As all authors will tell you, planning is essential to writing a seamlessly weaved together story. So how do we go about planning a story? In this article, I will share my tips on story planning.

All stories start with a lightbulb appearing on top of our heads and a standalone idea. That's the rough plot of the story, for example, an exiled prince taking back his kingdom from usurpers of the throne. Now, we can build on this idea with the insertion of other characters - a potential love interest, a childhood friend, a thief? There are so many possibilities depending on where you want the story to go. Chances are, you already have a rough plot of your story and you're here to learn about how you can plan your story better. That's where I come in. But before we get to the actual logistics of planning, let's talk about one writer's essential: a notebook.

This could be a ring notebook or a Google Drive folder, but a notebook is really a writer's best friend. This is the place where you can jot down your ideas and plan your story, which might take up several pages.

First and foremost, you need to do some research. You probably already know where the story will take place and now you should know more about that place. For example, what did people in Ancient Greece wear, what materials and texture, and what were the clothing differences between nobility and commoners? What was the zeitgeist of the early 1900s? If your story is set in the modern world or in a fantasy setting, these questions don't concern you, but you should still brush up your knowledge on aspects of your story like how to brandish a sword.

Next, you need to think about what type of story you are about to write. Will it be in the third person point of view? First? Or a multiple point of view story? If so, how will you go about switching between the point of views? Every chapter, every two chapters? Of course, you don't need to know that now. You can figure it out once you really start to plan the story.

Step One: List your characters

Whatever genre and style your story is, one thing that doesn't change is that you have characters. In this section, write down the characters of your story. As I am writing a story with multiple POV's and many characters, I put stars next to my main characters. Then, write down everything you know about them - personalities, pet peeves, insecurities, hobbies, relationships with those around them... The list goes on. This is where you get to know the people in your stories. Again, you don't need to write out a super detailed biography of each character now, because you will get to know them more in the next step. But this is a very important section of your notes as your characters should be the ones driving the plot along.

Step Two: Write out your plot

This step is a giver. On a fresh page, starting from the beginning, write out the plot of the story in detail. When you do this, you can understand the characters and the story better.

For better organization, I write down the plot in terms of chapters. Then, I would write down a summary of the chapter. This is also helpful when you are switching between characters. If not, you can also plan the story so that each chapter ends with a cliffhanger of a sort to keep the readers engaged.

Alternatively, you can also do a timeline, though I don't recommend doing a timeline to plan a more complicated story because there are still a lot of things that you are uncertain about and you don't want one more thing to add to your worries.

This step is also where you pick out the plot holes. So as you write, make sure to ask yourself questions like why Nick decided to go into Life Sciences when he loves writing, or why did the princess kill her own brother. Often, it's not just a simple answer, but a build up of events that is the character's backstory. Whenever you create another aspect of your character or discover another part of their motives, make sure to write it down in your "character" section.

During this process, don't be afraid to throw in some random ideas. If it fits and makes the story more interesting, then you should do well to add it in. Moreover, it doesn't hurt to involve another brain into this. Discussing your plot with another person with another perspective can push you to think in greater detail and more logically.

When you are done with this step, take a well deserved break and don't look at it for a day. Or, in the meantime, go to Step Three.

Step Three: Delve into details

Authors focus on details. That is something novices might neglect. To combat this, you can go back to the characters section and think about what they will wear, where they live, and some actions uniquely belonging to them (i.e. snapping one's neck after murdering someone). Here is also where you could do some more detailed research into any relevant areas. As well, think about how their personalities show through their dressing and actions.

Speaking of personalities, you should consider how the personalities of the characters make them do the things they do or how their personalities limit their success. As someone who writes about wars, it's to my great displeasure that a general nearly died because they were too egotistical to listen to other people's suggestions. All these minor details should be noted down to create a good character.

Essentially, the purpose of this step is to give more character to your story to aid you in your writing process. When you are done with this, you can start writing!

Step Four: Revisiting your plot

So you know how your story will go and you start your story. However, new things are constantly popping up and suddenly your hated villain becomes your favourite character and you want to manipulate your storyline just a little. Or, you might have gotten a little turned around by your own plot. In times like this, use your original plan as an inspiration to nudge your story into the direction you want it to go.

Also, you should note down any changes you made throughout your writing process.

In conclusion, the planning of a story is very important, and we ought to take it seriously to write a logical story.

Content Writer: the13thbluecat

Content Designer: JJiawei