: Re: I am overplotting my story - how can I figure out what is necessary and cut out what isn't? I have recently discovered that the plot and cast of characters of my novel is so unbelievably

@Murray165

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Who says it’s too complicated, with too many characters? Would you tell that to Tolstoy or Tolkien or Martin?

Either way, what’s the absolutely basic outline? “Boy meets girl” sounds too extreme for me but “there’s this character, who does that thing, which leads to this outcome…”

When “does that thing” is “goes on a quest” then at this level, that’s enough. The quest might involve three or 27 adventures; that’s irrelevant detail.

Assuming you’re working towards an outcome - else, no story - how is that measured against your starting conditions? What changes; how does it change and why?

Look more obviously at Arabian Nights or more obscurely at Ancient Evenings and notice how easily irrelevant side-lines cab be woven into any story… and how, just as easily, they could be cut out.

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