Your Novel’s Major Plot Points
Structure Your Story with Compelling Events.
When writing a novel, structure is everything.
Without a roadmap, stories drift into confusion, leaving readers lost. Break down your plot into key points to give your story momentum.
A strong outline keeps your plot tight, avoids holes, and moves characters naturally through each event.
Introduction: Set the Stage
This is the first impression. Introduce your protagonist, the world they live in, and the tone of the story. We get a glimpse of the character’s ordinary life before the central conflict begins.
Amelia, a journalist, covers a routine case. Her world feels predictable. She has a stable job, an apartment downtown, and a habit of ordering the same coffee every morning. We learn her personality and everyday life, set a baseline for later tension.
Inciting Incident: The Disruption
The inciting incident flips the character’s world upside down. This moment forces them to react, kicks off the central plot.
Amelia receives a mysterious message. It claims the story she’s working on is connected to a crime that’s been covered up for years. Or perhaps she wakes up locked in a strange room with no memory, a cryptic note in her pocket hinting at danger. Something has shifted. She can’t return to her old life without answering the new questions in front of her.
Rising Tension: Challenges Escalate
Once the inciting incident shakes things up, the stakes rise. The protagonist faces obstacles, uncovers truths, and struggles against forces that work against them.
Amelia investigates the hidden crime. Every lead brings uncertainty. Witnesses refuse to speak. Her notes vanish mysteriously. Someone watches her. She’s warned to stop digging. Every answer creates more questions, and she’s in deeper than she intended.
For a horror novel, this could involve eerie discoveries. Amelia is trapped in that dark room. Her only clue is that note in her pocket. Then she hears footsteps. The tension builds as she scrambles for an escape.
Climax: The Break Point
The climax is the peak of your novel, the moment of greatest danger or revelation. It’s what the entire story led to, the moment where everything changes.
Amelia pieces the puzzle together. She realizes the crime she’s chasing ties directly to someone she knows. Maybe she was targeted. The climax forces her to act. She can’t run anymore. She has to confront the truth.
Resolution: Tie It All Together
The resolution is where the story finds closure. It doesn’t mean everything must be neatly solved, but we should feel a sense of completion.
Amelia exposes the cover-up. Justice is served. Perhaps she escapes from captivity but realizes the people behind it are still out there, leaving the door open for a sequel. The resolution must leave a lasting impact.
A clear outline prevents aimless writing. Writers get stuck because their story lacks direction. Plot key events in advance to keep the story strong.
Strengthen Your Outline
Write each major plot point down before drafting.
Don’t rush the inciting incident. Shake the protagonist’s life in a real way.
Make the rising tension unpredictable. Each answer should lead to more questions.
The climax changes everything. The main character shouldn’t come out of it the same.
Let the resolution provide closure but leave room for interpretation.
Plan out your novel’s key events. Create a roadmap that keeps your story moving from start to finish.