how to plot a story

I love my critique group. This week’s question: I need some advice on plotting out the storyline. I’ve gone looking for facts and ideas that might give the character a place to go, but how do you plot a story? The advice was so varied and  helpful I thought I’d share it.

The beginning must make the audience ask questions that are answered by the story’s ending–that means identifying the character’s core need . The story itself comes from the charcters’ needs and their journey to get those needs met. 

Action  – make sure you have something that sets the story in motion…something that significantly affects the main characters (they drive the plot, after all).

Background – provide the reader with background/justification, but only as needed.
 Conflict (internal, external or both) – this comes directly out of the characters’ needs and drives the entire plot.  When the story slows down too much, add something that steps up the conflict, or add a complication.

Some people use a step chart or oultine of major scenes; others use a stoyboard approach. Either way, it is helpful to think in scenes keeping in mind that extra scenes can be added or deleted as the story emerges. And for me the story always emerges as I write no matter how much plotting is done beforehand. Another friend describes this as the process of excavation, digging down through layers to let the story out.