Why Revenge Is Such A Brilliant Plot For Beginner Writers

Writers Write creates writing resources and shares writing tips. This post is about why revenge is a brilliant plot for beginner writers.

If you’re looking for a plot for a first novel, we always recommend revenge.

Why Revenge Is Such A Brilliant Plot For Beginner Writers

1. It works in every genre.
2. It helps beginner writers focus on a story goal.
3. It requires an antagonist – something most beginners ignore.

If a character wants revenge it usually means that he or she is motivated to act. This is good. Reactionary characters are not interesting to readers, and they usually can’t drive a plot. It also means that something interesting has happened and that more interesting things are likely to happen.

Revenge also builds a framework or plot for a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Six Examples of Stories of Revenge:

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Crime)
2. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Fantasy)
3. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Play)
4. Carrie by Stephen King (Horror)
5. The Iliad by Homer (Literary Fiction)
6. The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith (Chick-Lit)

Consider this…

Because the hero’s quest for revenge often goes outside the limits of the law, you have to manipulate the feelings of the reader by letting the hero avenge an injustice. If you want your reader to empathise with a protagonist who seeks revenge, remember these three points:

1. Your protagonist should be morally justified to seek revenge. They should have tried traditional, lawful channels before they resorts to vigilante tactics.
2. Show how the antagonist has destroyed the protagonist’s life in emotional and physical ways.
3. Your protagonist should remember that the punishment must fit the crime. Don’t let them go overboard and become an evil creature whose behaviour is worse than the antagonist’s.

Whether the protagonist succeeds or fails, the reader should feel better that he or she has at least tried to do something about the situation. This is cathartic for readers who often feel powerless in similar situations.

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by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson

Read more on plotting here:

1. The Top 10 Tips For Plotting And Finishing Your Book
2. The One Thing You Need To Know About Plotting A Series
3. Plot Builder – 3 Steps To Sparking A Satisfying Story
4. What Is A Plot? – A Writer’s Resource
5. The Secret To Writing A Great Plot Twist