• What is a story? An autopsy of a tale
• Your story isn’t its plot or structure
• Narrative structure: One step ahead or two back?
• Which is best: Character- or plot-driven stories?
• What is a ‘cookie cutter’ story?
• Think of plot as set-up, build-up, pay-off
• Start your story in middle to increase suspense
• Don’t end novel with cliffhanger
• Utilize both internal and external conflicts
• BONUS: “Books don’t offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw.” – David Mitchell
9 Must-Know Tips for Plotting a Story
