“We all have to do the plotting work somewhere, somehow. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter if you’re a plotter or a pantser; the structure gets added in eventually. Either up front or afterward.” (Jessica Brody, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel)
Writing Exercise: Structure Through Character Choice
Key Techniques Illustrated in the Quotation
1. Character as the Source of Structure – Whether a writer plots in advance or discovers structure through revision, strong narratives must feel like they emerge from a character’s decisions rather than external mechanics.
2. Revision as Structural Refinement – An initial draft may feel loose or intuitive, but revision should reveal underlying cause-and-effect, ensuring that the story’s shape supports its emotional core.
3. Balancing Instinct with Intentionality – Spontaneity in drafting allows for fresh, unexpected moments, but writers must later shape those moments into a coherent framework that enhances meaning.
Writing Prompt (500 Words)
Write a scene in which a character makes a seemingly small or impulsive decision that unexpectedly alters the course of their day or life. Let the choice feel unstructured in the first draft—write quickly, following your instincts. Then, in revision, refine the structure so that the decision has a clear lead-up and consequence, ensuring it feels inevitable in hindsight. Consider whether the choice is truly character-driven, or if it needs stronger motivation, context, or ripple effects.
Guidelines:
• Draft the scene quickly, without overthinking cause and effect. Let the character lead.
• After drafting, analyze whether the choice feels arbitrary or if it subtly emerges from what came before.
• Revise with structure in mind: Does the decision have a lead-in that strengthens its impact? Does it change something significant? Is there a moment where a different choice could have been made, adding tension?
Evaluation Criteria
A strong response will:
• Feature a decision that is both surprising and inevitable—unexpected in the moment but, in retrospect, the only possible choice.
• Strengthen the scene’s structure through revision, ensuring a clear cause-and-effect chain.
• Use character psychology to drive the choice, rather than relying on external plot mechanics.
• Maintain emotional authenticity even after structural refinement.
A weak response will:
• Present a choice that feels forced or unmotivated.
• Lack structural cohesion, with events unfolding in a disconnected way.
• Over-explain or artificially impose structure in revision, draining the moment of spontaneity.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping & Revision
1. Does the character’s decision feel organic, or does it seem inserted for plot convenience?
2. After revision, does the scene feel both structured and alive, or has the revision process flattened its energy?
3. Is the moment of choice clear to the reader? Does it carry weight and consequence?
4. Could foreshadowing be used to strengthen inevitability without making the choice feel predictable?
Recommended Reading: “Pet Milk” by Stuart Dybek
Dybek’s story begins with an ordinary moment—drinking coffee with pet milk—before unfolding into a spontaneous yet structurally cohesive memory of young love and a fateful decision. The narrative feels loose and instinctual, yet every detail contributes to a larger emotional arc, demonstrating how revision can refine impulse into meaning.
This exercise encourages writers to embrace the fluidity of drafting while recognizing that structure is not an external imposition but an organic force that emerges through careful revision.
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