Most of us are fascinated by maps. If you’re like me, a map is a way of connecting with the rest of our planet, tracing routes to new and exotic places, and feeding lyrical parts of our imaginations. A map is a way of visualizing a journey you might be planning or one you may never actually take. A map brings us closer to foreign lands and people who live by a different cultural mean.

When I think of fiction, there are many possible routes a story can take and many paths our characters can travel, but a well-mapped trajectory is like a wave carrying the reader along these routes and down these various paths with gusto. An author with a strong eye for plotting knows that momentum and pace are invaluable allies. A reader should be excited to move from one chapter to the next, even as the author weaves the fabric of his or her tale.

A beautifully designed map allows a traveler to plot his or her final destination. It also has the glorious advantage of providing side trips to hidden gems along the way, those pleasant and exciting detours that add texture to the journey, surprise to a well laid out plan, and possibility of getting lost just for a while. The key is not to go too far astray.

Don’t think fiction is all that different. The writer is often tempted by back-story and hidden clues, biographical asides and clever character insights. All well and good as long as these temptations contribute in meaningful ways to the story and the development of character without – and this is the linchpin – losing the reader’s interest.

Just as there are endless places to travel, there are books aplenty on the market, and you don’t want your readers giving up on your story because you weren’t getting them to their destination with sufficient flurry and effect.