Definition
Plotting is the practice of planning a story's structure, events, and turning points before or during drafting, often with outlines, beat sheets, or scene lists.
Example
A plotter might map the inciting incident, midpoint reversal, and climax on a spreadsheet before writing chapter one.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Treating the outline as unchangeable once the draft begins.
- Plotting so much detail that discovery and character surprise disappear from the process.