What’s the difference?
A plot is a series of related, or causal events which have a starting point (in the beginning,) a midpoint, and an ending.
At a minimum stories will include the setting, a rising conflict leading to a climax, and a satisfactory resolution. Notice I did not say a happy resolution. The ending ought to allow a reader to feel the book was worth the their time. Better yet, it will have illuminated some part of the human condition which changes the reader forever.
The plot does not have to be some grand complicated thing in order to make a lasting impact.
When I was growing up the television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E was highly rated for several years. It was popular enough to spawn novels, comic books and toys.
I bought one of the comic books with a story about an evil villain who captured the hero Napoleon Solo and obligatory new attractive single woman every story contained.The madman, a counting fanatic — OCD to the max, with a luxurious Mediterranean island — and what does he do? He has everyone count steps!
To make sure Solo and the woman comply he attaches a “walk-o-meter” to one of each of their legs (think ankle bracelet.) Should either of them take one too many steps the built in bomb would detonate.Everyone, with the exception of the villain, wore a walk-o-meter. The guards’ walk-o-meters were set to allow maybe twice as many steps per day, then theirs would explode too.
Totally silly, right?
Well, I may still recall the story several times a year while deciding a shortest route to walk from points A to B.No fears of imminent danger, but I remember the story and have to laugh at myself.
A narrative arc is the container in which the plot is constructed. It involves establishing the status quo, or starting point for the character. A change takes place. New characters are brought into the action. A purpose is assigned to the character and he or she begins a process or a quest that will lead to a change.
There will be surprises along the way, perhaps a false climax before the finale. Twists and turns may be necessary before coming to a resolution and new status quo.
The establishment of an arc tells the writer about the character and why they move forward as opposed to staying in their original state.
A friend and I were having a light conversation about Awakening when she asked why Tyler accepted Drew’s offer to help. She interrupted herself with a laugh, “– of course if he didn’t, there’d be no story.” That’s when she saw through her question, realized the narrative arc, and discovered Tyler’s motivation.
Soon after committing to write the Unfolding series I woke in the middle of the night with an idea so compelling, I sat at my computer and composed a scene which could only be named It’s the Middle of the Night. Before the short scene was finished, I realized it defined one end of the narrative arc for the first two stories Awakening and Nexus.
Every scene I initiated after that night drove the story along the arc to bring the plot into alignment with It’s the Middle of the Night, which remains a part of Unfolding: Nexus. Only relatively minor alterations were required in order to accommodate a surprise character I would not met until months later.
– Jeffrey A. Limeprt
__________________
Further Reading:
http://thewritingwheel.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-narrative-arc.html
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-structure-a-story-the-eight-point-arc/
http://writinghood.com/writing/narrative-arcs-how-to-create-them-in-your-fiction/
http://www.narrative-writing.com/tips-for-writing-a-novel.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Plot-Outline
http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/plot-outline.html
http://www.darcypattison.com/plot/plot1/
http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/how-to-make-your-novel-a-page-turner
Image Information:
b17iain000.jpg
from www.imageafter.com
Offered as free commerical use.
No other information available
Updated on 03/13/2012
Amazon – Unfolding: Awakening