Does your protagonist really need to do that?
Many writers struggle with plotting because they add “stuff”
to a scene without thinking about how that stuff affects the story. They think
“All scenes need a goal, so let’s add a goal,” but what they write is a scene
where someone cleans a room, delivers a package, or walks across the village to
grab an ale. It feels like progress since the protagonist is active and moving,
but they’re not pursuing a goal. They’re only completing a task.
And tasks aren’t compelling. They’re filler disguised as plot.
Tasks might fill pages, but they don’t fuel the story,
because there’s nothing to be gained or lost by completing them. A room gets
clean, a package arrives, and an ale is enjoyed, but they have zero effect on
how the story turns out.
What the plot needs, are goals.
