Comments on: To Plot Or Not to Plot http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/ Adventure into Romance Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Shelley Munro http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1073 Shelley Munro Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:37:13 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1073 Gabriele - how is NaNo going? You know, I tried writing scenes out of order once and ended up with such a big mess! Yup, a big mess, and I've never tried it again. LOL about your scary brain. Lauren - actually your approach sounds a bit like mine as it exists now. But it will be no more pantsing for you - not with those New York contracts! :grin: Gabriele - how is NaNo going? You know, I tried writing scenes out of order once and ended up with such a big mess! Yup, a big mess, and I’ve never tried it again.

LOL about your scary brain.

Lauren - actually your approach sounds a bit like mine as it exists now. But it will be no more pantsing for you - not with those New York contracts!

]]> By: Lauren Dane http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1072 Lauren Dane Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:16:56 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1072 I'm in between. I usually start off with a basic idea. I write three chapters and then I do a synopsis for stuff I'm selling on partial. If not? I'll just write it without more than a few notes. I don't write that way very often anymore though! I’m in between. I usually start off with a basic idea. I write three chapters and then I do a synopsis for stuff I’m selling on partial. If not? I’ll just write it without more than a few notes. I don’t write that way very often anymore though!

]]> By: Gabriele http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1069 Gabriele Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:47:05 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1069 I should add that I've realised that a good deal of my plotting takes place in my brain - I don't need some nifty software and index cards to keep trace of my plots and characters. Scary place, my brain, with the characters of several novels running around at the same time. :grin: I should add that I’ve realised that a good deal of my plotting takes place in my brain - I don’t need some nifty software and index cards to keep trace of my plots and characters.

Scary place, my brain, with the characters of several novels running around at the same time.

]]> By: Gabriele http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1068 Gabriele Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:44:07 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1068 I tried plotting but it doesn't work. But complete pansting isn't the best idea for historical fiction either (there are those pesky things called research and historical facts, :???: ). What works best for me is an overall idea where the novel is going, some characters, and the historical background. And then I start writing scenes all over the place - it the best way to get subplots. :mrgreen: I tried plotting but it doesn’t work. But complete pansting isn’t the best idea for historical fiction either (there are those pesky things called research and historical facts, ). What works best for me is an overall idea where the novel is going, some characters, and the historical background. And then I start writing scenes all over the place - it the best way to get subplots.

]]> By: Shelley Munro http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1067 Shelley Munro Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:58:15 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1067 Amy - I'd say you have a foot in both camps. I think that series books definitely need planning otherwise you can get yourself in all sorts of trouble later on! Wylie - I can honestly say that my EC 'Quickie" wasn't plotted and it turned into a short novel. Either way - Quickies are tricky beasts to write!! Christine - you'll find if you want to break out into New York, plotting becomes a necessary skill. You'll see :grin: Red - Shelley's course was really good, but I'm scared about doing too much planning. It's weird because in everyday life I'm very organized. As I said, I'm always late to the party! I loved your excerpts. Amy - I’d say you have a foot in both camps. I think that series books definitely need planning otherwise you can get yourself in all sorts of trouble later on!

Wylie - I can honestly say that my EC ‘Quickie” wasn’t plotted and it turned into a short novel. Either way - Quickies are tricky beasts to write!!

Christine - you’ll find if you want to break out into New York, plotting becomes a necessary skill. You’ll see

Red - Shelley’s course was really good, but I’m scared about doing too much planning. It’s weird because in everyday life I’m very organized. As I said, I’m always late to the party! I loved your excerpts.

]]> By: Red http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1065 Red Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:38:47 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1065 I am definitely a Pantster too but I'd love to take Shelley's course. :grin: Thank you for recommending, and thanks for coming to chat yesterday. I think I missed you but saw you later in the afternoon. Hugs! I am definitely a Pantster too but I’d love to take Shelley’s course. Thank you for recommending, and thanks for coming to chat yesterday. I think I missed you but saw you later in the afternoon. Hugs!

]]> By: Christine d'Abo http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1063 Christine d'Abo Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:04:55 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1063 I'm a total pantser. That said, Shelley's class sounds like something I could really use. I need to take it to see if I can grab some useful information from it. I might even make my life easier! :mrgreen: I’m a total pantser. That said, Shelley’s class sounds like something I could really use. I need to take it to see if I can grab some useful information from it. I might even make my life easier!

]]> By: Wylie http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1062 Wylie Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:49:36 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1062 I'm a bit of both, but certainly lean more toward plotter. But sometimes the characters just say and do things I didn't plan/expect. This is how my pre-plotted EC 'Quickie' turned into a short novel! Amazing how people who live in your head can take on a life of their own :) I’m a bit of both, but certainly lean more toward plotter. But sometimes the characters just say and do things I didn’t plan/expect.

This is how my pre-plotted EC ‘Quickie’ turned into a short novel!
Amazing how people who live in your head can take on a life of their own :)

]]> By: Amy Gallow http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1059 Amy Gallow Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:45:53 +0000 http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2007/11/21/to-plot-or-not-to-plot/#comment-1059 I began as a detailed plotter. My first published book had a mini disaster at the end of each chapter, each one carefully planned, and then I wrote one as a "pantser" and that was published as well. These days, I start with a character and build layer upon layer until I achieve reality, then slip the character into an interesting situation and record what happens. Once the first draft is finished, I then go back and manipulate the storytelling to its most effective form, cutting and pasting, adding new material and deleting irrelevancies. My current work in progress is the first in a series and chronologically the last story of the Marrack family, so I am planning their history as I write, knowing that one will be saved from hanging on Port Royal by the earthquake that destroyed two thirds of the town in 1692. I'm not sure what category this puts me in? Amy I began as a detailed plotter.
My first published book had a mini disaster at the end of each chapter, each one carefully planned, and then I wrote one as a “pantser” and that was published as well.
These days, I start with a character and build layer upon layer until I achieve reality, then slip the character into an interesting situation and record what happens.
Once the first draft is finished, I then go back and manipulate the storytelling to its most effective form, cutting and pasting, adding new material and deleting irrelevancies.
My current work in progress is the first in a series and chronologically the last story of the Marrack family, so I am planning their history as I write, knowing that one will be saved from hanging on Port Royal by the earthquake that destroyed two thirds of the town in 1692.
I’m not sure what category this puts me in?

Amy

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