In a recent post, I wrote about my first writers conference. I attended three sessions which were extremely engaging, and I promised I’d share with you what I learned. You can find my post about Session #1 here.

Now, I’ll do my best explaining the Plot Clock, taught by Jamie Morris, which was probably the most useful thing I learned during the entire conference (this happens to be what I’ve been struggling with lately).

The Plot Clock gives writers the opportunity to decide whether or not their idea for a novel is worth pursuing. Its purpose: to determine whether your story has all the elements it should.

The Plot Clock is a circle divided into four sections. Your starting point is at the top of the circle. (Move clockwise around the circle.)

 

Act I

• Ordinary World (the main character’s life circumstances prior to her story’s start)
• Author establishes the MC’s skills, strategies, strengths/weaknesses, need/goal
  • Establishes setting and introduces characters
• Inciting incident takes place in Act I
  • The first glimpse the MC (or the reader) gets of the Special World

Binding Point: the moment when the MC finds himself/herself committed to the Special World

• Point of no return
• Signals the end of Act I and the beginning of Act II

Act II

• Special World (the new circumstances presented by the story and through which the MC struggles on her way to making a change)
• Tests/challenges FAILED
  • The MC’s strategies/survival skills (established in Act I) may not work

Low Point Entry: the period when the demands of the Special World have brought the MC to his/her knees

• MC struggles
• MC experiences true change

Low Point Exit: MC has experienced internal change or has made a meaningful sacrifice

• Signals the end of Act II

Act III

• Continuation of Special World
• “messy middle”
• Tests/challenges PASSED
  • MC is getting stronger, developing new strategies/skills

Turning Point: the event which forces the MC to face the final battle of the Climax

• Signals the end of Act III and the beginning of Act IV

Act IV

• Climax (the “battle to end all battles,” occurring between the MC and the antagonist)
  • The MC does not necessarily have to win the battle
• Denouement (day-new-ma: literally “unknotting.” The final resolutions of the intricacies of the story and the lives of the characters)
  • Need/goal of the MC is satisfied

 

I believe the Plot Clock is a fantastic tool for writers. It is a reminder that the protagonist of the story is always working toward something, moving forward, even if he/she faces stumbling blocks and conflict along the way. Every character and every scene should make it around the Plot Clock. By using the Plot Clock to quickly outline a scene, you can be sure you aren’t wasting words or time because you have already identified its purpose in the story.

Thank you, Jamie Morris!

 

Other Helpful Articles/Links: 

(*Keep in mind that the Plot Clock has various formats – it is also called the Three or Four Act Structure)

The Plot Clock

Story Brainstorming Sheets

The Five Essential Story Ingredients