Plotting a novel

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Plotting a novel

This is the second part of my novel writing guide to visit the first click here
Before we can get down to writing a novel we need to know where it is going, therefore we need to know what the theme is.
The theme or concept can be broken down into a single sentence for example. The theme from Romeo and Juliet would be "Love is greater than death".

Once we have decided on the theme we need to decide into which category our story will fall. As a general rule there are just three categories to choose from, they are.
PLOT:
EPIC:
CHARACTER:

Within each of the categories we now find several story types or very loosely the genre. Then within each story type we have 12 stages. These stages are bought to us by Joseph Campbell's 12 stages of a hero's journey. In all tales you have a hero and an antagonist, don't make the mistake of believing the antagonist to be bad. The antagonist can also be the reason the hero is taking the journey, a friend or lover for example.

The following information can seem very daunting so I would recommend using a software program that includes not only the following guides but much more. The program I recommend is New Novelist.
Let our software help you complete a novel. Quick to install, easy to use. newnovelist works in the same way that JK Rowling writes her Harry Potter novels. Click here to learn more:

Ok now let us see if we can break it down further.

PLOT CATEGORY 

The types are:

Here we have the story types under the Plot Category.

Puzzle.
Locale Adventure.
Chase.
Capture and escape.
Triumphant victim.
Revenge.
Kidnap and rescue.
Supernatural.
Love story.
Coming of age.

Now it's time for the 12 stages under each type.

PUZZLE:
1/Hero at home(or main players)and sight of puzzle to be.
2/Hero asked to take a case, reluctant-something changes mind.
3/Hero meeting helpful eccentric prior to investigation.
4/Hero preparing for the investigation.
5/Hero in location where puzzle began.
6/Tests of hero by antagonist's helpers.
7/Tests of hero by antagonist.
8/Hero realizing the he or she has been on the wrong trail.
9/Hero discovering truth, but not telling others.
10/Antagonist pursuing hero.
11/Hero confronting the antagonist.
12/Hero's explaination of the antagonist's puzzle.

It's so much easier with New Novelist:

LOCALE ADVENTURE:
1/All happy except hero.
2/Hero called to an adventure, has doubts then changes mind.
3/Hero meeting ally.
4/Hero on the strange place's edge.
5/Hero's begining of adventure.
6/Trial by antagonist's helper-hero winning.
7/Trial by antagonist-hero winning.
8/Failure of hero-near death.
9/Escape of hero.
10/Hero pursued by antagonist.
11/Hero's defeat of antagonist.
12/Hero's triumphant return home.

CHASE:
1/Hero on another successful chase.
2/Hero asked to get antagonist-doubt-change of mind.
3/Hero finding a helper.
4/Hero preparing for chase.
5/Hero in new place-often antagonist's locale.
6/Chase-tests by antagonist's helpers-hero winning.
7/Chase-tests by antagonist-hero winning.
8/Antagonist's capture of hero-near death.
9/Hero escapes.
10/Pursuit of hero by antagonist.
11/Hero's victory over antagonist.
12/Final status of hero-sometimes humorous.

CAPTURE & ESCAPE
1/Hero at home-happy-lots of friends.
2/Moral injustice against hero-sent to local jail.
3/Hero finding helpful ally.
4/Hero before judge.
5/Hero, along with ally, sent to major prison.
6/Tests of hero in prison-hero winning.
7/Tests of hero in prison continuing-hero winning.
8/Hero's failure generally-escape plans discovered.
9/Escape of hero.
10/Pursuit of hero by antagonist-through legal means.
11/Defeat of antagonist through legal means.
12/Hero's homecoming.

TRIUMPHANT VICTIM:
1/Hero-child of a loving family-happy home.
2/Severe reversal-home broken up.
3/Hero finding a friend.
4/Hero starting out for new home.
5/Hero's arrival at new home.
6/Problems at new home-hero being victimised.
7/Problems at new home continuing-hero being victimised.
8/Hero left alone-possibly near death.
9/Wonderful thing happens to hero.
10/Hero being reprimanded.
11/Hero revealing to all his/her new status.
12/Final status of hero.

REVENGE:
1/Hero and loved one together.
2/A horrible crime that destroys hero's loved one.
3/Hero finding someone feeling same dissatisfaction.
4/Hero realizing a plan needed-then making one.
5/Hero setting out into the unknown.
6/Antagonist's helpers attempts to kill hero.
7/Antagonist attempts to kill hero.
8/Hero capture-near death.
9/Escape of hero.
10/Pursuit of hero by antagonist.
11/Death of antagonist-by hero or other cause.
12/Balance-symbolically or literally restored.

KIDNAP & RESCUE:
1/Hero and potential victim at home.
2/Kidnap of victim-Hero assumes plot will be taken.
3/Hero told by father figure that only hero can find victim.
4/Hero setting out for a place the kidnapper might be.
5/Hero's arrival at that place.
6/Hero attempts a rescue.
7/Hero attempts a rescue continuing.
8/Antagonist's capture of hero-hero near death.
9/Escape of hero with victim.
10/pursuit of hero by antagonist.
11/defeat of antagonist-by hero or other cause.
12/Hero and victim back home.

SUPERNATURAL:
1/Two introductions: Hero under curse-Antagonist a victim.
2/Hero begging help. Antagonist-first unsure-decides to help.
3/Antagonist warned about hero.
4/Antagonist going to meet hero.
5/Antagonist seing hero under curse first time.
6/Hero's attempts to rid hero of curse.
7/Hero's attempts to rid hero of curse continuing.
8/Hero trying to kill antagonist.
9/Hero escaping death.
10/Antagonist chasing hero.
11/Major fight between hero and antagonist.
12/Death of hero.

LOVE STORY:
1/The lovers together.
2/Hero's loss of antagonist by death, accident,etc.
3/Hero's bemoaning of fate and seeking help.
4/Symbolic or actual preparations to get antagonist back.
5/Hero in new situation or new surroundings.
6/Trials of hero-hero winning.
7/Trials of hero continuing-hero winning.
8/All looking dismal-hero near death.
9/Hero escapes with antagonist.
10/Pursuit of antagonist and hero by evil forces.
11/Destruction of evil forces.
12/Antagonist and hero's exile or going into the sunset.

COMING OF AGE.
1/The belief system of hero as a child-homelife.
2/Hero's belief system dramatically challenged.
3/Hero talking to mentor.
4/Hero wrestling with child/adult choices.
5/Hero still a child psychologically, joining adult world.
6/Tests by antagonist's helpers.
7/Tests by antagonist.
8/Crisis in hero's life-near death facing decision.
9/Hero finally becoming an adult.
10/Antagonist trying to make hero a child again.
11/Confrontation resulting in death of antagonist.
12/Hero, now master of inner and outer world.

That completes the types under the plot category. This category covers the majority of tales, epic and character categories coming shortly. You can continue to struggle on alone but It's so much easier with New Novelist:

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