Pacific Coast Children's Writers Novel Workshop

Novels without subplots feel thin and insubstantial. Your antagonist and secondary characters are the key to crafting subplots that enrich your primary plot arc.

At the workshop, we’ll discuss how these characters each have their own story lines that fall within the parameters of the protagonist’s story. You’ll write story lines for two or three subplots, and explore how these add twists to your protagonist’s plot arc.

In the pre-workshop assignment, identify the roles of your antagonist and other secondary characters.

Pre-workshop Assignment

List your antagonist and other important secondary characters (those who play a major role in the story). Answer for each:

1. What is this character’s job in the story? (Protagonist’s friend, enemy, mentor? Adds comic relief?)

2. What does this character reveal about the protagonist?

3. How does this character’s existence add to the protagonist’s story? If you cut this character, would the plot suffer—or would readers barely notice?

Drawing on our previous material, you’ll combine character and plot to create or refine your story arc. You’ll pull everything together in a comprehensive plot outline for your novel. To further assist you, Laura will demonstrate how the main plot and subplots fit together in at least one fairly short, published novel (reading assignment TBA).

As you work independently on your master outline or “road map,” Laura will answer individual questions. This is a perfect opportunity for you to digest the weekend info—and put it to use, while it’s fresh. Then you’ll take home a clear plan for revisions you need to make your novel the strongest it can be.

Most of these books are not required for the workshop, but are supplementary, wonderful reading.

1) Linda Seger, Making a Good Script Great. Three-Act Structure is the basis for all screenplays. It also works beautifully for fiction, giving authors a clear format for the story’s beginning, middle and end. Seger breaks down Three-Act Structure and character development clearly in Part One (Story Structure) and Part Three (Character Development). Especially recommended for this workshop by faculty Laura Backes, who will lead related sessions.

2) Christopher Vogler, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. This book is a gem, but not critical to the workshop. Applies Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, The Hero’s Journey, to character development. Read the intro (“Preparing for the Journey”) and Part 1, especially the sections about seven archetypes. The “Practical Guide” is also helpful in seeing how archetypal characters fit into plot construction.

Many elements of Three-Act Structure appear in other writing formats, such as the Hero’s Journey—though the latter has more components and is more complex than three-act structure. Vogler says the three acts represent the decision to act, the action itself, and consequences of the action.

3) Carol S. Pearson, The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By. Read especially the intro and Chapter 1. And/or read Pearson’s Awakening the Hero Within: Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and Transform Our World. Expansion of the aforementioned book. Read the intro, Chapter 1, and Chapters 6-16 (or just the 1-2 page summary at the beginning of each). Note the boxed info in Chapter 21, “Archetypes and Their Stories” and other summary material.

4) Victoria Lynn Schmidt, 45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters. Read the intro and Part 1, “Getting Started.” Optional, but fascinating if you love character.