New Year, New Writing Tool to Hit Word Count!
Exploring a Plot Diagram with the movie Midsommar!
It’s a new year and a new chance to dust off that manuscript that’s been collecting cobwebs and spruce it up for submissions! But, where do you start? What’s the most important element of getting your story shined and polished?
The answer is a single word: CRAFT!
Before you decide what your character looks like or how many words it’s going to be or where you want it published, you need to go back to the basics of writing and develop your craft. Storytelling is a skill, one that can be learned by anyone willing to put in the work, so let’s dig in!
Plot is absolutely vital to the success of a story, and while there are numerous elements to consider, the core of plot development can be funneled down to these elements:
This useful plot diagram is a great way to lay out your bare bone plot and ensure it ticks all the boxes! Let’s go through each element and use Midsommar, my favorite horror movie, as an example to help show how these items are used:
Life Before: This is what life is like before the protagonist is thrown to the wolves. It’s Alice before Wonderland, the narrator before Tyler Durden, John Wick before the death of his dog. For Midsommar, it’s Dani being worried about her sister, desperately trying to reach her and turning to her boyfriend for emotional support. In my book Open House, it’s Caleb before the mysterious blonde enters and locks him inside the house he’s meant to sell.
Inciting Incident: This is what sparks the shift from act one to act two. The character hasn’t made the decision to change yet (that’s next), but it’s the catalyst that will cause the big change. For Dani, it’s the death of her family. Her entire world collapses and she’s left with only her boyfriend (arguably a poor replacement). Her worst fear is coming true: she’s alone. In John Wick, it’s the break-in and death of the dog his late wife gifted him. This moment signifies that his new beginning is gone, taken from him. In Open House, it’s when Caleb is gassed and taken hostage, realizing that his perfectly laid out plans for his life are going to change.
Begin the Quest: The protagonist needs to DECIDE to jump into act two. Imagine Midsommar without Dani going on the trip. Not as exciting, right? She had to make the choice to accompany Christian (her boyfriend) and his friends to Sweden, to step into a new world where there is no going back. John Wick makes the decision to go back to a life as a hitman. It’s an active decision.
Fun and Games/Midpoint: The twists and turns, the fun and games, all lead to a midpoint. Every story has one, even if it’s so subtle, you hardly recognize it. It’s literally the middle of the plot where the character has a “look at myself in the mirror” moment of reflection and, again, makes a choice. Does the character continue on their journey or pivot? Usually, this happens after a false victory or a maybe a big disappointment. In Midsommar, it’s the moment they witness the elders jump to their deaths. This is a pivotal moment. First, reality hits Dani and it’s very clear this isn’t going to be the vacation they anticipated, but it’s also throwing death in Dani’s face, the one thing she’s been trying to suppress/overcome since losing her family. Then, she has a decision to make, one that Christian kinda makes for them since he wants to stay. She stays as well, and by doing so, she is deciding (subconsciously) to confront death.
Climax: This is what the story has been leading up to. Not only is it the big plot moment, but it’s the emotional moment as well when the character’s needs and values are pitted against one another in the final show down. For Dani, it’s seeing Christian cheating. Now, she has the confirmation she’s always feared. Her boyfriend doesn’t love her, doesn’t want her, doesn’t make her feel “held”. She’s alone, at least, she was before she started this journey. In this climax, she realizes that she doesn’t have to hide her grief or pain, and that the others in the cult share it with the same intensity. This is huge because she’s realizing that despite losing Christian, she’s close to getting what she’s always wanted, which is a family.
Resolution: Note that I use the word resolution rather than conclusion. A story doesn’t need to tie everything up in a bow, although it certainly can. Rather, it needs to resolve the main threads. Dani’s arc is complete. She’s lost her mind, but gained a family. What her life will be like now is up to the reader, but the emotional elements and the plot development is resolved.
Hopefully, this exercise was helpful! It’s useful for even seasoned writers to occasionally look over their work and see if their stories are meeting the basics. For new writers, these types of exercises are great ways to develop craft! Now, time to get writing! Good luck!