Elements of Plot, Part 2: Progress
Progress as an Element of Plot
What do I mean by progress when discussing elements of plot?
Simply this: progress is what happens when the characters in a story are moving toward their goal.
Last week, in the post on tension as an element of plot, I mentioned the novel, Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Well, buckle up, we’re not done with it yet—because this book is an exceptional example of a story that capitalizes on progress.
Examples in Fiction of Progress as an Element of Plot
In Legends & Lattes, the main goal of the protagonist, Viv, is to open a coffee shop.
This is her goal. Simple. And for good chunk of the novel, all that happens on the page is very straightforward, step-by-step progress toward that specific goal. Finding a location, finding a contractor, hiring employees, renovating, setting up the coffee machine, etc.
These are all fairly simple actions. They’re not that exciting in and of themselves.
So why has this story taken off?
In my opinion, one of the main reasons people love this story is because the actions lead to progress.
It’s just so…satisfying.
Viv goes from nothing but an idea in her head, to a fully functional cafe. And getting to see all of the actions that lead her there (with some well-done tension, of course) keeps the story moving. That progress makes us, as readers, feel like things are happening constantly. It’s transformation. Before and after. Movement. Momentum. It feels good to check off something on your to-do list or accomplish a goal, big or small.
Sometimes it feels just as good to see someone in a story—someone you relate to—do the same thing.
Progress is Momentum
Have you ever read a story and then thought, What was that? Nothing happened!
That story was probably lacking in progress. You can have a scene rife with action, and finish it feeling like nothing happened if no progress was made toward any goals.
If tension is the main ingredient for solid pacing, progress is the main ingredient for momentum.
But what about setbacks? Don’t good stories have conflict that pushes the characters further away from their goals?
Yes! BUT, this usually works because the characters learn lessons from those setbacks. And lessons/wisdom/personal growth are all forms of progress.
Promise that Leads to Progress
Brandon Sanderson, if you’ve ever heard him talk about writing craft, is always touting the importance of fulfilling promises you make to the reader.
For example, if I opened my copy of Legends & Lattes and dove into Viv’s story, I would quickly learn that her main goal is to open a cafe.
So what if, on page 50, she got distracted by a call to adventure? What if she was pulled away on a quest where she slayed a terrifying beast and then found a golden map lodged in its tooth that led her to treasure buried on a tiny island off the coast? The action would be interesting, but ultimately, it would almost certainly feel empty. Because it would not be fulfilling the promise I was given from the opening pages. I thought I was going to watch an orc open a coffee shop—what happened?
Of course, plot twists are important. But I love the other line I’ve frequently heard from Brandon Sanderson when talking about endings (but they apply just as well to plot twists): they need to be surprising, but inevitable.
This means that it’s important to make your reader feel as though they’re in good hands by first making and then fulfilling a promise, albeit in interesting and tension-filled ways. Yes, the story might feel like a roller coaster, but at no point should a reader be afraid they’re going to fly off the ride and plummet to their death.
Progress Leads to Transformation
To further demonstrate this point, I am going to give MAJOR SPOILERS for Legends & Lattes in this next section. This is because I feel like this simple story did such a good job demonstrating the plot element of progress.
But if you want to read the story before you get spoiled, this is your warning to stop now.
Viv works hard to open her coffee shop. She tears a horse livery down to the studs and transforms it into a cozy space. She hires a succubus to help her run the place. She finds a baker that lends his talents to help her serve her customers delicious pastries. She advertises, builds her menu, expands the space, and makes friends.
And then, in the low point of Viv’s story, it all burns down. Literally. Viv loses everything she worked so hard to build. The shop is nothing but a burnt-out shell. Even worse? The act of arson covered up an even bigger crime: stealing the priceless stone Viv tracked down because she believed it would bring her good fortune.
So what happens next?
Viv is devastated. She has suffered a serious setback. And yet, we’re happy to watch her do it all over again. Build from scratch. Remake herself. And yet, even though we’ve already seen her do it, it still feels like progress.
Because she now has good friends who help.
Because she’s made connections that allow her to rebuild, despite having drained her life savings.
Because she’s learned the lesson that a stone isn’t what will make her successful: it’s her perseverance, her compassion, and her attitude.
This is all major progress that we get to see play out in a satisfying way during these pages. It doesn’t matter that we’re watching virtually the same action as before (building a cafe). It’s satisfying because of all of the personal progress Viv has made in terms of friendships, experience/expertise, and lessons learned.
Progress is internal and external. Progress is emotional, as well as physical.
I talk a lot about transformation. You’ve probably heard me say before that I believe good story is transformation.
Progress and transformation go hand in hand. Because that transformation at the end of your story won’t feel earned or satisfying if we don’t get to see the progress that leads to it.
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