Craft 8: On Plot and Structure

[harmony_bites]

I’ve read/been told two very succinct definitions of plot that have stayed with me, though I can’t remember the source:

1) Get your character up a tree-then throw rocks.
2) …And then it got worse.

I think I'm going to need more than that. I had my arm twisted was encouraged by elidyce and bambu345 to participate in this year's NaNoWrMo. That commits you to

Comments

[harmony_bites]

I know that it's all to be taken with a grain of salt. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for the next. (Though there are a few things that definately work more often than not.)

Well, part of it is product versus process and also context. I think almost any rule is made to be broken depending on your purpose and the context. Otoh, if you are submitting to Dean Wesley Smith's Strange New Worlds anthology, then best I'd think to listen to his prescriptions, cuz he's the gatekeeper. And many editors have common biases.

Process otoh, is much trickier, and I think it's more a matter of doing whatever works for you. It can be helpful to read different ways authors use and try them for yourself--something might click. But I don't think you're necessarily a better or more professional writer if you use an outline.

But given NaNo, it might be something I want to try. Ever tried 15minuteficlets? I did--you're given a prompt and then must write something within 15 minutes. From what resulted and what I've seen by others, you can write something of about 500 words in that timeframe--so doing 2,000 words within an hour is possible I think.

The target for NaNo is 1,667 words a day. Theorectically, less than an hour of your time a day. Doable right? Except I'm lucky if I can get a 7 thousand word update of my WIP done in a month. So I think the trick to NaNo will have to be having a very strong sense of where my plot is going, even an outline, so I don't fall behind.

I'd encourage you to try the original one--you're very talented and if you could write an original novel... Well, you'd have a shot at getting published--not that's easy even for someone good--it's a tough game. But why not try? I would, if I got that kind of bunny--but I never have before so...

I might indeed look at sshg_exchange Maybe one of the prompts there will click? There's also the WIKTT files of old challenges. (As long as it's not MLC--we need another of those like a hole in our heads...)

I use a rough outline. Nothing too detailed. I know the major thing(s) that need to occur in each chapter, whether that's in my head or on paper depends how detailed the plot it. But I'm also very flexible.

Do you find you stick to it? Or does your muse laugh wildly at you like mine and just make a mess of it?

[ginny_weasley31]

I've never looked at 15minuteficlets although I've used speed writing as a writing exercise... I'm sure that it's essentially the same thing. :)

Yes, I've looked at old WIKTT challenge and other old LJ comm challenges for ideas, just to see if they spur anything. :)

I'd encourage you to try the original one--you're very talented and if you could write an original novel... Well, you'd have a shot at getting published--not that's easy even for someone good--it's a tough game.

I thank you for that. I'm not foolish enough to think that any of it's easy. I could get awfully used to seeing rejection letters but it's a never know until you try sorta of thing... and I'll never try until I actually take the time for it.

Do you find you stick to it? Or does your muse laugh wildly at you like mine and just make a mess of it?

My outlines are rough. The basics are there. They do get followed, although sometimes slightly late. For example, sometimes what is supposed to happen in chapter 5 doesn't happen until chapter 7 for whatever reason. That's not to say that my muse hasn't laughed wildly at me before. Usually the way my muse tortures me though is she gives me beautiful, glorious, and amazing inspiration just when I think that winding down my story. Either that inspiration needs to go in at that point in the story or it needs to be added back earlier in the story causing a MASSIVE rewrite. It's easier to add it at the end and it makes a better story to rewrite. :)

[harmony_bites]

I thank you for that. I'm not foolish enough to think that any of it's easy. I could get awfully used to seeing rejection letters but it's a never know until you try sorta of thing... and I'll never try until I actually take the time for it.

I've known some people who've gotten published, and read a lot about it, and from what I can gather, in a lot of ways its easier to sell a novel than a short story. The short fiction market is very small, and very, very tight. A lot of ficcers start at that end first, and many find it very frustrating to break into.

Usually the way my muse tortures me though is she gives me beautiful, glorious, and amazing inspiration just when I think that winding down my story. Either that inspiration needs to go in at that point in the story or it needs to be added back earlier in the story causing a MASSIVE rewrite.

:g: I think though my fav parts of my own stories are the moments I never planned and came out the fingertips at the last minute. They're usually the favs of reviewers too--I guess why I'm a bit skeptical about outlines. But I'm going to try this time.

As soon as I find a good bunny.