PLOT

YOUR
NOVEL
COURSE

WORKBOOK

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Need a better way to
plot your story?
You have the spark of a story idea. Perhaps it’s an evocative scene, an

inspiring setting, or a fascinating character. It’s a story spark has

captured your imagination. A tale begging to be told. To bring your story

to life you need to develop your idea into a plot.

Plot structure isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach nor should it be so rigid

that your creativity feels stifled. Your plot is simply a roadmap for the

direction you want your story to take. Without plot, there is essentially no

story. Plot drives your character’s responses to the world around them. It’s

the sequence of events that increases the tension and stakes, leaving

your reader wondering what happens next. It’s the journey the reader

takes with your characters. Observing how they overcome obstacles and

develop as a result and ultimately learning the message of your story.

This workbook is made to help you put into action the plotting methods

you'll learn on the Plot Your Novel Course. Here you'll find outlines for
each of the 4 different plotting methods. For your class project:

Choose the plotting method that best suits your writing style and

story

Watch the video class for that plotting method

Fill in the workbook questions

Polish your outline until you feel ready to begin

Get that first draft down! Remember it's a messy first draft so it's

doesn't have to be perfect.

If you feel like experimenting further you might want to try out all the

plotting methods in this workbook. You'll also find 5 Key Questions for
Plotting Your Novel on the last page of this workbook. Good luck!

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The 3-Act Method
Dating back to Aristotle, the classic three-act structure is one of the oldest and most popular

outlining methods. This structure divides the story into three distinct acts: the set-up,

confrontation, and resolution.

Act I – The Setup

In act one the reader is introduced to the main protagonist and the story setting. Early on the

inciting incident occurs, propelling the character into action and kick-starting the story. Here

we'll be introducing your character, exploring their everyday world and creating the inciting

incident.

Who is your protagonist?

What do they want (goals/motivations)?

What is your protagonist's everyday life like?

What is their current status quo?

Where do they live/work? Who do they interact with?

What is the inciting incident that forces your protagonist to act?

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Act 2 – Confrontation

Act two is the longest act and it’s at this point that the action begins to rise as the stakes

escalate and the characters are pushed into action.

What obstacles stand between your protagonist and their goals?

How do things become more complicated for your protagonist as they try to overcome the

obstacles standing in the way of their goals?

This is not the time to be nice to your characters, you want to make things as difficult for them

as possible.

At the midpoint there is a moment of truth as the protagonist realizes what is at stake. This

insight can either move them closer to or further from their goal.

What does the protagonist realize?

What leads them to this conclusion?

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Act 3 - Resolution

Act three is all about the events leading up to the climax, the climax, and the resolution. This is

the point of highest tension, where everything comes together and the character needs to find

a solution and resolve the problem at hand.

How does your character take a different approach to achieving their goals?

What happens at the climax of your story? The point at which everything comes to a head and

your character is forced to confront the situation.

How is the situation finally resolved?

How is your protagonist left changed from their experiences?

How has it affected the other characters around them?

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The Save-the-Cat Beat Sheet
Act 1:

Act I includes the opening image, theme stated, setup, catalyst, debate, and the break into

two points. Each of these points services the primary purpose of introducing the characters,

central theme and sets the story in motion.

So within Act 1 we have:

1. Opening Image – A compelling opening scene showing the current situation.

2. Theme Stated – A statement made by a character (normally not the protagonist) hints at
the theme and lessons within the story.

3. Set-up – Here we meet the protagonist and are introduced to their everyday life, their
aspirations and their struggles.

4. Catalyst – An inciting incident forces the character into action.

5. Debate – The character questions what has happened and debates their next course of
action. Often at this point, the character refuses ‘the call to adventure’.

Act 2:

Act II provides the following plot points: the B story, fun and games, and the midpoint. Each

beat in the first half of act 2 raises the stakes, increasing the need for your protagonist to act

and pushes them closer to their goal.

In the second half of act two your protagonist may begin to lose hope or face an incredible

challenge. It’s now, at the end of the second act that they confront their lowest point in the

dark night of the soul and realize what they have to do to overcome the obstacles standing in

the way.

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Beats for act 2 include:

6. Break into 2 – The character decides to accept ‘the call to adventure’, leading them to
leave their comfort zone and venture into a new world.

7. B Story – A second story begins, introducing new characters who will ultimately help the
main character learn the theme of the story.

8. Fun and Games – The highlight reel showing the character in their new environment. This
section should be entertaining for the reader and show the character either thriving or

floundering in their new situation.

9. Midpoint – The middle of the novel where the stakes are raised and the problem becomes
clearer and more serious.

10. Bad Guys Close In – Problems escalate for the main character. Either the situation is
consistently worsening or it falsely appears to be improving. In both cases, the character’s

inner demons (their internal bad guys) and the antagonist (the external bad guys) are closing

in.

11. All is Lost – The low point in the main character’s journey. At this point, the story appears to
be over as the main character feels that everything they have tried has failed and the situation

is worse than it was before.

12. Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits rock bottom and feels helpless. This is
their darkest hour, often accompanied by a ‘whiff of death’. It’s the ‘dark before the dawn’, the

moment before the character realizes the solution to their predicament and learns the theme

of the story.

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Act 3:

Act 3 is the end. The finale is a multi-scene beat in which the protagonist proves that they have

learned the moral of the story and acts accordingly. We wrap up the story with the final image,

a single beat that shows an “after” snapshot of your protagonist’s life.

13. Break into 3 – The aha moment! Thanks to a new idea or inspiration the character realize
what they need to do and they chose to try again.

14. Finale – On this attempt the character approaches the challenge bringing with them their
new wisdom. They often fail at first and are pushed to their absolute limits, confronting their

inner demons and changing their worldviews, before the problem is resolved. It’s at this point

that the antagonist is overcome.

15. Final Image – An ‘after’ snapshot of the character’s life confirming their new status quo
and how much they have changed since the beginning of the story.

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The Snowflake Method
Created by writing coach Randy Ingermanson, the snowflake method starts with one central

story idea that is continually expanded upon until it’s a full novel. Think of it as building out a

snowflake from the center.

1. Write a one-sentence summary of your story

Condense your story premise into one-line.

What is the essence of your story?

What is the hook that would persuade a reader to purchase your book?

2. Expand your sentence to make it a one-paragraph

summary
Build on your one-sentence summary to write a paragraph, explaining the main plot-line of

your novel. Including:

The opening status quo – the situation as your novel begins.

The inciting incident – what causes the story to get underway?

Major events as the protagonist strives to achieve their goal

The second-act turning point – where the character realizes what they need to do to

overcome the obstacles standing in their way.

Final climax and resolution

3. Develop your characters

Let’s turn our attention to the characters driving the plot. For each of your main characters,

create a one-sentence character profile, summarizing their most important traits and what role

they serve in the story.

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4. Expand each sentence of your one-paragraph summary
to a page
By now your story idea should be a little clearer. Use your one-paragraph summary as the basis

for a one-page overview of your story. You can use the 3-act structure here to give your story,

a beginning, middle and end.

5. Flesh out your descriptions for both major and minor

characters
It’s time to explore your characters in more depth. Ingermanson suggests writing a page-long

description for each main character and half a page for minor characters. Give each of your

characters their own motivations and goals. Consider how their past affects their point of

view? What conflicts will they encounter? How will they change throughout the narrative?

6. Expand your one-page plot synopsis to a four-page

synopsis
By this point, you’ll have a core-story and solid character descriptions. Now you want to return

to your one-page summary and expand upon it to fill four-pages. By slowly expanding upon

your premise you’ll have the opportunity to fix plot holes and inconsistencies as they arise,

rather than writing yourself into a corner.

From this point

You can begin to write or continue to expand on your story idea, adding in character charts,

scenes, and additional details. Keep going until you feel ready to tackle the first draft.

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Character-Driven Plot
It is your character’s motivations and goals, the obstacles they encounter in the pursuit of those

goals and how they change along the way that forms the basis of a satisfying story. They are

the lens through which the reader experiences your story. A character-driven outline starts with

your protagonist and what they want. Flesh out your story by asking yourself these questions to

develop your character and their world:

What does my protagonist want?

Why do they want this? What has lead them to this point?

Who or what is standing in their way of achieving their

dreams?

Are their obstacles internal? External? Or both?

How will they face those obstacles?

How will they change as a result?

Do they achieve their dream? How does this change them?

By knowing what your character’s motivations and struggles you can begin to see your story

take shape. As Ray Bradbury says ‘Find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!”

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 5 Questions
To Plot Your Story
1. What is the character's
situation at the start of the
story?

2. What is the inciting

incident?

3. What obstacles does your

character encounter?

4. What happens to make the

situation worse?

5. What is the final

resolution?

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