Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Madeleine Maddocks is hosting a Plotting Blogfest for the letter P in the A-Z Challenge. She asks the question “how do you plot your novels?”
For me, a pantster, plotting is accomplished as a story-by-story adventure. I like to see where my story is going as it unfolds.
Not that I have no idea where it is going; I start every story with a goal. I know where it will end up usually before I know where the beginning is. Beginning are hard for me; I tend to start with a specific event, or emotion, and a character. The first scene written, however, could be anywhere in the novel; it is frequently moved to fit the content as the story or character develops.
I don’t plot out the action, but as the story unfolds, I will write out character descriptions (I guess these are called ARCs?) to keep track of certain info about them: birth dates, family links, special events, quirks, talents. Eventually I write up a list of character goals for my main characters, and that usually helps me focus – in my head – how the events of the plot must be sequenced.
When I’ve tried to sit and “plot” out a story, I get stuck. I’m always trying to expand on the few lines I’ve written, and if something doesn’t work out, I have a hard time moving past it.
I’m having that issue with the Cyborg Fairytale. I pumped my geek son for some technical info, and wrote a series of plot points. I stare at them consistently and wonder how I’m going to fit all that into the main story. Of course I realize how silly that is; I save research all the time, so I don’t know why I’m freaking out over the written down plot points.
Once a story has been completed though, I’m able to look at it in a different way. I see the whole picture, and can write plot points that need revised, moved, added, or deleted to fill plot holes or move the story along. Perhaps the entire first draft is actually a plotting session for me, lol.
How about you; how do you plot a novel?
You can find others sharing plotting tips and techniques at Maddy's Scribble and Edit site.
25 comments:
Hi Donna, a very useful blogfest. If I wasn't involved in 2 lots of A-Z I'd be doing it.
You sound much like the way I go about plotting a novel. I'm more of a pantser but have learned that plotting saves time, but like you, I get stuck trying to work out plotlines. That's where I've learnt to value other people's input.
That Cyborg Fairytale sounds interesting.
Denise
...those geek relatives can be so handy at times ;)
Much the same as you, Donna, I know in advance where the journey ends, with the challenge being how to get there.
But if it were easy...
Informative post, Donna. Well done!
El
I have to do a detailed outline. Just a road map kind of guy. But like you, I clearly see the ending long before I ever figure out how to begin the darn thing.
Hi, Donna! It's nice to meet you!
I am very similar in that I cannot write out a detailed plot outline. If I try, it comes out lifeless or I get stuck halfway through. I don't really know my characters yet, so how can I know what they'll do and how they'll react?
Like you, I have a general idea where I'm going. But my characters have to teach me how to get there!
Good luck on your Cyborg Fairytale!
It's so interesting how different techniques work for different writers. I need to sit down and plot out a story - characters, events, everything - or else I feel lost and aimless when I'm writing.
I'm a mix. When I start I have an idea of where it's going and how I'm going to get there, I don't start unless I have an idea of the ending, but things change along the way...character actions and motivations gain depth, and sub-plots develop as I get into actual writing.
I just plot the main points of each chapter and go with it, usually changes by the time I am done anyway.
I must say that I am a plotter or outliner. Not in any grand "crazy" sense, rather in a lighthearted "I know I'm not crazy because two of the three voices in my head told me so" sense.
I like to start with a very basic outline, and allow the story to progress from there. I'll start with just one to three main points and let new ideas bubble up as I write.
I do, on the other hand, like to do as much character outlining as I can. I may not know everything about my characters before I start but I do like to have all their names, background, major motivations, and maybe some mannerism that might make them unique.
Great Post, Donna. I enjoyed your candor.
I plot in stages. Then write. Sometimes it doesn't turn out well...so I rewrite. Fiction writing is hard LOL.
I'm a lot like you in the way I write.
You have certainly been one busy writer Denise :)
For sure El. And hello, nice to see you around sometimes :)
Alex; I was sure you'd be a devout plotter, lol.
Hello Dianne; nice to meet you too. I enjoyed you plot post.
I pegged you for a pantster Julie; but maybe all that plotting is why your stories read so effortlessly.
Love those unexpected subplots Rick.
Mine too Pat.
As long as all the voices eventually agree JL, then you're not crazy :)
A true statement Mike. My story doesn't alway flow the way I wanted it to; and sometimes when it does, it doesn't seem right.
Richard, it looks like we're in good writing company in here :)
.......dhole
I do much the same. Sometimes it feels the first draft is one very long, detailed outline. =)
I'm a pantser at heart, and mostly at the keyboard too :) Often I don't know where the story is going to end up.
'I start every story with a goal. I know where it will end up usually before I know where the beginning is'. I think you've hit on the most important thing. I find the success of my latest flash fiction comes from that very premise while my novels seem to take a life of their own and need more structure and goals per chapter. Great post.
I'm with you, Donna, a pantser all the way. But I know when I can write my ending that I'm there, even if I write the ending in the first draft somewhere around the second or third chapter.
me loves plotting... especially ebil schemes on intergalactic domination and such vile things :)
THe story comes to me slowly and I try to write it all down. But, it starts with the code, then the killer, then the plot. After I have that all figured out, I piece it all together. I know the ending before I know the beginning. I have to when I write my mysteries.
We seem to be similar. I must know the goal I'm writing toward before I begin, too. I usually come up with the main plot points to hit. Between those points ... well, I give myself freedom to explore some.
I'm a terrible pantster - some times it works in my favour, sometimes it ends in disaster!
Lx
If I try to plot, my characters soon tell me I've got it all wrong!
I'm a plotter who finds himself swept away by changes in the story as the narrative evolves. But the plot adds structure to my story so that I know what size dog I am building the doghouse of my novel for!! LOL. Roland
E Arroyo; my thoughts exactly.
Trish; then you're writing to the true adventure.
Thanks Maddy; and thanks for hosting this blogfest. I hope you're feeling better :)
Yep, Karen, it all works out in the end; wherever that happens.
Oh Dezzy, bring it on; you got me hot for such a story :)
Codes and killers Clarisa; how intriguing.
You explore beautifully Mary. Its all about the journey, right?
LOL: Laura, I have that problem too.
Paula, yeah, I been that route with my characters. They've taught me a few things I didn't plan for.
Great analogy Roland. Thanks for stopping by :)
...........dhole
Your method is scary!
I plan a novel for a while before I write, a lot in my head but then outlined on paper. I do a lot of free writing in the planning process to just get ideas and see where it takes me but then I plan out the key events and their order and write to that. Good for you being brave enough to pants (although you do realise you are creating anarchy?).
I'm not a novelist, but it seems to me that different methods of writing are going to work for different people. Some would have a full plot lined out in advance before writing and others would just fly by the seat of their pants and still others would do something else.
I say, do whatever works for you.
I think I sit somewhere in the middle. I need a firm sense of direction, but tend to actively plot when things get too complicated to keep clean in my mind. Other times I like to write and see where things go. My novel is littered with scenes that I wrote because I liked them and then retrofitted back into the grand scheme of things.
BTW...The photo of Kenny Everett brought back fond memories of British TV. Thanks for that.
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