When writing a plot, how long should it be?

Answer 1

I agree with Persiphone, but to give you examples that might make it more clear for you, take a look at novels that you enjoy and count the number of scenes and note the action. By analyzing this, you can see how a plot is developed.

Here is an outline of the novelization of the movie, "The Mummy". By reviewing that while either watching the movie or reading the book you can get a basic idea how it's done. There's a lot more to it, of course, but it's a step:

http://www.storyentertainment.com/outline.asp

Answer 2

A plot? How long? Why, the plot is the whole story! There are four mains parts of the plot: the intro to the plot where we first find out what it is, the part where the plot is being figured out and battled by the protagonist, the climax where the plot is finally challenged and defeated, and then the resolution to the plot.

If you're looking for length, it really depends how detailed you're going into a book. A book can be from 150 pages to 700 pages.

The intro is something where you can ease into the plot so you don't just throw the reader right in, but it's nothing more than that and introducing the character. It should be fifty pages at most.

Make sure to blend the intro well, and move into the protagonist facing the plot. This is the bulkiest and most adventurous part of the story. It can be from 100 pages to 500 pages depending, again, on your book length.

The climax usually seems long, but it's, at most, one to three chapters.

And the resolution shouldn't be too long. Just a couple chapters of aftermath. Put this mostly into a epilogue to so it's sort of an FYI to the reader. If your resolution is more than one chapter, that's a sign that you want to do a sequel.

Answer 3

There is no real way to answer that. It is like "how long should a parade be?"

Think of your plot as the spine of your story. It starts at the beginning and runs straight through to the end. Off of it, different actions occur - subplots, backstories etc. But unless you keep your plot running true on a straight line beginning to end, your story is going to be all over the place and confusing.

The plot starts with what I call Ground Zero. Things as they are on a normal day. Then a conflict occurs that throws things into motion. Your characters try to resolve the conflict many times until at last they succeed at the climax. Then the action ends with Ground Zero Plus - the characters' lives are back to normal but a little bit (or a lot) changed forever.

How long it is depends on you. It depends on what the story is you are trying to tell. Just remember to stay true to your plot. Think of subplots, backstories etc as the ribs that come off the spine. But the spine is the nerve center of your story - the driving force.

That is about the best way to answer the question.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 4

I wouldn't say it has to be a certain length. I would just say it has to be complete. If you start moving in a certain direction with the plot and there are several stories going on, just make sure that all loose ends are tied up before the end.
As far as I am concerned, there's nothing worse than watching a movie or reading a book and then at the end they leave something hanging and your wondering what happened to that character?

Answer 5

Just write your idea that pop from your head. Then later, you revise it. I have done bunch of time.

Answer 6

It depends on the length of the story/novel.