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1) Uma Krishnaswaimi, former child writer who now writes for children and teaches writing in the MFA/Writing for Children and Young Adult program at Vermont College of Fine Arts, has a new picture book out: Out of the Way! Out of the Way!
No matter what your genre or the age level of your readers, I invite you READ about my exploration toward finding the plot of Uma's book, her process of creating a picture book, and me finally coming face-to-face with a favorite plot line -- thematic significance.

2) Plot To Kill a Mockingbird

Plot is what happens in a story. When the dramatic action changes the character at depth over time, the story becomes thematically significance.

These three threads:

Dramatic Action
Character Emotional Development (transformation)
Thematic Significance

hold the core dynamic of plot.

Think of plot as a verb, what a writer does. Plot is the deliberate arrangement of scenes by cause and effect. When scenes work as hard as they should, each one advances the character emotional development, the dramatic action, and the thematic significance of the overall story. By plotting out these elements scene-by-scene, the writer is better able to control how they give just enough information to inform that particular scene and, at the same time, whet the reader’s curiosity to read on.

In all great stories, a protagonist transforms as a result of inner challenges – Character Emotional Development plot line – and outer challenges – Dramatic Action plot line. The Dramatic Action plot line is often as a consequence of a Character Emotional Development plot line that involves a deep psychological issue. In other words, something within the protagonist herself causes or contributes conflict in the story.

A prime example of this is the Bildungsroman or coming-of-age story, as is the case with many young adult novels. The character starts the story with a flaw or immaturity or ignorance or fear or innocence or whatever they need to overcome. Over the scope of the story, the dramatic action causes the character to come to understand what it is about him or her that is interfering with achieving his or her long-term story goal. Once they have that understanding, they then strive to overcome that flaw and become who they are meant to be.

For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee introduces Scout at a hotheaded, out-spoken tomboy. As the story unfolds, because of the dramatic action, Scout is forced to control her temper and hold her tongue. At the same time, she slowly comes to appreciate that “there was some skill involved in being a girl.” By story’s end, having come to a new understanding of herself and human nature in general, societal expectations, and her own place in the world, Scout is transformed into a young lady.

By plotting out on a Plot Planner each one of these character emotional developmental changes Scout undergoes, the writer is able to control what information is given and precisely in what order to make the most dramatic impact on the reader.

In the same way, the thematic significance of To Kill a Mockingbird can be plotted out. The idea that one never really understands another until one considers things from the other’s point of view is introduced several times in the Beginning, or the first 1/4 of the book. When Scout is sent out of the dining room for inappropriate comments to her classmate, the reader “sees” her ignorance of or inability to stand in someone else’s shoes.

In the Middle, or the next 1/2 of the book, the theme is deepened and developed. For instance, when Scout stands up to a mob of men who come to the jail for Tom Robinson, her actions force one man to stand in Atticus’s shoes. After that, the man is unwilling to go through with the mob’s original plan and talks his cohorts into dispersing.

Later in the Middle, Scout asks herself why Boo stays shut inside his house. This reference deepens the thematic plotline and represents the first time Scout consciously considers things through another person’s point of view.

At the End, or the final 1/4 of the story, Scout shows that she has successfully integrated the thematic significance when she gives Boo a seat in the dark, knowing he would be more comfortable there. And later, after she escorts him home, standing on his porch, she sees the world as he has seen it throughout the years.

The dramatic action can be plotted out in the same way, as can the elements of a political plotline if applicable, the historic details, even the weather and the setting and any other elements that deepen the overall thematic significance or meaning of the story itself.

(Published in an interview by Children's Book Insider).

Children's Writers Resources

DVD produced specifically for Children's Writers: Plot Guide for Children's Book Writers - A Writers Workshop DVD.

"Her ability and explanations are amazing." McWilliams for SCBWI Bulletin

Coming soon: Children's and Young Adult Writers Plot eBook

Interested in taking your ideas or manuscipt to the next level? Set up a Plot Consultation!

Martha is also available as a Keynote Speaker or plot workshop leader at your next writers conference.

Read the interview with Children's and Teen Author Susan Taylor Brown for her insights into writing great stories for Children.