When the author is plotting, all of the forks in the road must be considered. Decide what events follow if a certain thing happens. What events follow if that thing doesn’ t happen? This is the fun part where you as the author shape fate and more or less play“ God.” You alone determine the protagonist’ s life pattern.
Fate is a powerful tool. It allows the author to map out the plot like a chess game, always looking ahead at the options. If Event A happens, it sets off a chain of events. If it doesn’ t, life goes in another direction. At each milestone there are one or more choices that that shape the story in the to follow the path the author chooses.
EXAMPLE OF USING IT FOR HUMOR
The robbery is carefully planned, everything is in place and has been checked and double-checked. It should go without a hitch. Then there is momentary electrical short that sets off an alarm and it all goes wrong.
Who could have anticipated it? It’ s one of those moments. A great example of this is Donald Westlake’ s“ What’ s the Worst
BOOKS BY MORGAN ST. JAMES
Thing That Could Happen?” where a chain of unanticipated mishaps resulted in a hilarious story. When asked what inspired his book“ Somebody Owes Me Money,” he said, " I bet... I bet if this had happened, then that wouldn ' t have happened; that sort of thing.”
CONSIDER IT FOR ROMANCE
Fate is a very popular device in romances. How and why do the strangers meet? Take“ Sleepless in Seattle.” It is filled with these moments and that’ s what makes the story work.
THE BUBBLING TECHNIQUE
There is a technique called bubbling where you start with a protagonist and event in the main bubble. Then take all of the offshoots. For each plot point draw a circle radiating off the main one and enter that action. Then for each of those draw four or five circles leading back to each event and think of an action that could be triggered. Continue as far down that path as you choose. Now take your protagonist on the fateful journey you have mapped.
If you haven’ t used fate in the past, try it now.
WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
PAGE 27
SUMMER 2018