Willow H. Wood

@willowhwood

Many places on the Internet will advise you to start with structure and beat sheets. These tools ARE important, but they’re the scaffolding, not the depth that stays with a reader long after closing the final page. If you’re struggling with your plot, ask yourself some hard (and what may seem like boring) questions about EVERY character. Without a plot driven by their conflicting desires, it may end up being formulaic, emotionally disconnected, and empty. I’m in my second draft of my new fantasy series and revisiting all the characters’ life stories, which is propelling me through plot holes I’ve been struggling with for a while. The clearer the players keep becoming, the tighter my plot feels. Excited to share it with you. #authorlife #writingadvice #writingtips #indieauthor #writersoftiktok

♬ original sound – Willow H. Wood

What if I told you that – particularly for big fantasy novels – following beat sheets or world building, or even the Hero’s Journey is the worst place to start writing your novel?

When you’re writing your first book, you’re probably excited to get things moving with action, drama, or heartbreak. You may even have a structure – gotta have act 1, 2, and 3! But creating reams of plot prep and world building as the main foundation, is like filling an hourglass from the bottom up. Story outlines are important, but no one cares how epic the action or dramatic the kissing is without one crucial piece. And in fact, those tools can stifle your flow if you’re still in draft one.

Instead, you might end up with a formulaic book, disconnected characters, and delivering a story that feels empty.

So, here is the number one thing to focus on if you want a world that feels lived in, and a story shaped by memorable beats.

Number one: start with your characters. Not just their name, age, and vocation. ~Start from the very beginning~ It’s a very good place to start~ How did their childhood shape them into being who they are now? What did pressure, obligation, morality, and status do to define their beliefs about the world and themselves? Who do they rely on? Who have they hurt? Who has hurt them? What goal are they chasing and why does it matter to them? Why do they want that goal? What rules will they break, and what lines do they draw? What will finally break them? How will they grow? What wound are they carrying?

Ultimately, a story is about a pivotal moment in the character’s life. If you start with that, your plot has purpose.