In the Book Writing World, we have learned this about story structure: “The CRISIS is when the choice is made and the CLIMAX is when the choice is acted on.”

That sounds good. Now, to the difficult question: What are your chracter’s choices? What happens after your character makes the first set of choices? How does that impact your climax – i.e., what you’re planning for the end of your book?

During a workshop late last year, Elizabeth discussed what she called “bookends:” The echoes between opening and closing of a book (whether it’s fiction or non-fiction). In the exercise we completed, we gave ourselves a choice of three opening scenes and two possible endings. Then we wrote down our top three ideas and our two possible endings and briefly plotted (and plodded) them against each other.

Giving yourself options is a great way to brainstorm your way to the solution to your plotting problems. In my case, I went with idea #3 (a prologue where my protagonist is driving away from the hospital) and ending #2 (there’s a fire next-door).

What are the possible openings and endings of your book? And what the choices your character faces that best demonstrate what you are trying to say with your book?