Welcome to Day 12 of the A to Z Challenge
Many bloggers have chosen a theme for the A to Z. My pledge since becoming a blogger is to post about writing, so for this event, I will being posting about what I've learned about writing a novel.
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L is for LOCK: to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining. (Dictionary.com)
Today, I’m using an acronym that spells out the word LOCK. This is a device established by James Scott Bell in his book on craft, Plot & Structure, a must read for all fiction writers. I will paraphrase his well-developed L.O.C.K. theory:
L is for Lead: If you go back to my April 9th post on heroes, you’ll see a complete list of what makes a good lead. As the author, it is your job to make him interesting, to dig deep inside his head and make him compelling. No story is good or complete without a single lead.
O is for Objective: Likewise, if you go back to my April 7th post on goal, you’ll see that an objective is the driving force that generates forward momentum. It could be that the protagonist wants to get something or to get away from something. Whatever it is, according to Bell
C is for Confrontation: This is the oppositional forces at work from other characters and outside organizations. It is an element that is used throughout the story, but most especially at the climax.
K is for Knockout: The knockout is the big climax, the highest point of drama at the very end. It’s the final clash where it appears the opposition might actually win. It should have the greatest amount of tension, stakes, and conflict, and display how the protagonist has changed, both within his inner and his outer conflicts in order to most satisfy the reader. It should be unpredictable and last minute, meaning it should be organized so all the plot points peak in a single moment. Lastly, it gives resolution, ties up loose ends, and gives the reader a feeling of resonance.
Do you have a recipe for a successfully plotted story?
