Comments on: Bird by bird http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124401 Kathleen Bolton Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:00:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124401 A post-it/index card combo, Jeanne? I'm intrigued. Though Dennis is right, they do curl up and die at some point. Ray said, "Hmm. Although a confirmed pantser, I’m interested. You said you didn’t worry about character–did you have characters in mind when you started?" I have a character type, but nothing is fully formed. They never behave anyway, even if I think I know all about them. A post-it/index card combo, Jeanne? I’m intrigued. Though Dennis is right, they do curl up and die at some point.

Ray said, “Hmm. Although a confirmed pantser, I’m interested. You said you didn’t worry about character–did you have characters in mind when you started?”

I have a character type, but nothing is fully formed. They never behave anyway, even if I think I know all about them.

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]]> By: Jessica Scott http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124381 Jessica Scott Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:20:24 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124381 What a fantastic post and so timely for me as well. I'm currently editing a book I wrote six months ago and I'm seeing major plot problems. I knew I would face these moving in, though, because I am a completely nonplotter. I can't write a syn then write the book. I tried. That book was never written. BUT, knowing that I've already gone through a first draft and having this tool, I'm going to try and lay out my main plot points as I redo this draft of story. Thanks for a great post! What a fantastic post and so timely for me as well. I’m currently editing a book I wrote six months ago and I’m seeing major plot problems. I knew I would face these moving in, though, because I am a completely nonplotter. I can’t write a syn then write the book. I tried. That book was never written. BUT, knowing that I’ve already gone through a first draft and having this tool, I’m going to try and lay out my main plot points as I redo this draft of story.
Thanks for a great post!

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]]> By: Dennis http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124351 Dennis Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:57:15 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124351 I've never been one for trusting postit notes as they sometimes fall behind furniture, get blown away when the door is opened, curl up and die or the glue gives up its grip on whatever. So for the project I'm working on I found some software that I feel has the flexibility to plot and rearrange, develop characters and other handy extras such as add notes and reference images. It's called WritersCafe and it's suitable for PC and Mac. It also unclutters my desk as it's all on the desktop of my computer. If anyone knows of other programs that are better I'd like to know. I’ve never been one for trusting postit notes as they sometimes fall behind furniture, get blown away when the door is opened, curl up and die or the glue gives up its grip on whatever. So for the project I’m working on I found some software that I feel has the flexibility to plot and rearrange, develop characters and other handy extras such as add notes and reference images. It’s called WritersCafe and it’s suitable for PC and Mac. It also unclutters my desk as it’s all on the desktop of my computer. If anyone knows of other programs that are better I’d like to know.

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]]> By: Jeanne http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124349 Jeanne Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:11:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124349 Great post, Kathleen. I've spent more than a decade trying to find some software program that provides the flexibility and ease of index cards. Never found one. For really complex plotters, Post-It makes index cards that have the post-it glue on the back and you can arrange and rearrange them on a big board to work out sequence. Then you can pull them down and stack them in order, but unlike flimsy paper post-its, they don't stick to everything unrelated and they are sturdy for packing with you. Great post, Kathleen. I’ve spent more than a decade trying to find some software program that provides the flexibility and ease of index cards. Never found one. For really complex plotters, Post-It makes index cards that have the post-it glue on the back and you can arrange and rearrange them on a big board to work out sequence. Then you can pull them down and stack them in order, but unlike flimsy paper post-its, they don’t stick to everything unrelated and they are sturdy for packing with you.

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]]> By: Lin Wang http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124336 Lin Wang Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:21:43 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124336 I used the Snowflake Method, which is basically adding layers from a very basic concept. I actually often start with a central image, concept, or sometimes a theme. Then I build an one sentence story, then expand that to a paragraph, and then to several pages. At the same time I am developing my characters. It is a very organized system, and it works well for me. I used the Snowflake Method, which is basically adding layers from a very basic concept.

I actually often start with a central image, concept, or sometimes a theme. Then I build an one sentence story, then expand that to a paragraph, and then to several pages. At the same time I am developing my characters. It is a very organized system, and it works well for me.

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]]> By: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124335 Ray Rhamey Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:18:17 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124335 Hmm. Although a confirmed pantser, I'm interested. You said you didn't worry about character--did you have characters in mind when you started? Hmm. Although a confirmed pantser, I’m interested. You said you didn’t worry about character–did you have characters in mind when you started?

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124333 Kathleen Bolton Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:15:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124333 Welcome, Adrian. I dunno why I didn't do this earlier. I guess index cards just seems too . . . simple. But what the index card does is force you to write only a couple essential lines, and it kept me focused. Welcome, Adrian.

I dunno why I didn’t do this earlier. I guess index cards just seems too . . . simple. But what the index card does is force you to write only a couple essential lines, and it kept me focused.

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]]> By: Adrian http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124325 Adrian Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:51:23 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124325 I am also a big fan of the index card. I basically make an outline of my story putting each point on its own card. However, I skip the synopsis. I begin by simply expanding on each point. By the time I get through my stack of cards I have a well thought out rough draft. I enjoyed finding and reading through your blog today. Thanx! I am also a big fan of the index card. I basically make an outline of my story putting each point on its own card. However, I skip the synopsis. I begin by simply expanding on each point. By the time I get through my stack of cards I have a well thought out rough draft. I enjoyed finding and reading through your blog today. Thanx!

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124324 Therese Walsh Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:47:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124324 Great post, Kath! I'm using index cards for my wip, too. I've never done that before, but I like the system so far for its flexibility. I haven't used them to write a synopsis, but you've made it sound so effortless that I just may do that this week. Great post, Kath!

I’m using index cards for my wip, too. I’ve never done that before, but I like the system so far for its flexibility. I haven’t used them to write a synopsis, but you’ve made it sound so effortless that I just may do that this week.

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124319 Kristan Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:15:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/08/24/bird-by-bird/#comment-124319 I actually just tried something this past weekend that I found very helpful... I bought a monthly planner and plotted out my story as if I were the main character and the plot was my agenda. This worked because I had a start date and an end date for my story, and some loose things in between, but putting them in a calendar really showed me where things were too dense and where things were too spread out. (Like March? WAS TOTALLY EMPTY. That's so not going to work, in terms of pacing.) So it's kind of strange, but for me, it's been helpful. (Although as a disclaimer, I AM writing this 5 days after trying it...) I actually just tried something this past weekend that I found very helpful…

I bought a monthly planner and plotted out my story as if I were the main character and the plot was my agenda. This worked because I had a start date and an end date for my story, and some loose things in between, but putting them in a calendar really showed me where things were too dense and where things were too spread out. (Like March? WAS TOTALLY EMPTY. That’s so not going to work, in terms of pacing.)

So it’s kind of strange, but for me, it’s been helpful. (Although as a disclaimer, I AM writing this 5 days after trying it…)

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