Lecture #3: Plot Part 2 — Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

TL;DR

Constructing a plot involves balancing different plot archetypes, character arcs, and subplot archetypes, while using an effective outline to ensure each element is developed and resolved.

Transcript

All right, guys, let's do class. Yay! Oh, boy, class! The way I'm going to format the class year is, we will do our second week on plot this week, and then next week I'm going to dedicate to going through your questions that you've written on your little slips about plot or whatever it is. I'll do last week's and this week's. If there are things th... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 Balancing different plot archetypes, character arcs, and subplot archetypes is crucial for creating an engaging and dynamic story.
• 🆘 Outlining the progression of these elements helps to maintain coherence and ensure their effective development and resolution.
• 🫠 Various plot structures, such as the Hero's Journey and Three Act format, provide frameworks for plotting the story and creating a satisfying narrative arc.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of creating an outline for a story plot?

An outline helps to organize the progression of different plot elements, character arcs, and subplot archetypes in a coherent manner, ensuring a well-developed and resolved story.

Q: How many plot archetypes should be included in a novel?

The number of plot archetypes depends on the length and complexity of the story. While shorter stories may only require one main plot archetype, longer novels can incorporate multiple archetypes to add depth and variety to the plot.

Q: How can the Hero's Journey be used in plotting a story?

The Hero's Journey provides a structure for a character's transformation and growth throughout the story, with key elements including the call to adventure, the journey through trials, the meeting with a mentor, the descent into the unknown, and the return as a changed individual.

Q: Should different plot archetypes be intertwined or developed separately?

It depends on the story and the desired effect. Some stories may intertwine different archetypes to create complex and interconnected plotlines, while others may focus on developing each archetype separately but with clear connections and resolutions.

Key Insights:

• Balancing different plot archetypes, character arcs, and subplot archetypes is crucial for creating an engaging and dynamic story.
• Outlining the progression of these elements helps to maintain coherence and ensure their effective development and resolution.
• Various plot structures, such as the Hero's Journey and Three Act format, provide frameworks for plotting the story and creating a satisfying narrative arc.
• The number and complexity of plot archetypes vary depending on the length and genre of the story, but it is important to focus on relatable and engaging elements to keep readers interested.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Constructing a plot involves determining the main plot archetypes, character arcs, and subplot archetypes to be included in the story.

• An outline is used to plan the progression of these elements in the story, with bullet points outlining the important steps and scenes.

• Balancing different plot archetypes, character arcs, and subplot archetypes is important to keep the story engaging and dynamic.

• Different plot structures, such as the Hero's Journey and Three Act format, can be used as frameworks for plotting the story.