plot
Plot & Character
I’m starting a series of posts about plot this week – as requested. Thanks for popping in or sending me emails with your preference!
Plot and Character are Intertwined
Before I start talking about plot, I have to say something about characters, the people who will be DOING and REACTING to the plot. Obviously, they are intertwined. [...]
Plot: My personal approach
My Plotting is Messy
This week, we’ve discusses 9 ways to plot. So, how do I plot?
Basic story line. Two of these are probably worthless for me:
Plot: Software
Plotting Software
I’ve been looking around at plotting software and not finding much. There are a couple interesting programs, though.
Ywriter
This superb program
Plot Enhancers
In parts 1 & 2, I discussed 8 ways to plot. This last plotting idea is about deepening and extending the effectiveness of a plot.
9. Success Plot Enhancers.
There are two books which stand out, not for their overall structure of a novel, but for deepening the impact of a novel:
4 More Plot Variations
In part 1, I covered plot patterns beginning with character or beginning with a pattern such as the Hero’s Journey. This continues the discussion of 9 ways to plot.
5. Combinations of Plot Paradigms
Many descriptions of how to write plot combine a couple of these paradigms:
Overlaid with Three Act Structure.
Syd Field: Snowflake + Important Points Paradigm. [...]
Plot: Characters v. Patterns
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series 9 Ways to Plot a NovelPlot: 9 Ways of Looking at Plot
I’ve been thinking about plot and looking through my library of writing books to see the big picture of how plot is discussed and taught, how writers approach plot. It seems to me that [...]
Fatal Backstory
“She stopped and remembered her home town and how it felt to be ten years old when she moved. . .”
I checked out two books-on-tape yesterday and tried to listen to them. The first one started at a certain point, then immediately went into a flashback, within the first page. Ditto for the second.
Yes, these [...]
Don’t Avoid the Emotion
I’m near the end of this draft of my novel and I’m reluctant to face the last few chapters. Why? Too much emotion!
You must write the emotional ending
It’s not fair to the reader to have his/her turn the page and read. “I woke up the next morning and thought about what happened last night.”
You [...]
Page 32
This entry is part 30 of 32 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK. The ebook has an [...]
Novel Revision for Lovers
Often a novel revision benefits from the addition of a love interest. It may be a first love between 12 year olds or a more passionate teen love. Or it could be parental love or love of a pet. Emotional attachment or spicy relationships make the perfect subplot.
The Classic Romantic Plot
In [...]
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