Plotting, Plotting, Plotting Along...

I'm guest blogging today on Heather Cashman's blog

Better off Read

(Can't help seeing John Cusack every time I hear the name of that blog)

Here is a taste of the post

and click below for more tips on plotting.

Plotting, Plotting, Plotting Along…

Nothing ruins great characters like a bad plot.

If I was to ever speak at a writers conference I think the title of my class would be “My Story Sucks. Now What?” because this is the topic that I am the most familiar with.

I can’t count the number of times I have come to a point in my story where I said, “Why, oh why does this suck so bad?”

So, I am here to tell you what I have learned.

It’s the plot.

At least with my stories, I need to tighten the plot.

Easier said than done.

Can I share with you some of the ways that I have discovered what in the plot needs fixing?

CLICK HERE TO FIGURE OUT WHY YOUR STORY SUCKS ;)

The Magic Formula

So I keep looking for the magic story outline that pumps out great stories.
Basically my question this Wednesday is:

1. Do you know of an outline that you like?

2. Do you know of any formulaic book series or genres?

3. Would you even consider using a magic formula if it did exist?

If you think that you are full of great answers I have some other friends with questions of their own.
Visit their blogs and help them out :)

Thanks Deana

Beware of the Plotting Pantser!

Plotters VS. Pantsers

FIGHT!

Some people feel very strongly about Pantsers (those who write ‘by the seat of their pants’ and composing the story as it comes to them) and Plotters (those who write a mini novel of synopsis and character pages before they write the actual novel.)

Plotters accuse Pantsers of being meandering writers and of not having tight plots.

Pantsers accuse Plotters of being too predicable and wasting too much time in prep work.

My motto:

You can pay up front or you can pay at the end. But either way, you will pay.

Pantsers must do FAR more editing than your average Plotter. They pay at the end.

Plotters sometimes spend just as much time in prep as they do in writing the actual story. They pay at the beginning.

The real truth of the matter is that sometimes you just throw away the whole darn novel in the end anyways (I realize this might hurt some people’s sensibilities- “I would never throw away my novel!”- I believe in writing a learning novel every now and then. It gets me ready for my masterpiece.) The key is just not to give up. Published books come from Plotters and Pantsers who didn’t give up.

Or I guess you could be a Plotting Pantser (someone who schemes to pull down someone's trousers when they least expect it!)

What are your thoughts?
Want to tell us which one you are?

Writing Wednesday: A Provost Sentence & A Butcher Question

This is what I look like when I write. 

Seriously. I am black and white. I have several pencils, as well as hands. My tongue sticks out and I perspire like crazy!

One of my favorite little tricks when brainstorming and plotting is the Provost Sentence. I first came across it in Rubie's How to Tell a Story. It helps me with my structure. It helps me to make sure that I have a story worth fleshing out.

Here she blows:

* * * * *
Once upon a time, something happened to someone, and he decided that he would pursue goal. So he devised a plan of action, and even though there were forces trying to stop him, he moved forward because there was a lot at stake. And just as things seemed as bad as they could get, he learned an important lesson, and when offered the prize he had sought so strenuously, he head to decide whether or not to take it, and in making that decision he satisfied a need that had been created by something in his past.

* * * * *
Jim Butcher has his own sentence (I think he stole from a class at some time) which creates a story question.

*WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS*, *YOUR PROTAGONIST* *PURSUES A GOAL*. But will he succeed when *ANTAGONIST PROVIDES OPPOSITION*?


You just fill in the plot of your story into these sentences.


If I can figure out my plot well enough to write these sentences (succinctly and with some intriguing) then I know I'm on my way to a good story. And when it comes to that point is novel writing that I have to write summaries and queries I feel one step ahead.


Hope this helps :)


P.S. Butcher's Dresden Files are free on Hulu right now. I love these. Purely food for the imagination.