20 Master Plots, part one: I'M NOT TENSE ENOUGH!!!

[warped_pearl]

Okay, so I am rereading 20 Master Plots by Ronald B. Tobias, and already it's been helpful!

I think the reason I have not been able to start writing the H/D fic that's been rattling around in my brain is that there's a story there, and maybe even a plot, but there is no real conflict. Well, I know that it starts with them apart and ends with them together, and that's definitely emotional change, which is vital to stories and character growth. But I really don't have any conflict for the middle part. Draco has questions -- he goes to Harry with them -- Harry answers them. The end. Obviously, this is not enough, and so, the story remains unwritten.

Tobias sums up plot very nicely. Take, for example, the ubiquitous Boy Meets Girl:

Boy meets girl.
Boy wants to marry girl.
Girl says yes.

That, technically, is story, but it's not really plot, because it's not enough. There's no tension. So you add some:

Boy meets girl.
Boy wants to marry girl.
Girl says no.
Boy asks "Why?".
"Because you're a drunk," she replies.

And with the introduction of tension, we have the very basic of plots.

I'm actually wondering if so-called PWP stories don't actually have a germ of plot in them. Take, for example, my script snippet. It is full of tension. There is anticipation, as Draco waits for Harry to arrive. There is tension (and possible rejection) when Harry realizes Draco has been pretending to be hurt. There is a build of tension as the sexual heat builds up until we reach a climax (literally!) and the tension is resolved. It's a very basic plot, true, but it does fit the tension requirements. The difference is that it is all local tension, which, again, is a start, but it's not enough for most plots. For that you need something bigger, or deeper. More on that later.

I am thinking back to one of the most unsatisfying fanfics I read, which was so unsatisfying because there was no tension. H/D somehow get under the influence of a love potion, or something. They immediately set up "house" together, and spend the rest of the fic making googly eyes at each other. Sure, it was sweet and cute, but there was no point to it, really, because the main characters underwent no tension. Perhaps it could have worked if H/D were less of the focus--but as written, it failed horribly.

So, tension is definitely important. It comes as no surprise, then, that nocturne_alley has a vast, rabid following, because NA is all about the tension. Oh, sure, sometimes there are moments of squee, but those are usually the resolution of built-up tension. And also usually the calm before the storm, when the next bit of tension occurs, and it's usually even bigger than the last! This just proves yet again that the players really know that they are doing (and yes, I cannot stop writing about how much I love NA and how well I think it is done).

So now I am back to my unwritable story, and wondering how I can add some much-needed tension into it. Because the initial idea of the story really does intrigue me, and I'd like to explore it--but it's not going to be possible unless I feel compelled to write it, like I was compelled to write the movie scenes(*). Perhaps I can just add some stubbornness on Harry's part. Or maybe Draco can never get close to Harry to ask him his questions, because Harry is always surrounded by friends or those who would protect him. Or maybe Draco does ask his questions and gets answers, but then misunderstands what Harry was trying to say. There are multiple things I can do; it's just a matter of finding the right source of tension and following through with it.

And that, ladies and gents, brings us to about page 19 in 20 Master Plots. I intend to write more as I reflect on the book's ideas and how it relates to my current and past fics, as well as others. Stay tuned for further updates.

(*) "The movie scenes" refers to, I believe, a comment fic that I wrote in someone else's journal that I no longer have access to, alas. -- althea_valara writing on March 13th, 2022