The 7 Plot Guidelines of the Choicest Stories

The story must be plotted out. The plot is the formula for a story made up of the chart (or plan) as a course from one event to another. In the course of events the characters go through encounters. The types of encounters are those between the main character and themselves, other people, places, and things. The things the main character encounters can be material objects, spirits, thoughts and ideas, or emotions. Spiritual beliefs are often times superstitions that make the character fearful; that is, sympathetic or nervous toward a person, place, thing, or a cause. Thoughts and ideas are the rational judgments the character makes affecting their curiosity and leading to purposeful actions. Emotions are driving impulses that overwhelm the character at times. As the character judges each encounter, they fear punishment, not growing, decay, and death that cause our sadness. The character is motivated to continuously improve by rewards, growth, and life. The setting of each event has an environmental zone in which one or more acts occur. There are both background events and foreground events in every scene. The background events are those that play out in some other physical environment of the character's universe other than the one the character currently exits in physically. The background events of a scene are linked together with the character based on the character's background - who and what has had an effect on the character's being. The background events may or may not be communicated to the reader, yet have an effect on what happens next nonetheless. The narrator takes the reader into their confidence and using the 3rd person voice shares the background events with the reader. The foreground events that play out in the mind's eye are communicated using the character's inner dialog with the reader. The foreground events that play out in the physical environment of the scene are communicated using descriptive pieces that detail the interactions that occur. The 1st person voice is used to share what a character senses with the reader, as an encounter plays out, from the character's view. The 2nd person voice is used to share what happens to a character, as an encounter plays out, from another character's view. Be it a foreground or a background event, each character responds according to their gifts. The plot twists and turns as the characters fight for their causes in each encounter. The fight the characters go through in the encounter, in turn, has an effect on their universe that sets the characters up for their next battle. This turning effect defines what is termed a plot line. When the characters are exposed to more than one fight in an encounter for the first time multiple plot lines are begun simultaneously. Thus, more than one plot line can be charted at any given moment each categorized according to their cause; and, each played out according to their natural conclusion. We can conclude, the characters must travel from one event to another. In the course of events, the characters must accomplish a goal to receive a reward. And finally, the story must be plotted, turning out our characters' FATES in cause and effect fashion. The 7 plot elements of the choicest stories are:


1) Reveal your characters through their actions for a superb story. SHOW, using the imagery of vivid descriptive pieces, how the characters behave. SHOW the consequences of the characters' actions. Finally, have the characters THINK-ALOUD to ponder their backgrounds, associates, hopes, dreams, and attitudes.

2) A first-rate story communicates the characters' feelings and thoughts the best way possible. Have the characters THINK-ALOUD to express how they feel and think. Use their INNER-DIALOG to SHOW the characters' thoughts and feelings that are made up of their intensions, attitudes, & opinions.

3) The best stories include the characters' spiritual beliefs. Include FLASHBACKS to the past that SHOW the reader the characters' spiritual guidance or training. Be sure the spiritual training reveals both the powers of their God(s) and the superstitions upheld by their churches; both, govern the characters' wishes, and fears.

4) Create excellent story plots through a SERIES of encounters or confrontations between the main character and the other characters of the story(try using the online automated character sheet data logger). Concentrate your writing on the encounters that SHOW the relationship between the characters. The majority of your story will be composed of the relationships between characters and the consequences of their interactions. A small part of your story must also touch upon who or what the character is in isolation. When you speak of the character in isolation SHOW their actions with their environment, body, and inner worlds vs. with other characters. For each event, a great story SHOWS the time-of-day and date using vivid descriptive pieces including what is customary for that day of the year. One can really write up a holiday. Finally, be sure to include both the cause and the effect of the encounter.

5) Though it is best to move from one action episode to another involving the main character and one or more characters, some "bridge passages" are necessary. A bridge passage may be a fantastic tale about why a character is in the upcoming encounter. For instance a bridge passage with Dr. Watson explaining why Sherlock Holmes is snooping around an abandoned mansion makes the encounter more sensible by explaining his predicament rather than merely stating that Sherlock Holmes is snooping around an abandoned mansion.

6) Build a strong setting for an outstanding story. Communicate the environment by making the characters perform tasks that fit their situations, employing relevant tools and gadgets. SHOW the cultural climate and physical condition of the setting. The environment can be on land or in a cavern, on the sea or in the sea, in the air, and in outer space.

7) The highest quality stories have endings that release tension, put an end to war and strife, and satisfy the reader's sense of justice. The ending must be a fate appropriate for the characters of the story according to their actions, acceptable to all parties, so we are at peace in a new age of peace, finally.


© Copyright by Dan Mustaine, all rights reserved. This article, "The 7 Plot Elements of the Choicest Stories" by Dan
Mustaine, may be printed out in its entirety without alterations for personal use only.