• #4

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A story is made out of meaningful stuff that happens. Each unit of meaningful stuff that happens is often referred to as a plot point. Here’s how to come up with them, before you consider fitting them into a structure.

• Brainstorm how you could put any of your characters in ironic situations. What would be ironic for any of your characters to face? For example: a suicidal protagonist needs to talk off a ledge a guy who wants to commit suicide.
• Think of the major plot points you know about your story, and brainstorm what events could produce them.
• Think of the escalation of conflict in terms of two oppositions skirmishing before the decisive battle.
• Brainstorm a “lights out” moment, where the protagonist can’t possibly win in his struggle with death.
• Brainstorm a list of several possible endings for your story. Even if you don’t actually use any of those plot points as your actual ending, one of them could be your protagonist’s “lights out” beat.
• Think of the expectations your story and your characters have set up, then brainstorm plot points that would twist those expectations.
• What are the stereotypical story tropes that spring to mind given your chosen story elements and characters? Can you come up with something different, something opposite?
• Brainstorm plot points that could only happen given your unique combination of story elements and characters.
• Brainstorm plot ploints that would act as a bait-and-switch. What plot points would convince the audience they know where the story is going, only for you to pull the rug out from under them?
• What is the last thing the reader will suspect given your combination of story elements and characters?
• Brainstorm plot points that turn on its head the audience’s understanding of everything in your story, throwing them out of their comfort zone.
• Can you come up with a plot point or more in which an important character is being chased? Having your characters on the move with someone constantly on their tail is an exciting situation.
• Every dramatic scene will likely pose your character the dramatic question: who am I going to be? The drama is a continual test for the protagonist. Are they going to be the old, flawed version of themselves? Or are they going to be someone new?