Monday, May 24, 2010

Plot A or Plot B?


I'm reading the book 179 Ways to Save a Novel by Peter Selgin. Selgin writes, "Remember that there are really only two plots: Plot A, where a character is routinely unhappy and suddenly seizes an opportunity for happiness, and Plot B, where a character is routinely happy but some circumstance or irritant destroys or undermines his happiness, and he must act to reinstate his status quo. The solution to plot is to make sure you are dealing with one of these situations."
Just for grins, I took a look at my work in progress (the revision/rewrite of a finished novel). I feel Plot B is the closest because the story evolves out of something distressing that happens to turn the character's mostly acceptable life upside down. At the same time, the character was not entirely happy with her life before the upsetting incident, and is open to seizing a new opportunity for happiness. She wants to "reinstate the status quo" in some respects but also would welcome change.

What do you think of Selgin's two plots? Would you identify your current WIP as Plot A or Plot B? Why?

8 comments:

  1. Wow, I guess all of mine are Plot As. None of my MCs are happy, really. But it's not like the road to happiness is paved with gold either. Luckily they are all fighters. :-)

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  2. It's an interesting way to categorize plots. I have seen a lot of other ways, too, with anywhere from 3 to 36 plots listed.

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  3. I suppose plot B would be the one I can sort of relate to - certainly in the second novel I am planning - not sure if it fits the first, plot A certainly doesn't. I always think of stories having a similar thread that makes them work, perhaps I am wrong. But your have your "hero" who tries to do something/achieve something, and comes up against something or someone who gets in the way, then there is a struggle of some sort and the result - whether it's good wins over evil or vice a versa is up to your own imagination. - Does any of that make sense?

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  4. Helen, yes, that makes sense.

    Here's a link to a list of various other ways to categorize plots:
    http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html

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  5. Interesting way to keep the emotional heart of one's novel in focus!

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  6. Good point, Sara! It's kind of a way to stop and check while you're writing to make sure you haven't gone off track at some point. And if you find that you have gone off track, perhaps it's time to reconsider where you want to go.

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  7. I think this is a slightly oversimplifying the plot but it is possibly a good exercise for reflection on your story.
    Thanks for sharing this idea.

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  8. Hello Cassandra - Thanks for commenting! Yes, it's definitely simple (or overly simple, as you say). But sometimes I think it helps to break something down into the simplest chunks possible and then build or expand from there. Certainly asking oneself initially if a story is "plot A" or "plot B" could be helpful in achieving an understanding of where we want to go with the story.

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So, what do you say?