PLOT.
There it is. The big word. The big structure. The big backbone of our stories, and it's my weakness.
How can that be? you ask. Doesn't every writer want to write b/c they have a story inside them? Don't you come to the page with an outline in mind?
And I answer, I have asked myself all of these questions and I pray to God the answer is that there is another way.
How do you do it? Do you make yourself attack an outline until your plot is complete? Do you go to a work with a fully formed beginning, middle, and end?
I'm expecting as many different ideas as there are responses, and I'm hoping to find my way in some combination of the below...For the sun is shining and the kids are in school. The time is now.
I usually come up with a beginning and an ending, then come up with a way to get the MC from point A to point B.
ReplyDeleteMichele - I don't think you're the only one at all who faces that. I usually start with a main character. Since I write murder mysteries, my next question is always, "OK, how and why does this character die?" That usually helps me outline the plot (character's personality that might lead to being murdered, character's past that might come back to haunt her or him, etc..). Then, that leads me to the other characters (who had a motive?), and the plot that draws them together (love triangle? money? secrets? revenge? etc..). It's the best way for me that I've found to tackle the plot bugaboo.
ReplyDeleteThank God! I've started with a general premise, but it's like night-driving: I can only see aabout 20 feet in front of me! Thankfully, the more I write, the clearer it becomes.
ReplyDeleteLaura- Sounds good. End, eh? Yeah, I need to find that.
ReplyDeleteMargot- I have the MC and the one who dies, and then I need the rest...Thanks, Margot.
Will- LOVE the analogy! And I'd be grateful for 20 feet. :P
I empathize greatly Michele. I've always wanted to write a novel, and beside my inability to focus, I'm another of the many stories, many characters no plot people. Which I see as a sign that if I ever decide to hammer down and write a story I'll need a co-author to help me along the way.
ReplyDeleteNo plot? Have you consider writing literary fiction?
ReplyDeleteYou have a who - the MC and victim.
Now ask why is the victim dead? Where is the victim? What did the victim do to cause the character's death? How did the victim die?
Much like Will, I have a basic idea what the story is about or sometimes I just know the characters really well. I then write as fast as I can. Usually the story develops from what the characters tell me.
How do I plot? I talk to myself.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm serious. When I'm plotting I do a lot of talking it out. I ask myself a lot of questions until I find the reasonable (or unreasonable) answers. Sometimes the answers surprise me and the novel heads in a direction I didn't expect.
CD
I hear you, gurl. I have similar issues at times. Generally I go into an overarching plot idea. I know the story, the climax, but the ending is debateable. I also don't know how to GET there. My greatest struggle in novel writing is getting from Point A to Point B.
ReplyDeleteI guess because I see the whole story before I even outline? I follow the storyline until the end in my mind and then write it down.
ReplyDeleteI generally come up with a character idea and mull it over until I have an opening sentence (which never seems to show up in the final cut) and then I start writing. It can be a struggle until my characters start taking control and then I just follow their lead.
ReplyDeleteI'm sinking in the same boat as you;-) I peter out about half way through and wonder "what now?" I have to push myself through with one little scene at a time. I've yet to finish my novel, so let me know how you pull it off!
ReplyDeleteDo you really need a plot if you have lots of other great ideas? Maybe you need a plot to sell your book in the 21st century? But do you really need a plot to write a great book? I have read fabulous books without a real plot, books that are focused on a theme; the evil in the world, the repression of women. Or books that focus on character development; a boy becoming a man, a girl becoming a women, a Christian leaving his God, or the opposite, a Satanist finding God. I think that's good enough, but it would require outstanding prose and insight into you theme >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I'm a character driven writer. Me and plot aren't always the best of friends. I just try to write a genral first draft and develop the plot from that. It helps having that base to build from.
ReplyDeleteI always just start with the situation and my characters, and an idea as to what they're going to do for the next few scenes. And with every scene I write, I find I get an idea about the next set of scenes, and so it goes. It works great for fantasies, for mysteries, it's a little bit messier, lots more rewriting but I do somehow get from A to C with all the elements of B in place!
ReplyDeletePlots? I have plots coming out the Wazoo! Problem is having the time to write them. I have five more books in the pipleine outlined and ready to rock and roll.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
I tend to write without an outline, but now I'm having to go back in and fix some of the plot points where it is obvious I'm must making stuff up!
ReplyDeleteI've done it both ways. I think the outline is hardest to write first..but makes the writing easier. But I usually just write by the seat of my pants. Sometimes I'll write it and then add in extra red herrings and clues later. Mysteries are tough to plot, so don't be too hard on yourself! :) I struggle a lot with them.
ReplyDeleteI'm the exact opposite. Plotting is my strong side and creating depth in my characters is an area of weakness. Most of my plots come to me fully formed with only minor tweaking necessary. :)
ReplyDelete