When it comes to maintaining continuity of plot details in a series, it can be helpful to create a scene chart or a storyboard for each story as well as for the overall series itself.
Some novelists use index cards or Post-it notes to build a storyboard, because they allow for manipulation of the sequence of events in quick and immediately visible ways – but for tracking the many elements of a series over several books, a spreadsheet may be a better choice.
Whichever method you choose, the elements to consider keeping track of include:
- Book Number / Title
- Chapter Number / Title
- Scene Number
- Time / Time Frame
- Location / Setting
- Characters
- Central Problem/ Conflict
- Action / Events
- Surprises / New Information
- Open Questions
The last item is particularly important when it comes to avoiding red herrings and tying up loose ends. Make note of any questions, puzzles or mysteries that come up in the course of a chapter so that you can track when, where and how they get resolved.
Of course tracking plot details for continuity is different than crafting a plot in the first place – but keeping a record of the myriad details can be helpful when it comes to plot development and the editing/revision process. On the Children’s Book Hub, we have spreadsheets for both crafting plot and tracking the details, but you can create your own by copying and pasting the above elements into headings on a spreadsheet.
Next up, continuity of voice…
In my “Just Write for Kids” course, we spend quite a bit of time exploring different ways to develop plot.
We look at basic three-act storytelling structure:
Act 1 – Set-up/Intro to character(s) and problem
Act 2 – Problem escalates to crisis or turning point
Act 3 – Resolution/Character solves problem and/or learns something, grows or changes in process
Another great way to develop or measure your plot is against the following story structure, or plot sequence:
- Something happens to someone
- Which leads to their wanting/needing something, and/or making a goal
- Which needs a plan of action
- But forces try to stop the protagonist (obstacles occur)
- Yet they move forward (because there is a lot at stake)
- But then, there’s a crisis! Things get as bad as they can
- And they learn an important lesson
- Which helps them overcome the final obstacle
- Thus satisfying the need created by something in the past.
Here’s an example of how this might work as measured against our recent picture book, The Very Fairy Princess:
- Something happens to someone – Gerry learns she will be part of a new ballet, The Crystal Princess, at her ballet school
- Which leads to their wanting/needing something, and/or making a goal – She wants to play the lead – the Crystal Princess!
- Which needs a plan of action – she offers all the reasons why she is perfect for the part (already has the costume, accessories, is a natural etc.)
- But forces try to stop the protagonist (obstacles occur) – she is cast as the Court Jester instead. Worse, she hates her costume, which makes her look like a boy.
- Yet they move forward (because there is a lot at stake) – She really wants to be in the ballet, so she swallows her pride, and plays the jester. She also hides her crown under her jesters hat, so as to still be a fairy princess underneath.
- But then, there’s a crisis! Things get as bad as they can – When it comes time to perform the ballet, everything that can go wrong, does… Gerry steps on Tiffany’s (who plays the Princess) toes, trips over her stick, and her crown slips out from under her hat. She is in serious danger of losing her ‘sparkle’ altogether. Then, Tiffany’s crown falls off and gets crushed – and the ballet mistress expects Gerry to give Tiffany HER crown!
- And they learn an important lesson – Gerry realizes that a Crystal Princess REALLY needs to sparkle, and by lending her crown to Tiffany, her own sparkle comes rushing back.
- Which helps them overcome the final obstacle – By saving the show, and the day, Gerry makes friends with Tiffany. She also gets to be seated in the front of the company photo, and to keep her jester’s stick and hat. Plus, her own crown feels ‘extra-sparkly’ when Tiffany gives it back.
- Thus satisfying the need created by something in the past. – Gerry ends up being a star after all — in a different way than she imagined, but perhaps an even more satisfying one.
This tool can be used to develop an initial plot, or
When it comes to maintaining continuity of plot details in a series, it can be helpful to create a scene chart or a storyboard for each story as well as for the overall series itself.