Writing Plot That Wows
5 Secrets You Need to Know
You know that moment when you’re halfway through a book, and suddenly, everything just clicks? The story grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go. That’s not luck. That’s masterful plotting. In this post I’m sharing how to unlock that magic with five secrets to crafting plots that leave readers begging for more.
Secret 1: Conflict Is Oxygen—Never Let It Run Out
Without conflict, your plot is just a nice walk in the park. And guess what? Readers don’t want a stroll—they want a rollercoaster.
"The conflict of a story is the engine of its narrative." – James Scott Bell
Think about The Hunger Games. Katniss’s world isn’t just dangerous; it’s a survival gauntlet. Every chapter ratchets up the tension—from fighting for food to battling in the arena. Without constant conflict, it’d just be a dystopian camping trip.
Now let’s dial it down to something less life-or-death, like The Notebook. At its core, it’s a love story, but without conflict, it’d just be two people writing cute letters and staring at sunsets. Instead, we’ve got Noah and Allie fighting societal expectations, disapproving parents, and their own stubborn hearts. The tension of Will they? Won’t they? keeps readers hooked. Without those obstacles, it’s just a montage of date nights.
How can you do this? Identify your protagonist’s goals and throw obstacles in their way. If they’re solving a mystery, make the clues misleading or hard to get. If they’re chasing a dream, add someone trying to crush it. Don’t just resolve conflict—replace it with a bigger one. Conflict keeps readers turning pages because they’re desperate to see how it resolves.
I once wrote a cozy mystery where the stakes were too low. A missing cat, no danger, no tension. My beta readers yawned. So, I upped the ante: the missing cat held the key to solving a decades-old murder. Boom! Instantly more compelling.
For inspiration, try: Writing guides like Conflict & Suspense by James Scott Bell, story outlining journals.
Secret 2: Subvert Expectations, but Stay True to Your Story
Readers love surprises, but they hate feeling tricked. Subvert their expectations by delivering twists that feel earned.
"Give your readers what they want—just not the way they expect it." – William Goldman
Think of Game of Thrones. What happened to Ned Stark in the first episode left viewers stunned. (no spoilers - but seriously, doesn't everyone know by now?) The twist worked because it fit the ruthless world George R.R. Martin built. It wasn’t shock for shock’s sake; it was a natural consequence of the story’s rules.
Now take Pride and Prejudice. When Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth, we expect a romantic ‘Yes!’ (It’s a love story, after all.) But instead, she rejects him—spectacularly. It’s a twist, but it feels right because Darcy’s arrogance and Elizabeth’s pride have been clashing since chapter one. The surprise works because it’s baked into their dynamic, not just thrown in to shock us.
To achieve this, plant seeds early. Want to reveal the villain was the protagonist’s best friend? Drop subtle hints about their betrayal. Want to end with a twist? Make sure it’s a logical outcome of the plot threads you’ve been weaving. Subverting expectations keeps readers engaged because they’re eager to see what you’ll do next.
In my fantasy novel, everyone expected the hero to defeat the villain in a fiery battle. Instead, she won by offering forgiveness, something he didn’t see coming. It worked because I’d built her character around empathy from the start.
For inspiration, try: unique writing tools like tarot cards for plotting.
Secret 3: Stakes Should Always Grow, Not Shrink
If your characters’ problems don’t escalate, your plot flattens out. Make every choice bigger, bolder, and riskier. This is the way.
"Raise the stakes or your story dies." – Syd Field
In The Martian, Mark Watney’s challenges start with being stranded on Mars. But as the story progresses, the stakes grow: running out of food, equipment breaking, storms threatening his rescue. Each new problem ups the tension.
Now let’s look at To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. At first, Lara Jean’s problem is a little embarrassing—her secret love letters accidentally get sent out. But then the stakes climb: she’s forced into a fake relationship, her real feelings start to surface, and her personal life collides with her social world. Each twist deepens her vulnerability, making us root for her even more.
How can you do this? Start small and build. Begin with a personal stake (saving a loved one) and expand to a larger one (saving the world). Escalation keeps the plot exciting because readers can’t predict what’ll go wrong next.
Try This: Think about the biggest challenge your character faces at the start of your story. Now ask yourself, What could make this worse? Maybe the quirky first date turns into a public disaster. Or the love letter isn’t just sent—it’s read aloud at a wedding. Raising stakes doesn’t mean blowing up the world; it’s about turning up the heat in ways that matter to your characters. Bonus points if it also ties into their biggest fears or flaws.
Secret 4: Your Protagonist Must Earn Their Ending
Every great story ends with a payoff that feels earned. Whether your protagonist succeeds, fails, or lands somewhere in between, their ending should result from the choices they’ve made, the lessons they’ve learned, and the growth they’ve undergone. Readers want to see characters actively shape their fate, not just get lucky—or unlucky—because of random events. When the protagonist earns their ending, it’s deeply satisfying because it feels like a natural conclusion to everything that came before.
"The character, not the plot, is the heart of the story." – Anne Lamott
Consider Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. His journey is grueling, and by the time he reaches Mount Doom, he’s fundamentally changed. He earns the ending because every step he takes builds to that moment.
Take The Proposal. At the start, Margaret is cold, calculating, and willing to fake an engagement to save her career. But as she spends time with Andrew and his family, she begins to soften, confront her fears, and open herself up to vulnerability. By the time she genuinely falls for Andrew, her feelings feel earned because we’ve seen her evolve from someone who avoids love to someone who embraces it. Her growth makes the happy ending believable and satisfying.
To ensure your protagonist earns their ending, tie their victory or failure to their arc. If your hero needs to learn courage, have their bravery be the key to defeating the villain. This makes the resolution satisfying because it feels deserved.
Try This: Think about a major turning point in your story. Ask yourself, How does my protagonist’s own actions or growth lead to this moment? If their success feels too random or convenient, rework the scene. Maybe they use a skill they’ve developed, confront a fear they’ve been avoiding, or solve a problem in a way only they could. It’s all about connecting the dots between their journey and the resolution.
For inspiration, try: brand new journals, character development workbooks.
Secret 5: The Ending Should Feel Inevitable but Surprising
The best endings strike a balance between surprise and inevitability. They’re not predictable, but they’re also not random. Instead, they’re the culmination of carefully planted clues, character development, and narrative threads that come together in a way that feels both unexpected and perfectly aligned with the story.
Think of it like a puzzle—when the final piece clicks into place, readers should see how every other piece led to this moment. This is what leaves them satisfied, amazed, and maybe even flipping back through the pages to catch all the hints they missed the first time.
"The ending is the final surprise." – John Irving
Think about The Sixth Sense. The twist ending shocks viewers, but when you rewatch, all the clues were there. It’s a brilliant example of an ending that’s both surprising and inevitable.
Consider Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. The ending is devastating, but as heartbreaking as it is, it feels inevitable. Throughout the story, Louisa and Will’s relationship grows, and we see Louisa’s transformation—from a girl who’s unsure of herself to someone who understands her own strength. Will’s decision, though it shatters expectations, makes perfect sense in the context of everything that has come before. It’s the kind of ending that leaves readers thinking, I didn’t want that to happen, but I understand why it did.
How do you achieve this? Revisit your story’s beginning and middle. Seed the ending through foreshadowing and subtle hints. This creates a sense of completion because readers feel like everything led to this point.
Try This: Think about the journey your protagonist has taken. In one of my own stories, I had a protagonist make the ultimate sacrifice to save her team. At first, I was worried it might feel forced or melodramatic, but after working through her arc, it became clear it was the only way for her to fulfill her growth. She started as someone who was selfish and hesitant to take risks, but by the end, she had learned the value of selflessness and responsibility. When the moment came for her to make the sacrifice, it was both heartbreaking and satisfying—because it was the natural end to her journey, not a twist just for shock’s sake.
Time To Plot
Plotting isn’t about following rules; it’s about creating a journey your readers will never forget. Keep these secrets in your toolbox, and you’ll craft stories that wow every time.
By now, you’ve learned that great plots don’t just happen—they’re built with intention, layered conflict, and a careful balance of twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. But even with these five secrets in your toolkit, sometimes your plot still feels a little... off.
If you're noticing your story's missing that spark or it just doesn’t feel as gripping as it should, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Continue reading, 'Why Your Plot Feels Flat (and How to Fix It),' where we’ll dig into the most common plot mistakes and show you how to turn them around. If you a ready to troubleshoot, let’s dive into how you can fix predictability, raise your stakes, and take your plot to the next level!
Follow Susan:
