read further to find out what happens next is good tension.
What books have you read that use tension to create a memorable plot?
Here are more tips on writing plot.
