Covering the fundamental principles of plot structure, this course considers classic story shapes and how we can use them to help make our narratives realistic and believable yet unpredictable and compelling. Moving on from tried and tested formulae we’ll consider how we can reinvent plot to tell new stories.
We’ll begin by analysing what we mean by plot and identifying the elements required to produce a recognizable and satisfying structure. It’s said that ‘characters make plot’ and we’ll examine what this means, in terms of how character and plot interact and inter-react. We’ll look at both well-known and less familiar stories in order to understand how the storyteller controls how much of the plot is revealed to the characters and to the reader – and at what point – and analyse the effect this has. We’ll consider the effects and uses of subplot and how themes are reflected or related in plot and subplot.
Different kinds of plot will be explored, along with their usefulness and appropriateness to different genres of fiction. We’ll consider the notion of jeopardy and how plotting can heighten tension, create and maintain pace, and dictate the dynamics of the story. We’ll talk about the ‘spines’ of stories and the appeal of particular kinds of plot.
Through writing exercises and workshops we’ll test our ideas and strategies, honing our existing skills and discovering new ones, through experimentation and discovery, in a supportive and creative atmosphere. At the end of the week we should have a new sense of what we are capable of as writers, and how plot can serve our storytelling.
Learning outcomes
- The role of plot in fiction;
- How plot and character interact;
- The techniques which keep plot moving, plausible and compelling.
