The story Plot
Does a story require a plot?
My daughter, who is eight , knows most of the popular stories and tales . A year back she insisted I make up some stories because the usual ones had become repetitive and boring. She had already made up her mind who the hero would be. She had decided on ‘Supandi’, who is a comic strip hero. Over the year, we went through all the roles, Supandi the policeman, Supandi the plumber, Supandi the pilot ………… The story inevitably started with a problem. Supandi in the thick of trouble would create situations from which it was difficult to extricate himself. Let me say that it always began with a conflict. The story continued with Supandi creating more and more problems for himself. Let me put it as escalation of his problems. In this case, since Supandi is a comic character, he always required some bit of luck and divine intervention. For example in the story, Supandi the Plumber , Supandi by mistake opens a master valve and the sudden gush of water hits the robbers and they are swept away and caught by the police. Supandi is hailed as a hero and honored with a gallantry medal. A satisfying end to a thrilling story!
If you look back, you will see all the signs of a standard plot. Situation, problem, conflict, escalation and finally resolution. Added to it the character of Supandi is such that you root for him right from the beginning. The empathy created by character is carried forward by the plot. This gets the reader involved with the story. Next, Supandi is thrown into a conflict situation. Good show ……..Can he cope up or will he succumb? The situation is almost unbearable when finally at the peak of suspense, there is resolution.
I suppose by now it is clear what a plot is about. All stories have to go through the stages. Even if you miss a single step, the story would remain incomplete.
Plot. Plot. Plot. And more. Your story hinges on it. Let the reader start wondering right from the first page and the momentum should carry him through till he finishes the book. Hopefully in a single sitting . This brings us to the question of a’HOOK’ . Do you requires a hook?
