What NOT to do when writing a story

Another point on plots

It's hardly a secret that writing something new and original is nearly impossible.

From the moment we open a book, we have a pretty good idea of how it's gonna end. The hero saves the day. The two lovers get together. The villain is defeated, and most of the characters live happily ever after.

I had a little debate with a friend of mine not too long ago. She's not really a fan of books, and I wanted to know why. Her reason was that they were always too predictable, as mentioned above. She knew how they ended, every time.

And what was my response to that?

That it's not about the goal, it's about the journey. Because of course we know how it's going to end. But, in my opinion, the secret to a good story lies in how you get to it. That's what the whole book is about. And that really shouldn't surprise anyone.

So why bring this up? Because it seems to be something people haven't realized. Romance and fan fiction, I'm looking at you. Well, mostly.

What do you do when looking for a new book? First you look at the cover, obviously. Then, if something catches your eye, you read the description. And what do you find in the description?

The whole freaking plot.

Mira is an average girl, 18 years of age, and has yet to have a boyfriend. So when a new, hot guy enters the school, her best friend Kaila is on the case. She plays along at first, but with the school dance coming up, what will happen? Will she find love or be forever alone?

It's pretty fucking obvious what is gonna happen in that book. So why even bother reading it?

My point is, you don't need to be all that original with the main plot. We all know how it's gonna end. The real story lies in how your character gets there. And that shouldn't be too obvious to anyone from just reading the description.

Also, thank you so much for 300 votes! Love y'all c: