ABCs Of Plot

Let me share the ABCs of plot—a wonderful technique I learned from one of my mentors that’s incredibly helpful for guiding writers in plotting out their stories. Over time, I’ve adopted parts of this method, added my own personal touch, and used it in many of the workshops I teach. The beauty of the ABCs is that you can apply it to outline almost any type of fiction—whether it’s a novel, a short story, a synopsis, or even a pitch! What makes this approach so effective is that it ensures you hit all the key moments in your story’s journey. Plus, it’s easy to remember because all you need are your ABCs!

Here’s a quick breakdown:

A is for ACTION

Every story kicks off with some sort of action or event—what’s called the inciting incident. But really, it’s just a way of saying that something needs to happen to set your story in motion and grab the reader’s attention right from the start.

B is for BACKGROUND

Early on, your story should give a bit of background about your characters—who they are and why we should care about them. Just a gentle reminder: don’t go overboard with background info, or you risk slowing down the story. Often, less is more when it comes to background—save some mystery and let the story unfold naturally.

C is for CONFLICT

Sooner or later (and usually sooner!), you’ll want to introduce the main conflict. What does your protagonist want more than anything? What’s standing in their way? It’s the tension between their desires and the obstacles they face that creates the conflict. Sometimes, your character might have multiple wants, which can add lots of exciting layers of tension and make your story even more compelling.