Tips were presented by the authors of the Dragon*Con Writing Track 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia.

1) Find the Theme-
There are a few common themes of good storytelling. These include romance, humor, horror, villainy, coming of age, urgency, and high stakes. Keep one (preferably more) of these in mind when developing a new plot for your character(s).

2) Make yourself a rough draft of the plot from start to finish (using paper, flashcards, electronic means, etc.) Identify key turning points in the storyline you have in mind. Plot those points in your storyline starting at the end, and working backwards to the beginning. Don't worry... you'll actually write the story forward, but a writer should never begin a plot without some idea of where it begins, what happens in the middle, and where it ends. Little details will change along the way, but never start a plot without an endpoint in mind. You'll get stuck halfway through, or you'll find your character aimlessly wandering in the storyline.

3) In the same way that you never start a plot without knowing the most likely ending, you never start a plot without knowing why you're writing it. Writer boredom doesn't count as a good reason! What is the purpose of the plot? What will happen to your character (and their loved ones or enemies) as a result of it? Are you thrashing your character as a means of writer masochism or amusement, or is there character development in mind? We hope it's the latter!

4) Use targeted scenes to support your plot. Scenes should illustrate, throw into conflict, or create themes. Otherwise, they run the risk of seeming extraneous or getting your character off-track.

5) If you get stuck in the middle of your plot, ask yourself where's the conflict. Use it to guide you.

6) There should be a plot-related crisis (minor or major) every 10,000 words, or you'll lose the reader's attention.