on Fiction University:

Strong plots start with two deceptively simple questions.

The sheer number of plotting questions I get—both in person and online—is a good indication that plotting is something a lot of writers wrestle with. And it’s not always because they don’t understand story structure or scene dynamics.

You can write gorgeous prose and still wind up with a story that meanders, stalls, or lacks punch. That’s because the characters aren’t making active, motivated choices that drive the story. They’re just… doing things.

“Because that’s what has to happen next” isn’t a goal.

I’ve had countless brainstorming sessions with stuck writers (and been one myself), and over the years, I’ve noticed something. No matter how complex the plot, how high the stakes, or how elaborate the worldbuilding, the problem almost always comes down to one missing element: goals.

The protagonist didn’t want anything in the scene, or if they did, they didn’t have a good reason for wanting it.

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