Less is more. Don’t go for a complex plot. Simplicity rules.
There are seven steps in all narratives:
- Once upon a time
- And every day
- Until one day
- And because of this
- And because of this
- Until finally
- And ever since that day
Once Upon a Time, and Every Day
Tell the audience everything they need to know so that they understand what follows.
If there is something wrong in the 3rd act, the reason is in the 1st act.
Think of a joke. If you do not set it up correctly, you will fail when you deliver the punchline. No amount of improving that delivery will help you.
In Once Upon a Time, you set up the reality of the world (whether magic is allowed, etc), and introduce all the key characters.
And every day supports everything in Once Upon a Time. It establishes a pattern of life/events.
Until One Day
Until one day is what breaks the pattern set up earlier. An inciting incident occurs. This is where the true story begins. It does not need to be where the conflict begins! It could be a turn of good luck, for example.
And Because of This
And because of this begins your second act. Explore the consequences of the first act. Everything should be cause and effect. Whatever the character does, it is in response to the inciting event.
And Because of This
Act 2 is the longest part of your story. Keep telling the story. Try to have a fulcrum that separates the two (e.g. a key decision a character makes, etc).
Until Finally
Until finally begins your third act. It is the beginning of the end of the story. As an example, it could be an event that begins the chain leading to the climax.
And Ever Since That Day
And ever since that day is a short scene or two after the climax. Something that tells your audience about life afterwards.