tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post5363010489308553420..comments2024-03-19T04:19:32.143-05:00Comments on Pretentious Title: A new look at plottingRachel Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13917123007610750274noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-84808356268103199192012-09-02T13:09:26.327-05:002012-09-02T13:09:26.327-05:00I know I'm a little late to the party, but I&#...I know I'm a little late to the party, but I'm just catching up on blog for the past month or so. This resonates so strongly with me. A book with a good plot is flat without story. I recently read a book that did just this. It was so disappointing.<br /><br />I've had this same issue myself as I worked out some plotting for a new book, only to realize how useless it was because there wasn't the right space for the story.<br /><br />It's actually for that reason that I've started doing a partial synopsis, where I write the plot for the first few chapters, then go back and completely write out the synopsis, with some story and plot combined in it. I need to really feel the bottom of the character's dilemma in order to make it work. I don't care if I have to replot or whatever, but I need a realistic starting point in order to go on.M. Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00624479956106759407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-75864173639579888232012-08-04T05:07:00.790-05:002012-08-04T05:07:00.790-05:00This blog is very informative, as always.
I just ...This blog is very informative, as always.<br /><br />I just wondered at the last link here "Still seeking Chloe and Olivia." Am I reading it wrong, or is she basically accusing people of slash-pairing Chloe and Olivia? I think the strictly platonic reading is the more unlikely, given Woolf's own non-platonic relationships with women. Not that she wouldn't be capable of writing about women who were just friends, but I'm not convinced that's what she was doing with Chloe and Olivia and I find it a little strange that this writer seems to take offense at the idea that Chloe was interested in Olivia as more than a friend. Nothing wrong with wanting to see more only-friends fiction, but pushing that idea onto Woolf seems a little stubborn considering Woolf's other work/lifestyle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-45636985482674062842012-07-21T01:29:42.073-05:002012-07-21T01:29:42.073-05:00Thanks for all the awesome comments! I'm glad ...Thanks for all the awesome comments! I'm glad my blunders have been good for something! Frankly, I've been feeling like a duck with two left feet whenever I sat down to write these last few weeks. <br /><br />Thanks everyone :DRachel Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13917123007610750274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-5811366393129393672012-07-20T21:55:37.895-05:002012-07-20T21:55:37.895-05:00Also, thanks for the post. Dur...I always forget t...Also, thanks for the post. Dur...I always forget to say that. I actually really love reading about people's different processes, and what's been working, what hasn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-16062971678778309212012-07-20T21:53:39.017-05:002012-07-20T21:53:39.017-05:00I'm almost the opposite, and I start with stor...I'm almost the opposite, and I start with story and then paint myself in corners with the plot. Generally I have to stop every 20,000 words to get it all sorted out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-8778490789342476432012-07-20T17:31:43.496-05:002012-07-20T17:31:43.496-05:00Good luck with plotting your novel! I confess that...Good luck with plotting your novel! I confess that one of the reasons I've been trying to follow your "5 steps" method is because I find outlining hard and I want to try and reduce the amount of trial-and-error that usually goes into the first draft. Sounds like you're trying to head in the opposite direction, so maybe we'll meet in the middle :)Anne Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10081266463465731929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-72998784037588433642012-07-20T17:19:47.979-05:002012-07-20T17:19:47.979-05:00The fact that the writing process is constantly ev...The fact that the writing process is constantly evolving is rather good in a way! It can definitely be frustrating at times but, on the other hand, if some part of the process isn't working, it's good to know I can step back, work out what's wrong and then make steps to fix it.<br /><br />I like the sound of paying even more attention to story before plot. I hope it goes well for you. :)Katiehttp://www.katiefoolery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-39122633109530800452012-07-20T13:05:05.499-05:002012-07-20T13:05:05.499-05:00Thanks, Rachel!
Story and plot are important but ...Thanks, Rachel!<br /><br />Story and plot are important but are not synonyms. Definitely not...Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-56871640453194452762012-07-20T12:48:28.883-05:002012-07-20T12:48:28.883-05:00As someone who just finished outlining a couple bo...As someone who just finished outlining a couple books, I love this. Thanks very much for writing it. I could think some more about how to make my plots serve the major characters' stories.Moses Siregar IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054458331242370871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7467549889510324132.post-65083586215568128622012-07-19T13:18:27.561-05:002012-07-19T13:18:27.561-05:00I've been following your "How To Plot a N...I've been following your "How To Plot a Novel in 5 Steps" for my current YA, with the inclusion of using Blake Snyder's Save the Cat Beat Sheet with your Step #3, which was my original go-to story skeleton. For me, going through the Beat Sheet helps me work out the story aspects, which as you posted, are different from plot elements. And thank you, again for the Eli books. :)heidi2524http://www.heidi2524.com/noreply@blogger.com