In Part 1 of this 3-part article, you learned how to start your novel. Now, here are some tips and tricks to plot and write his novel.

1. When laying out your novel, start from the end and work your way to the beginning.. Where do you want your main character to end up at the end of the story? What will this character have achieved and how will this character have changed by the end of the story?

Think of some big climactic event for your novel and create a “ticking clock” so that your main character must solve the general problem of the story before time runs out (things must happen quickly so that you can maintain the dramatic tension along the history).

two. Write your book cover flap copy – just a paragraph or two that lets the reader know what the story will be about. By summarizing this, YOU too will get a better idea of ​​EXACTLY what your story is about.

3. Below, find out all the steps your main character will take to get to the end. First, where does your character start? What does he want more than anything? What happens next to change things up a bit and make it a little harder for your main character to get what he wants?

Four. Turn your plot into a chapter outline. Try to start with a 12-chapter outline, though your story may end up being longer than 12 chapters. But 12 chapters keep it manageable at first. This will also help you create your story in 3 acts of 4 chapters each.

5. As you create your outline, keep in mind the plot triangle. Introduce your characters and setting in the bottom left of the triangle. Then create a building action as you build up problems for your main character (your moving story starts the triangle like this). All of these problems lead to the climax of his story (which is at the top of the triangle). Generally plan the climax for chapter 10 or 11 of the story, then settle everything in the final chapter or so.

6. For each chapter, think about what MUST happen for your main character to get closer to the climax and end of the story. You’ll be thinking of more complications from the antagonist or other external events as you go, so don’t worry about having all of this in place from the start.

7. As you outline, think in terms of scenes you can create for each chapter. Plan 1-3 different scenes per chapter, for the most part. Think about your main character. Based on what he or she is like, how can you use other characters to create an interesting subplot? In the middle grade, you don’t want too many subplots and they should be fairly simple.

Follow these tips to create a compelling plot for your story and avoid the sunken middle ground! Then read Part 3 of Writing the Middle Grade Novel: Cover to Cover with tips for finishing your manuscript.