When the plot just isn't working

You've worked hard writing your story and put the final period down on paper. Then you let it sit for a while to marinate before diving into the revision process. Weeks or months later, you open up your document ready to dive into that amazing story and ... the plot just isn't working. You've read it and re-read it and something isn't right.

Suddenly that story you were so excited about feels like a total miss and ready for the garbage. After all, fixing a story's plot feels overwhelming and sometimes it seems easier just to start over with something new.

But before you deem it a lost cause, I want to encourage you that fixing a story's plotline isn't as daunting as it feels. Here are some things I take a look at when a story's plot is falling flat.

• Are there too many threads? A lot of the time, a messy plot can be fixed by eliminating some of those plot points that don't matter as much or seem forced. Condensing it down to the ones that pack the most punch will help streamline your story and focus on the elements that truly drive the story. 
• Does your character want too many things? Or do they not want something enough? Good stories have characters that desire something, and it's that "something" that drives them forward. But if there are too many  competing desires, sometimes that can cloud up the plot and make it feel scattered or wishy-washy. Ask yourself what is the #1 thing your main character desires most and cut out the rest. Maybe you realize your story falls on the other end of the spectrum and your main character has no clear desire at all or they're too complacent about what they want. In that case, it's time for some character development. Give them something to move towards and desire that will push them through the story. 
• Is your main conflict lacking, well, conflict? Compelling stories have a main source of conflict that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, rooting for the main character and curious to see how the story will end. But if your conflict doesn't have enough tension, that can cause a plot to feel "blah". If I'm writing a romance novel where Girl meets Boy and Boy is absolutely perfect for Girl in every way except she's just "not sure yet" until the very end of the story, that's not a very compelling plot. Or if the Hero is running into battle to fight the Villian just because he's the bad guy, why would the reader want to keep reading? It's obvious the Girl will figure out she loves the Boy eventually, so where's the tension? Of course the Hero will fight the Villian, but what's at stake for him personally? But say you introduce an ex-boyfriend who comes back into the Girl's life right when she begins to open her heart up to the Boy after getting over a traumatic breakup. Or the Hero is fighting the Villian because he's taken his wife and kids captive and is going to destroy his village. Well, then you have a much stronger plot!
• Is the pacing or the building of tension too fast or too slow? Though it's tossed around a lot, the three act story structure really is a great way to construct a plotline. Is your plot too action heavy at the start and by the end, there's no major obstacles left? Or does it take forever for your story to get to the heart of the problem? Maybe the conflicts are over too quickly and some things need to be fleshed out more or the tension needs to build for longer. Try mapping out your current plot using the three act structure and see if it matches up. Where it doesn't, ask yourself what you could add or take away to help it follow a three act structure more closely. 

If your plot doesn't feel quite right, don't despair! Most early drafts suffer from these plot mishaps because you're still actively discovering your story and your characters. And that's a good thing! With each subsequent draft, your plot will grow more focused and your characters stronger.

Though it may seem like a big revision, it's easier to tackle plot problems than you think. I find that making a simple outline of my major plot points works the best. It helps me to see more clearly what isn't working or feeling right when it's all laid out in front of me. Once I think I've found the problem, I create a plan of attack and literally write out what I'm hoping to change and accomplish with my next draft. Then I start with a completely new document so I'm not trying to squish my old story draft into a new mold.

Now that you know what to look for, it's time to roll up those sleeves and tackle that story!