Plot is a Four-Letter Word
The word “plot,” for anyone who hasn’t noticed, is a four-letter word. That’s more or less how I feel about it. Writers who are more analytical thrive as they work out the plot before writing their books.
But I am an intuitive writer. I create from my gut. I write to discover what will happen next just as my readers read to discover what will happen next. I don’t know what will occur in chapter ten until I have written chapter nine.
I keep what is called a “rolling plot” notebook. When needed, I journal before beginning to write for that day, determining, based on what I wrote the previous day, what needs to be accomplished next. Sometimes, of course, I write down what needs to happen in the future. I use a Circa notebook for the rolling plot of each book. Some pages are flagged and highlighted as I go along, knowing I will have to backtrack to some of my comments and thoughts.
While plotting causes me to break out in hives (I’m kidding, it isn’t quite that bad), I love to brainstorm. To me that is something different.
I love getting the ideas flowing. Any idea. All ideas. Never saying first, “No, that won’t work,” but saying, “Why would that work?” or “How could that work?” Once a year, I get together with other Christian authors to brainstorm books. I get as much out of brainstorming books that my brainstorming buddies plan to write as I do out of brainstorming my own. I get inspired and excited about writing because of the shared enthusiasm.
Sad to say, I’ve had to brainstorm many projects on my own as I can’t always fly off to meet with other writers. Good thing it’s possible to brainstorm in the privacy of my own office when necessary. Not nearly as much fun but just as (almost as?) effective.
Mind mapping software can be helpful when it’s just me and my iMac as brainstorming partners. I used Inspiration 9 for a number of books, but what I use now is Scapple. It’s made by the same folks who created the best writing software around—Scrivener. I don’t open Scapple very often and am far from an expert in its use, but it’s great to have when I need to just throw ideas out to see what sticks.
If you’re a writer, what are your favorite brainstorming tools?
If you’re a reader, what is your favorite plot of all time?
~robin
Mind Map Photo Credit: zipckr via Compfight cc
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Robin, I have brainstorm partner envy. I’ve never brainstormed a story with anyone else, though from time to rare time I’ll say to my husband or a writer friend, “There’s something missing here, let me run this scenario by you and see if you’ve got anything to add.”
I also admire the bravery of jumping into a story to write without at least a loose outline of where the inciting incident or opening chapter will lead. In my case there’s usually the historical record I’m weaving my story through, so before I start writing I’ve at least researched and created a historical time line of events.
For the book I’m writing now, I’m weaving the characters’ stories through a 30 page single-spaced timeline of events covering one year during the Revolutionary War, compiled from my research before I began writing the book, back in January. It speeds the process up (a little, I’m a snail) to have that in front of me as work each day. And the creation of it sparks all sorts of story possibilities, some I keep, some I discard along the way as I weave the story’s plot through all that history.
So I suppose in answer to the question for writers is… my favorite brainstorming tools are nonfiction books on the 18th century.
Lori, I love getting new ideas from the non-fiction books I read. In fact, sometimes I think I could gladly give up writing and just spend all of my time researching. It is so endlessly fascinating!
Agreed!
I am a professional writer. My genre is legal documents. I am a “stream of consciousness” writer. I may think about what I am writing for a while, before I begin. Once I start, I am a lot like you, I just type. It is after I stop typing, that I take the time to edit and determine whether or not I have drafted the document as I intended. If not, I can then rewrite.
I always have a “goal” in mind and “message” when I write. It isn’t until I have finished writing that I can determine whether or not it has been met. However, I love the challenge. Someday, I hope to write all the stories that have entertained me while I dream. Who knows, only God does whether that is what he has in store for my future.
As a reader, my favorite plot is contained in my favorite book, the rebirth of very stingy and miserly man. This plot is a great example of 2 Corinthians 5:17–“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (KJV)
Love your thoughts on this, Dora, and what a great plot to have as a favorite!
I’m with you all the way, Robin. I want to discover my story, just as my reader will. Plotting too far in advance ruins the story for me! As for my favorite brainstorming method, it’s definitely hanging out with writer friends to talk about our stories/plots. I sometimes envy those who are able to plot since writing seat-of-the-pants means I often have to backtrack because something just won’t work. But I’ve come to realize that’s just part of the process for me. I really like your notebook idea and the rolling plot!
Deb, we must be related. 🙂 I discovered long ago, after I’d written a very detailed synopsis for the book I was about to write, that I didn’t want to write it anymore because I already knew what would happen and how it ended. So then I just wanted to come up with a new idea and not work on that contracted book. As for my journal, I learned it over a decade ago from someone else. Here’s what I have taped in the front of my notebook:
The “rolling outline” idea is this: You roll it out as you need it. Usually this means you outline your next few scenes, not in great detail, but enough to get you to the next point. You might have a big scene you know has to come soon, say a big setback for the hero just as he’s on the verge of a victory, or some such. Then you figure out the scenes you need to get there. Once there, having written the scenes to this point, you’ll have all sorts of ideas and possibilities that you never could have anticipated before you actually wrote. Using your journal, you’ll find new, rich veins to explore. But you also won’t be flying off on irrelevant tangents. In your journal you keep asking the right questions about your lead’s goals.
** Plotting as I need it. Like the headlights on a car, showing just enough of the highway so I can keep rolling forward.
Robin,
I just plotted out my story, prior to writing anything, for the first time ever. I was trying to find a method that would make the writing part of it faster for me. Haven’t seen that happen yet, but my schedule’s been crazy. Now that my schedule is easing up some, I’m hoping to focus and git ‘er done. I enjoyed the plotting phase, and I know the story will morph along the way. But it was the initial discovering that really drew me to love the phase (so far). That discovery is why the first draft is my favorite part of writing (lots of writers would cringe to hear that, I know, but it’s true).
Have fun writing this week! I know I will.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea, I believe that early in their careers, writers think there must be an easier way to write a novel than the way they are doing it. They try everything (and they should). And eventually we learn that there is no easier way to do it. We each have to discover what works for us and then just do it. 😉
I also write to see what happens, like you, Robin. I love the freedom of making things up as I go along. That’s what makes my biblical fiction series harder for me to write–I have to follow the outline that’s in the Bible. My writers’ critique group are wonderful partners for brainstorming.
It’s so helpful to know that I am not alone!
Robin, this is SO timely for me, as just last night I was thinking that I need to brainstorm with a friend again.
A while back, a dear author friend and I met for lunch (not as writers, just as friends). 🙂 As we ate,
she asked me about my writing, and I told her about revising a story I’d originally written several years ago. She tossed out
a few ideas to add conflict to my story (which is my biggest challenge—as a former kindergarten teacher, I want everyone
to “play nicely” LOL). 😉 Anyway, I got so excited listening to her ideas, then adding some of my own, and the next thing we
knew the restaurant was preparing to close (they’re only open for lunch) and we were the only patrons remaining. But that
was just a reminder for me of how exciting the brainstorming process can be—wow!
Thank you for sharing this today, as I LOVE seeing what works for my favorite authors and reading about how writers use different approaches.
Hugs from beautiful Georgia, Patti Jo
Love hearing about the excitement it generated, Patti Jo.
I’m an intuitive writer, too, Robin. I can completely relate to your process.
I don’t use any brainstorming tool in particular other than a set of ‘character interview’ questions. I ask my characters a long and detailed list of questions. As I ponder the answers, my characters begin to take shape in my mind and from there I tend to get all sorts of ideas about their story.
What I do before I begin to write a book is to get to know my characters from birth right up to when the book opens. This helps me know how they will react in any given situation I throw at them. Sounds similar to you. It’s all about the characters for me.
I brainstormed with two other writers during a retreat last summer for the first time, and really enjoyed it. Going to have to try to work that in to my writing routine. Never tried Scapple–I’ll have to check that out. Thanks, Robin–great ideas!
Julie, the authors I meet with every summer (including a couple of the authors on the list) have been gathering together since 2003. This summer will be our 12th retreat. I don’t think I could get through the year without those five days spent with these special people each summer.
This is fun to learn more about your writing process, Robin. I agree with Lori Benton, researching the era I am writing in helps me come up with ideas for the plot and characters. I do plot out the general turning points in the story, but leave the details and how to get there open to discover. I’m currently working on an WW1 story set in England. Wow, it’s so fun to research…now I have to get going with the writing.
Especially for lovers of history, research is like a great big cherry on top of your favorite dessert, isn’t it?
I’d love to work toward an annual brainstorming retreat with fellow writers. As much as writing is a solitary experience, it’s also so communal, and detailed plotting is difficult. I’ve not heard of Scapple. I’ll have to look into it.
I’ve been attending brainstorming retreats at least annually since 1995. I wouldn’t know what to do without them. I hope you find the right group to meet with. You’ll be blessed.