starting point for a jQuery plugin

jQuery.plugin.js

(function($) {
    // using $.fn.extend allows us to expand on jquery
    $.fn.extend({pluginName:function(options){
        // save a link to your instance
        var plugin = this;
		
        var defaultOptions = {
            // add what you know are default values for your options
        };
		
        // connect your default values to what the user has added
        // I connect everything into the current instance so that it 
        // can be referenced later if needed.
        if (options)
            plugin.Settings = $.extend(defaultOptions, options);
        else
            plugin.Settings = defaultOptions;
			
        // private functions
        function functionName(values){
            // code here
        }
		
        // public functions
        plugin.functionName = function(values){
            // code here
        }
		
        // implement get/set for your object properties
        var variableName;
        plugin.variableName = function(v){
            // validate data sent in
            if(undefined !== v){
                variableName = v;
            }
			
            return variableName;
        }
	
        return this.each(function(){
            // initialization code goes here
        });
    }});
})(jQuery);