Plot

We must now consider the main action of your story.  What happens?

Traditionally, we consider plot to be the obstacles that get in the way of the main character’s (mc) motivations and what he/she/it does to overcome these obstacles -- or to fail completely.  Even if the antagonist is the mc’s self and most of the “action” is occurring in his/her/its head, the following questions/elements still apply.

What is the inciting incident? What makes (or forces) the mc decide to change what is the current status quo?

What is the mc’s motivations? What obstacles will the mc face trying to succeed his/her/its goals?

Who/what is the antagonist? What does the antagonist want? How does this conflict with the mc’s goals?

What confrontations will occur between the mc and the antagonist?

List out the obstacles the mc will face, from 3 to 5 (more, if you’d like). They could be external, such as a forest on fire, involved, such as the inability to speak a necessary language, or internal, such as fear. Having a variety of obstacles provides subplots and interesting conflict.

At what point does the character face his/her/its first turning point, i.e.  a major decision must be made that causes the mc to either overcome or fail in the face of an obstacle, which then causes a change in the mc’s personality/way of thinking/etc.?

At what point does the mc hit their lowest point, i.e. when the mc fails to triumph over an obstacle and thus falls into his fears/negative qualities/addictions/etc., representing a crisis that is deeper than what the character originally confronted?

What is the climax of the story? In the face of what obstacle will the mc ultimately fail or succeed? What does the antagonist have to do with this?