GRAPHING A PLOT: DRAWING OUT YOUR STORY

Writing a story as one goes, or flying by the seat of one’s pants, is as exciting as it is perilous. While a myth may weave a fine yarn with a single narrative thread, today’s modern novels entail multiple entangled storylines. At times, the number of possible outcomes for a scene becomes confusing, as authors struggle to determine what to include. This class offers tools for visualizing the plot through graphing, appraising the story from a distance, while critically distinguishing the substance of the narrative from the form it takes. Breaking down a timeline into events also allows one to consider alternate outcomes to a story with minimal investment in time. Why cut scenes that took hours to write, when one can decide the direction of the story from the start? Participants will learn how to graph a plot, tracing out future and past events, while tracking flashbacks and flash-forwards easily. Mapping the plots of other novels provides insight into what ingredients make a great story, allowing for a new exploration of familiar genres. Rather than relying on plot-typology models which dictate what shape your narrative should take, this class offers narratological tools for understanding, clarifying, and enhancing one’s own story.