Plotting a romance novel requires a great deal more than just two characters having a meet-cute, experiencing overwhelming attraction, and walking off into the sunset. Answering these questions about your plot will help you find plotholes before you fall into them.
(Before tackling the worksheet, it may be useful to read Leigh’s article about plotting here.)
- What is the heroine’s immediate or short-term problem (external conflict)?
- What is the hero’s immediate or short-term problem (external conflict)?
- How are the two characters’ problems related?
- How do these problems come to the reader’s attention?
- How does the heroine’s short-term problem grow worse?
- How does the hero’s short-term problem grow worse?
- What is the heroine’s long-term problem (internal conflict)?
- What is the hero’s long-term problem (internal conflict)?
- How are the two problems related to each other?
- How are the long-term problems of each character related to their short-term problems?
- How do the long-term problems make it hard for the characters to ever achieve a happy ending or loving relationship?
- What is the black moment at which it seems impossible the problem can ever be solved?
- How is each character’s short-term problem resolved?
- How does the solution of the short-term problems contribute to the solution of the long-term problem?
- How do the main characters contribute to the solution of their own problems?
- What event brings about the ending?
- What is the happy ending?
Copyright 2013 Leigh Michaels