Concept to Plot with AI (Part 2)

Novelist, craft a strong structure, shape compelling characters, and bring your ideas to life.

Hey AI novelist,

Today, we’re turning your story idea into something tangible.

In Part 1, we laid the foundation with your workflow, protagonist, conflict, and supporting cast. Now, it’s time to build the bones of your story.

This post is paired with a video demo to show how everything comes together.

All right, I’ll stop yappin’ so we can get to the good part.

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Step 5: Plot the Structure

Every great story needs a strong backbone—this is where structure comes in.

Your structure is the framework that keeps your story organized and your pacing smooth. Whether you prefer the Hero’s Journey, Save the Cat, or your own custom framework, having a structure ensures your story stays on track.

Here’s what to do:

• Identify major beats like the opening, climax, and resolution.

• Ask your AI assistant to outline your story, chapter by chapter, based on your idea.

• Review and refine the outline to make sure it fits your genre and goals.

Your structure doesn’t have to be rigid—it’s a guide to keep you moving forward while leaving room for creative detours.

As a reminder, you can use the prompts in the Write a Novel with AI Workshop HERE. You’ll find these post will help you adapt them to your genre, your niche, your brand.

Step 6: Focus on Tone

Tone is the magic that sets the mood for your story.

Think about how you want your readers to feel as they move through your story.

Is it cozy and heartwarming? Suspenseful and thrilling?

Your tone influences every part of the story, from dialogue to pacing, so take time to get it just right.

Quick tone tips:

• Consider your genre’s expectations.

• Adjust dialogue, descriptions, and pacing to reflect the tone.

• Ask your AI to help tweak sections that don’t feel quite right.

Tone isn’t something you have to perfect in one go—it’s something you shape and refine throughout the process.

You’ll see me work through these steps in the Demonstration video below in a new-to-me genre. 👩🏾‍💻

Step 7: Refine Your Cast of Characters

Characters need to support the story’s plot.

Before you dive deeper into plotting, take a step back and review your protagonist and supporting cast.

Do they have the traits, motivations, and connections needed to support your story? If not, now’s the time to revise.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Does your protagonist’s motivation align with the main plot?

• Are there any side characters who feel unnecessary or underdeveloped?

• Do the antagonist’s goals create enough tension with the protagonist?

This step ensures your characters don’t just exist in the story—they actively drive it forward.

REMEMBER: You’re in charge. So, it’s up to you to review and validate the content. Guide your model by providing the essential content to ensure consistency with your brand.

Step 8: Stay Flexible

The best stories evolve as they’re written—stay open to change.

As you dig deeper into your story, you’ll likely come across new ideas or directions that make your plot stronger.

That’s a good thing!

Flexibility is your friend, and it helps your story grow in unexpected and exciting ways.

Strategies for staying flexible:

• Save all your notes and outlines so you can revisit earlier ideas if needed.

• Use AI to brainstorm alternatives if you’re stuck.

• Don’t be afraid to pivot if a new idea feels better than the original plan.

Flexibility doesn’t mean starting over—it means being willing to make adjustments to create the best version of your story.

Keep going… We have prompts for each step to guide you along.

Demonstration