The Three Laws Of Plot

The Laws of Plot are the three tiers of plotting. The three tiers are Surprise, Suspense, and Plausibility. These three should become the firm backbone to whatever you are writing, be it novel, short story, or compulsive deceit. If you can master these three then any plot you write will be rock solid.

Freytag, unrelated to the three laws

1) Plausibility:

Plausibility is whether or not the plot is valid, possible. If at one part the Earth is destroyed and then the characters visit it again a few chapters later without explanation of how it is there, then the plot is implausible. This also ties in with the characters. If the characters had known that the Earth had been destroyed then they wouldn't decide to go back there,thus an implausibility. Though plausibility is different from realism. Something otherworldly and unrealistic could happen, an alien Satan putting together the Earth again, and it still be a plausible plot. (Ask yourself. So sure, maybe an alien Satan could put together the Earth. But is there any plausible way these characters could have known that?)

2) Surprise:

Freytag Again, still unrelated

Surprise is what most think of about a story. The crazy twist at the ending, a trustworthy character doing something in dark contrast to their otherwise angelic behavior, a slow unraveling of the events until the last page where everyone suddenly dies and accepts its inevitability. This element is one that is the most fun and at the same time the most difficult. One could not just throw in a sudden alien Satan if your story takes place in a godless and alienless universe. The surprise cannot break the plausibility of the story , but rather it can develop from it. Rather than throwing in an absurd twist you should create something most wouldn't expect from what was there, the work and accomplishment of a true genius writer.

3) Suspense:

Not freytag, but only  slightly more related

The difference between some no sell and some thriller is the “page-turniness”. That is how much people want to turn the pages to read on through the story. The third tier is what you need to master to gain this attribute. What is the use of a surprise ending if people don't care about the story? Build suspense and your plot will be one tier stronger. Slowly build up, add small important seeming pieces to the puzzle. Throw in promises and threats, then go for the surprises. Don't give it away until you are ready for tier number two. Keep ramping the tension until: Kaboom!; it is the end.

Master these three tiers and your plot will be ready for action.