Where Do I Go From Here? Plotting Through “What Happens Next?” Part One

JoanneL asked...

I'd love it if you could also address the "not sure where to go next" conundrum. I'm working on a character-driven novel (woman on a quest to find out how/why an old friend died) and the actual plot points are slow in coming.

One of the reasons I started doing these Find Your Plot Fridays is because plotting can be hard. Of course, talking about plotting every week turned out to be equally hard, so I love when someone asks me a direct question like this. Takes the pressure off.

So, not sure where to go next?

I’ve found that whenever I’m not sure where the plot goes it’s almost always a goal issue. If your protag had a goal, you’d know what they wanted to do, right? Let’s start there.

What is your protag’s goal?

The Story Goal
Your protag is going to have a lot of goals over the course of the novel, so look first at the overall story goal. Using our question as an example, the protag’s goal is to find out how and why an old friend died. Everything in the story is going to lead to answering this question. What is your protag’s overall story goal that defines the novel?

Set Piece Goals
Next, look at the major set piece goals. These are the three to five things (usually) that are the big steps or turning points of the novel. In this case, the woman decides to find out how/why her friend died. She uncovers a vital piece of information that will lead to the answer. She is blocked in some way by something significant. She’s surprised y something she was never expecting to find. She encounters something that puts her in inner conflict or turmoil. She finds the last piece of the puzzle. She figures it all out. Very rough steps, but they fit your basic story structure format. Your job is to find the specifics to fit those general pieces. (And change them if need be, as not every story has to follow this format. These are general guidelines)

Work backward if it helps (which it often does). At some point the woman will find out how the friend died. How does she do that? She talked to the right person, uncovered some evidence? What action did she take that revealed this? Step back again: What led her to that moment? Something put her on the path to this revelation. She overheard a conversation, found a clue that suggested she speak to/go to/investigate that final piece of the puzzle. What thing did she find that out her into emotional conflict? (Your internal conflict plays a role here). What was the surprise? (Your midpoint or even third act climax)

Don’t like working backward? Start at the beginning. Think about all the various steps involved. How would somebody begin investigating a friend’s death? Check hospital records, interview medical staff, talk to family and friends? Now think about what might prevent those people from helping her (your conflicts and obstacles). What does she have to overcome to get the information she needs? Remember that no one should be eager to help her, that’s no fun (and hard on the plotting). Look at every person who has the ability to help her and think about why they can’t or won’t.

Character Arc Goals
Don’t forget your character growth and arcs. Look for situations where you can not only block her from getting what she wants, but that choice/obstacle/situation also affects her growth as well. Things that push her outside her comfort zone. Does she have to break the law to get the info? Ignore a belief she holds deal? Make a sacrifice? Check your theme. Are there any ways to illustrate or explore your theme in the obstacles she finds or the choices she has to make? For example, in The Shifter, being trapped is a theme, so I often had my protag dealing with people trapped in some way. Being trapped caused or influenced the problems she had to overcome. How might your theme guide your obstacles?

Scene Goals
Finally, look at the scene goal where you’re stuck. What does your protag want at that moment? Something they have to do? (If you can’t think of anything, go back scene by scene until you find a spot where they do want something and work forward from there. Odds are that’s when you went off track and got stuck) Are the other characters in the scene doing everything they can to stop/block your protag? (Even if they want to help. Obstacles are about things being in your way, not just someone trying to stop you). What’s the next major step they’re working toward? What are the smaller steps leading up to that? Can you have the protag trying to achieve one of those steps?

Telescoping from macro to micro goals can help you keep the whole story in your head, and see where you can draw from for goals and plot points. Everything your character does will lead them toward solving that core conflict or growing as a character (often both at the same time). Think about what your protag has to do to solve that story question: in that scene, in that chapter, in that act, and even the whole book. If you’re stuck on the micro issues, look at the macro and vice versa.

Sometimes not knowing what to do next can also be a motivation issue, but that’s another post.

Where do you find yourself getting stuck on where to go next? Does outlining help? Who do you think gets stuck more often: pantsers or outliners?