WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "PLOT" AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?

• "It's what happens — the story."
• "It's the controlling force that drives the story."
• "It's a structure and a sequence of events that move the story from beginning to end."
• "It’s a logical means to originate ideas on which to hang characters."
• "It’s the vortex — everything centres around it and comes of it — it’s fill of twists and turns."
• "Thrillers usually follow a set pattern: set-up, detective work, climax, denouement."
• "Work that is too formulaic is unsatisfying, e.g. Mills & Boon."
• "A beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order."
• "Must a plot have ‘a beginning, a middle and an end?’" "Not necessarily."
• "Plot is not essential — consider plays like Waiting for Godot." "A play/novel might have an objective rather than a plot."
• "A plot is the backbone of the piece— the main element that makes the reader/audience want to stay until the end."
• "The outcome of the plot is the resolution of the issue that keeps you in your seat."
• "Plot is what makes something literature as opposed to real life — whereas real life meanders on, plot is specifically structured."

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLOT?

• It comprises good scenes in which "good characters" make "good speeches" based on "good ideas".
• It has a strong story-line.
• It includes an intrigue or mystery that readers/listeners want to solve.
• It is clear but not simplistic or predictable — easy to follow, yet engaging enough to make people want to read or hear again.
• It uses contrasting settings, moods, characters, etc as a means of evoking readers’/listeners’ memories and playing upon their emotions.
• It is credible and consistent in terms of style, characters and locations and how they relate to the action.
• It includes "surprises", for example in terms of unexpected events or characters behaving unexpectedly.
• It includes some elements of conflict — perhaps resolved — perhaps not.
• It includes at least some elements of originality.
• It conveys a clear message or messages to the reader/listener, even if the message of the piece is an unresolved issue.
• It does not dominate the other features of the piece, such as characterisation.
• The key elements of the plot are memorable.