Plotting Tips

Another writing tip from Writers Welcome (www.writerswelcome.com)
TRY THIS GREAT PLOTTING TOOL

Lay out the events of the book on SCENE CARDS, something you can add, discard or reshuffle at will.

The first card may be the Ending. Others may include:

The Inciting Incident (sets the plot in motion)

The Prize (What your character wants)

The Strategy (What does your character decide to do to get it?)

The Conflict (Who are the people working against her?)

The Stakes (Consequences if the plan doesn’t work)

The Bleakest Moment (What happens when things look hopeless)

The Lesson (what does your character learn about himself or others?)

The Decision (What does your character do with what he has learned?)

The Back Story (What is haunting your character as the story starts?)

Remember: Events in the plot are causally connected. Not just ODTAA*
*One Damned Thing After Another

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13 Mountain Thanks

Thanks to all the folks who signed on for the ride. JR
In this Cold War thriller, CIA operative Jim Gadsden struggles to prove he is not washed up while he works against the clock to save the Pacific Northwest from atomic annihilation. From Singapore to D.C. to Idaho and beyond, Gadsden battles traitors, the elements, and the limits of human endurance with grit and determination. But all the wit and strength in the world may not be enough to protect him from betrayal by elements within the very system he is meant to protect. Written with an insider’s knowledge of Military Intelligence, this updated edition of John R. Reed’s first novel is a wild, unpredictable ride from start to finish.
Read the first chapter on the page above.