Always Ask Why

Here’s a good post on this subject: Why Ask Why?

Take a look at your current plot or plot ideas. If you can think of a simpler way for your characters to do some of the things in it, there’s a problem. And if you can’t think of a viable reason for some of the things they do, there’s an even bigger problem. 

But it’s brilliant! you may say. 

No. No, it’s not. Readers will always be asking why, so you should too. Believe me, there can be nothing more annoying than a story with a bunch of implausible events. People are going to take the easy way out, so if your characters don’t then that’s probably something you need to fix. 

You should think like a reader when you look over your story. Think of things they might see. 

Sorry to say that your character’s brilliant ninja wall-climb heist may be useless if they could have done it an easier way. 

(Of course, this doesn’t apply to action movies, since we all love to watch someone ninja wall-climb, right?)

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