Comments on: Losing the plot, and finding it again http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/ about the craft and business of genre fiction Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:54:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sean Wallace http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-121488 Sean Wallace Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:12:31 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-121488 I used to keep my plots in my head entirely, thinking this made me intelligent to keep whole worlds and people in my old brain-box. What it actually did was ruin my writing and ensure I forgot large quantities of ideas. This doesn't even include the loss of thread and plot which resulted... These are some good suggestions, and I shall be putting them into practice. I used to keep my plots in my head entirely, thinking this made me intelligent to keep whole worlds and people in my old brain-box.

What it actually did was ruin my writing and ensure I forgot large quantities of ideas. This doesn’t even include the loss of thread and plot which resulted…

These are some good suggestions, and I shall be putting them into practice.

]]> By: ClaudiaV http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-101367 ClaudiaV Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:02:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-101367 My plot is in a simple word sheet. Have the chapter number and 2 lines of what should happen in it. Usually is serves more to remember me what I had wrote before than to know what I’m going to write in the future. I feel that sometimes a get a little lost. Not in the story but in details that had happen before. Because there are many secrets, sometimes I find difficult to remember what each character already know. When that happens I go back to read the past chapters and put topics in post-it. Not the best method but it’s a fast one (time is everything when I’m writing in my working place, in the middle of invoices and phone calls). I’m been wondering about the “voice” thing. Sometimes I’m in a chapter and I don’t know who character voice should appear. I’m writing in third person, but I change the voice. For example, at this time I have 3 characters in the same room. I have the hero (that usually is the voice), I have someone that will save the hero in that scene, and I have the bad women. I started writing in the hero voice but I think that I need to change in the middle of the chapter so the reader can view the other perspectives that I think are important for the story, like what is the bad one thinking? Does she recognize the hero? What plans are she making in her mind? When this happens, there’s only one thing that I can do so I can take a decision: follow my instinct. My plot is in a simple word sheet. Have the chapter number and 2 lines of what should happen in it. Usually is serves more to remember me what I had wrote before than to know what I’m going to write in the future.
I feel that sometimes a get a little lost. Not in the story but in details that had happen before. Because there are many secrets, sometimes I find difficult to remember what each character already know. When that happens I go back to read the past chapters and put topics in post-it. Not the best method but it’s a fast one (time is everything when I’m writing in my working place, in the middle of invoices and phone calls).
I’m been wondering about the “voice” thing. Sometimes I’m in a chapter and I don’t know who character voice should appear. I’m writing in third person, but I change the voice.
For example, at this time I have 3 characters in the same room. I have the hero (that usually is the voice), I have someone that will save the hero in that scene, and I have the bad women. I started writing in the hero voice but I think that I need to change in the middle of the chapter so the reader can view the other perspectives that I think are important for the story, like what is the bad one thinking? Does she recognize the hero? What plans are she making in her mind?
When this happens, there’s only one thing that I can do so I can take a decision: follow my instinct.

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-101138 Juliet Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:37:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-101138 Jessica, thanks, I'm glad it was helpful. Marion, that made me laugh! Jessica, thanks, I’m glad it was helpful.

Marion, that made me laugh!

]]> By: Marion Roach http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-101068 Marion Roach Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:16:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-101068 I used to be so polite. At dinner parties when someone would ask what I do, I'd reply, "I'm a writer." "I'm going to be a writer when I retire," he would invariably say, to which I used to lean into the conversation and listen to all his ideas, and how one of these days he'd get around to writing. No more. Now, it goes something like this. "I'm a writer." "Oh, I'm goign to be a writer when I retire." "Really? What do you do now?" "I'm a brain surgeon." "Oh, I'm going to be a brain surgeon when I retire." Sometimes the conversation actually gets interesting about writing after that. Not always. I used to be so polite.
At dinner parties when someone would ask what I do, I’d reply, “I’m a writer.”
“I’m going to be a writer when I retire,” he would invariably say, to which I used to lean into the conversation and listen to all his ideas, and how one of these days he’d get around to writing.
No more.
Now, it goes something like this.
“I’m a writer.”
“Oh, I’m goign to be a writer when I retire.”
“Really? What do you do now?”
“I’m a brain surgeon.”
“Oh, I’m going to be a brain surgeon when I retire.”

Sometimes the conversation actually gets interesting about writing after that. Not always.

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100999 Juliet Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:53:17 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100999 Tracy, thanks for the good wishes! I hope your mentee finds the information helpful. Tracy, thanks for the good wishes! I hope your mentee finds the information helpful.

]]> By: Jessica http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100987 Jessica Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:46:36 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100987 This is so helpful. I've tried both methods (outlining and "winging" it), but never tried the "control" aspect. This is a journey worth taking, and thank you for your inspirational notes! This is so helpful. I’ve tried both methods (outlining and “winging” it), but never tried the “control” aspect. This is a journey worth taking, and thank you for your inspirational notes!

]]> By: Tracy http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100942 Tracy Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:45:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100942 Juliet: I enjoy your books very much and will pass along this plotting tip and the URL to this site to a young aspiring writer whom I mentor. I've just finished Well of Shades and eagerly look forward to another installment in that series. Until that time I will reread the Sevenwaters novels in preparation to reading Heir of Sevenwaters and explore your other titles. Good luck with your busy year of writing. Blessed be. Juliet:
I enjoy your books very much and will pass along this plotting tip and the URL to this site to a young aspiring writer whom I mentor.

I’ve just finished Well of Shades and eagerly look forward to another installment in that series. Until that time I will reread the Sevenwaters novels in preparation to reading Heir of Sevenwaters and explore your other titles.

Good luck with your busy year of writing. Blessed be.

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100776 Juliet Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:32:08 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100776 I'm glad it helped, Maya! Good luck with your work. I’m glad it helped, Maya! Good luck with your work.

]]> By: Maya http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100707 Maya Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:51:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100707 This is incredibly helpful! Thanks a lot! I really want more advice about that prewriting stage of a novel. This is incredibly helpful! Thanks a lot! I really want more advice about that prewriting stage of a novel.

]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100671 Lorna Suzuki Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:14:21 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100671 Hi Juliet: Thanks for the tip! I may have to employ this method as I find it's become a race to finish each story now as my memory begins to slip. Hi Juliet:

Thanks for the tip! I may have to employ this method as I find it’s become a race to finish each story now as my memory begins to slip.

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100665 Juliet Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:06:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100665 Hi Lorna, Yes, that sounds complex and I don't envy you putting it all together. Another good option might be story-boarding with post-it notes, a different colour for each thread / group of characters. It could all go up on the wall to be played with endlessly ... Guy Gavriel Kay juggles ensemble casts really well (The Lions of El Rassan is a good example.) Then there's the inimitable Diana Gabaldon who uses all kinds of different techniques in her Outlander series to keep both Jamie and Claire in the picture even when they are separated by 200 years! Hers is virtuoso storytelling. You need not learn Excel, the chart can be done as a simple table in Word. Hi Lorna,

Yes, that sounds complex and I don’t envy you putting it all together. Another good option might be story-boarding with post-it notes, a different colour for each thread / group of characters. It could all go up on the wall to be played with endlessly …

Guy Gavriel Kay juggles ensemble casts really well (The Lions of El Rassan is a good example.) Then there’s the inimitable Diana Gabaldon who uses all kinds of different techniques in her Outlander series to keep both Jamie and Claire in the picture even when they are separated by 200 years! Hers is virtuoso storytelling.

You need not learn Excel, the chart can be done as a simple table in Word.

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100664 Juliet Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:59:52 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100664 Hi Brooke, Thanks! I feel really happy that my post helped you so directly. Re Heart's Blood, I will probably wait to talk about it until later in the year, closer to publication date. In regard to the proposal for the new book(s), it's currently under consideration by some publishers, so I can't say much about it until things are resolved one way or another (a good way, I hope!) Hi Brooke,

Thanks! I feel really happy that my post helped you so directly.

Re Heart’s Blood, I will probably wait to talk about it until later in the year, closer to publication date. In regard to the proposal for the new book(s), it’s currently under consideration by some publishers, so I can’t say much about it until things are resolved one way or another (a good way, I hope!)

]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100656 Lorna Suzuki Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:49:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100656 Thank you for sharing your in your writing experiences, Juliet. I know exactly what you mean about the difficulties of plotting a story involving many characters and locations. In one of my novels, the ensemble cast of characters are forced to part ways on 3 separate journeys, but all with the same purpose that ultimately brings the characters together at the end. It is definitely not easy keeping the story threads from becoming a tangled mess when you're trying to make sure it flows in an understandable manner for the reader. You've given writers a very useful tip, Juliet. Now, I just have to figure out how to use excel! Thank you for sharing your in your writing experiences, Juliet. I know exactly what you mean about the difficulties of plotting a story involving many characters and locations. In one of my novels, the ensemble cast of characters are forced to part ways on 3 separate journeys, but all with the same purpose that ultimately brings the characters together at the end. It is definitely not easy keeping the story threads from becoming a tangled mess when you’re trying to make sure it flows in an understandable manner for the reader.
You’ve given writers a very useful tip, Juliet. Now, I just have to figure out how to use excel!

]]> By: Brooke http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100653 Brooke Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:24:11 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100653 Goodness, Juliet. You have no idea how much this post has helped me out. Before, my plot was all over the place; and there were spaces to fill and things to work out. But now I have it all done; despite a few things that still need some work done on them. I have read all your posts on this blog, and I can tell you; this one was the most effective. I do have a question however. Perhaps maybe on your next blog post you'll tell us a little bit about the happenings of Hearts Blood; and the decision on your next book. I have my fingers crossed for a third addition to the WWD series. But no matter what you write, it'll always be on my list. ;DD Goodness, Juliet.

You have no idea how much this post has helped me out. Before, my plot was all over the place; and there were spaces to fill and things to work out. But now I have it all done; despite a few things that still need some work done on them. I have read all your posts on this blog, and I can tell you; this one was the most effective.

I do have a question however. Perhaps maybe on your next blog post you’ll tell us a little bit about the happenings of Hearts Blood; and the decision on your next book. I have my fingers crossed for a third addition to the WWD series.
But no matter what you write, it’ll always be on my list. ;DD

]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-100643 Juliet Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:31:21 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/02/05/losing-the-plot-and-finding-it-again/#comment-100643 Thanks, Satima. No, it isn't aimed at you! I'm sure many writers wrestle with these particular challenges. Since February is Plotting Month on WU, I'm hoping we'll hear from a successful pantser about how non-planners can plot effectively. Thanks, Satima. No, it isn’t aimed at you! I’m sure many writers wrestle with these particular challenges.

Since February is Plotting Month on WU, I’m hoping we’ll hear from a successful pantser about how non-planners can plot effectively.

]]>