Plot
In short: The plot is the story's action: the chain of events, linked by cause and effect, that carries the characters from a starting point to an ending.
Where the term comes from
The English „plot“ originally meant a piece of land, later a plan – or a conspiracy. E. M. Forster's distinction from 1927 is famous: „The king died and then the queen died“ is a sequence; „The king died, and then the queen died of grief“ is a plot – because a cause links the events.
What matters in a plot
Cause and effect: A plot is more than „and then, and then“. Each event should follow from the last – „therefore“ rather than „after that“.
One central conflict: The strongest engine of a plot is a problem the main character can solve or fail at.
Change: By the end, something should be different from the beginning – in the story's world or in the character.
Plot on Fireside
After you publish, Fireside automatically creates a short summary of your story. If it captures the plot as you meant it, your plot is clear. For longer plots, try serial fiction.
Related terms: Conflict · Narrative Arc · Turning Point · Exposition
Frequently asked questions
What is the plot of a story?
The sequence of events, connected by cause and effect – what actually happens.
What is the difference between plot and story?
„Story“ is everything that happens; „plot“ stresses the causal link between the events.
Does every short story need a plot?
Yes, but it can be very small: a single encounter, a decision, an insight. Many short stories live more on a change within a character than on outward action.