Novel Kicks Writing Room: Plot Challenge

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Reflection

Published July 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time. Today marks the final task.

I’m hoping that, over the last few weeks, these writing exercises have helped you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story. All the previous tasks are listed below.

The final task – Reflection.

Your task today is to write a final reflection on your story and on the process. Try to write 300-500 words. Consider the following –

What did you learn about plot structure from writing this story?
Which section was hardest to write? Why?
What surprised you about how the story developed?
If you were to write this story again, what would you do differently?
What’s one “plot rule” you’ve learnt from this exercise?

Here are links to the previous tasks –

Click to view the story conception task from week 1.

Click to view the inciting incident task from week 2.

Click to view the rising action task from week 3.

Click to view the midpoint task from week 4.

Click to view the climax task from week 5.

Click to view the resolution task from week 6.

Click to view the assembly task from week 7.

Click to view the anaylsis task from week 8.

Click to view the revision task from week 9.

I really hope you’ve gained from this plot challenge and that you’ve enjoyed it.

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Revision

Published June 24, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story. All the previous tasks are listed below.

Task 9 – Revision

Based on the analysis you did from the last task, revise your story. Focus on the following –

Cutting: Remove scenes that don’t move the plot forward
Connecting: Add transitions or details that make cause-and-effect clearer
Deepening: Expand moments where stakes or character change happen
Pacing: Speed up or slow down sections as needed

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Analysis

Published June 17, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 8: Analysis.

Following on from last week where we put all the pieces together, we’re now going to be asking the following questions. Write about 500 words per questions if you can.

Plot Structure –

Cause and Effect: Does each section logically lead to the next, or do things feel coincidental?
Stakes: Do they rise progressively? Or do they spike, then drop?
Character Motivation: Can you trace why your protagonist makes each decision?
Turning Points: Can you identify exactly 3-5 moments where the story shifts direction?
Subplots: Are there secondary conflicts that mirror or complicate the main plot.

Specific Plot Diagnoses:

For your Inciting Incident:

Does it force your protagonist into the story, or do they choose it? (Both can work, but which did you do?)
Is it big enough to sustain a story?

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Assembling Your Story

Published June 10, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve focused on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These have potentially helped you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 7: Assembling Your Story.

Today, the focus will be putting all the work you’ve done together and reading it through.

Copy all five sections of your work from the previous weeks, excluding the story conception task, into one document and read the entire story aloud (or in your head, without stopping). I’d suggest doing this at least a couple of times actually – one to make notes, one to check the flow of the story.

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