How to Plot Your Novel: Sequence 7 & 8
Where we storm castles and get fancy with theme
In case you just got here: thanks for joining! I’m Fleur Bradley, author of over a dozen books, and every Sunday I’m sharing how I brainstorm and plot a novel, from idea to a finished (and edited) draft. My goal is start writing a new manuscript in 2024.
Here’s what we’ve covered so far:
Last post, coming up…!
How to Plot Your Novel: Sequence 7 & 8
It’s time to storm the castle, slay the dragon, (fill in your metaphor)…! Your hero has conquered their fears, gained and lost allies, and probably survived a plot twist or two. Phew!
But first: sequence 7. Because no one goes into battle unprepared.
Sequence 7
This is where we prepare for whatever showdown you have planned for sequence 8. Your protagonist gathers their (new) tools and comes up with a genius plan to defeat the antagonist in sequence 8.
So what does this mean if you’re not actually storming a castle and your battle is more a metaphorical one? For mysteries, the investigation should come to a close. Even if your protagonist isn’t a hundred percent sure whodunit, the reader should be able to put it together. We like to feel smart, us bookish folk.
In a heist, your protagonist is pulling out a map of the place they’re about to rob. They’ve gathered their motley crew to complete the job.
Try bringing your protagonist back to (one of) the opening settings. It makes the whole book feel deeper and shows how far your protagonist has come in their character arc.
Sequence 8
The showdown! That’s literally what I call this sequence in my plotting… Whatever you’ve been plotting towards, this sequence is it. I won’t go on too much about this part of the novel, because it should be very straightforward. Oftentimes, this is the easiest part to write. But…
Consider heightening the stakes even more. How could this moment be more dramatic? How could the character arc/transformation feel more significant? Challenge yourself as a writer as you plot this sequence. It can take a story from good to great.
Some Tips from Fleur
Just as you thought you were done, here are a few ways you can revise the whole outline, now that you’ve made it to the end:
1. Use the sequences to place clues, real or false. You can work toward a plot revelation with each one, to make your pacing strong.
2. Use this same method to gradually change your protagonist. How can they slooowwwlly change throughout the book, with one step building on the previous one?
3. Don’t forget about your baddie! Antagonists fight back, or the story is dull and flat. Try revealing more of your antagonist’s motivation and thinking to the reader, so they can see how stuff will go wrong in Sequence 8.
4. What’s your theme? Use this to develop any subplot, supporting cast’s journey, even small things like what book your protagonist is reading or movie they’re watching. It will add gravitas (cue orchestral music) to your story.
5. More fun ways to play with theme: try adding an object or person that reflects the theme. In the movie Up, we remember those balloons and the house they carry, right? I’ll give you a split second to think about all the thematic significance. The Pixar people know what they’re doing…
That’s all I’ve got! I know some of you are collecting these posts to work on an outline later, so if you’ve gotten this far…
Good luck. You got this.