Tips on Maintaing a Plot's Focus
The Importance of Objectives and Centralization in Plotting
Oct 29, 2009
The absence of a strong and centralized plot is becoming a problem for several fictional literary works. Authors often divert from the main plot’s focus to complete bits of left out information. As a result, the novel becomes frustrating or tedious simply because of the lack of rhythm and undermined quality of the given story.
Upholding Intention and Focus
Writing a plot without intention is much like sailing a ship without a captain — you simply will not get anywhere. Retaining a centralized and overall intention will allow your work not to avert from its focus. Many authors often feel the need to divert from their plot simply because they feel more should be said about the present scenario; however, this will only frustrate the reader. It’s much like listening to music while having someone constantly telling you about it’s construction — it becomes quite an annoyance.
Examples:
Improper Form:
- Julie-Ann paced herself towards the local museum called ‘The Arbitrary’ (which was owned by her father ever since she was a young girl). As she made her way to visit her father, she had just remembered that her plants needed watering — but she soon forgot much of it and carried along. Her elderly father came through his office that stood across the hallway (the same Julie-Ann would visit when she was a young girl).
- “Hey dad,” she said excitedly as she paced herself towards her missed father. “How has business been going along?”
- “It’s not too bad Jul — I do have to get back to work so maybe I’ll have a chat with you later darling.”
Proper Form:
- Julie-Ann paced towards the local museum with only the thoughts of visiting her father going through her conflicted mind. She arrived inside the halls when her elderly father came through his office just across the doorway. She had placed her purse across the receptionist table and realized she forgot to tend to her plants.
- “Hey dad,” she excitedly greeted. “How is business going along these days? I haven’t been here since I was a kid, but the place still looks the same way I left it.”
- “It hasn’t been too bad Jul, but I have been busy lately — The Arbitrary can’t run itself you know. Why don‘t you go wait in my office for a bit? Maybe some memories will spark up.”
The initial paragraph is a classic example of an unfocused work. The overall plot would simply be about a girl going into her father’s museum. The first piece sequentially diverted the flow of the story by augmenting great, but excessively improper details in regards to its time and place. The second example added the same details, but never reprieved the pace or flow of the overall story. It also greatly improved the sensibility in the dialogue — the area which readers focus their most attention. By subtly incorporating your details into the dialogue, for example; you allow the reader to both be attributed the consequential aspects of the plot and keep the story’s overall flow in check.
Using Subplots
The consideration of having subplots in your story is fine, but an author should never allow their focus to be diverted. The award-winning fictional series Lord of The Rings by the talented author J.R.R Tolkien gave a great example of how subplots and main plots can both be accustomed into a work without diluting the overall focus. In Lord of The Rings, the main quest always persisted to destroy a ring in an effort to ward the people and lands from harm — although the subplots (such as the wars or political issues) gave a realistic feel to the story, Tolkien never strayed away from the main quest and managed to involve the subplots along with the main — as a result, his books became universal bestsellers.
Before trying to presume out a plot, first understand what you are trying to accomplish — provoke an attempt to try recognizing your main points and intentions. By developing this type of focused story-line, writer’s block will become a thing of the past.
