by Lisa Jordan, @lisajordan
Our bodies’ skeletal systems are essential for creating the framework or structure for our bodies. Without joints, we wouldn’t be able to bend and move efficiently.
Our stories need a skeleton as well. I’m doing a two-part series by sharing about the story skeleton in part one and how to add muscle in part two.
We begin with getting to know our characters, discovering their SEQs, and their internal and external goals. Just as the brain drives our bodies, the SEQs drive our story. If you don’t do SEQs for your characters, you are missing out on an opportunity to understand their internal motivations for their external goals. Before you begin your story, your characters must have both internal and external goals.
In my plotting imagination, I liken the neck to Act 1 in your story. If you use the LINDY HOP method of plotting, this would be the LIFE/DISTANCING/HOMEWORLD. In a trade novel, it’s usually the first three chapters. In my category novels. ACT 1 happens in chapter one due to my short word count.
As we all know, the purpose of the neck is to support and protect the head. It is also pivotal in turning the head. Something happens to your character to force him to leave the comfort zone of his homeworld. This is the inciting incident that sends him on his story journey. As your character travels down the story skeleton, he comes to the shoulders and needs to make a choice—this would be your beginning of ACT 2, and this is where the bulk of the story happens. So this is the call to action, the noble quest, or simply put beginning his story journey.
And the spine is where most of the story takes place. Remember—the plot is based on your character’s external goal that is being driven by internal motivations. That’s why it’s so helpful to do the SEQ to understand what drives your character from the inside out.
Also, the external goal needs to be SMART—specific, measurable, attainable, relatable, and time-sensitive.
However, to reach that main story goal, your character will have smaller goals and obstacles to overcome in order to reach that larger story goal. This is why we tell you the POV character in each scene needs to have a scene goal that moves him toward his story goal.
That’s represented by the ribs—the hurdles our characters need to overcome to achieve their story goals. As you’re moving your character through the story, you need to keep asking, “What’s at stake if my character doesn’t achieve his goal?” As you move closer to the black moment, those stakes intensify.
Because we do not want to put our characters on a story sprint, we need to let them overcome smaller obstacles so they can feel empowered once again to continue on their journey.
In her book, The Plot Skeleton, Angela Hunt says, “Every negative complication is followed by a positive reward that matches the seriousness of the complication.”
So use your story ribs wisely.
After the ribs, we reach the hips. And this is the black moment portion of your story skeleton. This is where your character’s lie feels real, their goals feel unobtainable, and they feel like all is lost.
But help is on the way! The thigh bone shows the help that brings your character to his knees to see the Truth, and then finally he storms the castle, wins the girl/slays the dragon/catches the bad guy, and runs off into the sunset living out his HEA.
This is a simplified overview of the story skeleton. Having a strong story skeleton is essential before you begin your rough draft. Next month, I’ll share part two and how to add the muscle to your story skeleton.
A veteran in need of a fresh start will get more than he bargained for…
Veteran Micah Holland’s scars go deeper than anyone knows. An inheritance from his mentor could be a new beginning—if he shares the inherited goat farm with fiercely independent Paige Watson. Now the only way they can keep the farm is to work together. But first Micah must prove he’s a changed man to keep his dream and the woman he’s falling for.
Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Cynthia Ruchti of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, His Road to Redemption, releases in January 2022. She is the content manager for Novel Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys quality family time and being creative with words, photos, fibers, and papers. Learn more about her at lisajordanbooks.com.