Plot Consultant

Do You Excel at Developing Characters, Action, Both in Stories?

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Many writers develop one plotline at a time and they tend to begin with the Character Emotional Development line or the Dramatic Action line, while putting off the Thematic Significance line to the end.   Most writers have a preference for one style over the other. The plot line you first choose to carry through the entire first draft is most often directly tied to your strength; strength deteremines preference. Are you adept at developing complex, interesting, and quirky characters? …

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How to Schedule Your NaNoWriMo Writing Time for Success

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The idea of thousands and thousands of writers writing together as one beginning in just a couple of days is sublime.Many of you will use the support of other writers to keep you writing. Others will take daily walks. Some will plot as you write. Others have detailed Plot Planners at the ready as you write, every word a joy. I give thanks for journey we travel together.NaNoWriMo Schedule:11/1 - 11/7 -- Write the Beginning 1/4 of your story11/7 -- Write the End of the Beginning scene11/8 -- …

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The Goal of NaNoWriMo and Writing a Novel in a Month

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The goal next month is not to write a polished novel. Next month's goal and every fast-writing goal is simply to write the barebones, foundation, design, essence, promise of a story -- words, lots and lots of words -- with the idea of going back and revising after the month is up.  Begin now: 1) Visualize yourself letting go, writing with abandon, sleeping, eating, breathing your story for an entire month, becoming obsessive of your writing time and compulsive about writing, letting the real …

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Expectation, Event, Reaction

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This month, as you pre-plot for NaNoWriMo, keep in mind that every story and plot idea you brainstorm encompasses 3+ potential scenes:1) Anticipation          Anticipation of an upcoming event, creates curiosity and sets up tension in the reader not knowing, will the protagonist be successful or not?2) Event           The actual event the protagonist has been anticipating with expectation creates external dramatic action3) Reaction    …

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How to Write Even When You Feel Uninspired and Down

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Every writer I know, it seems, is either preparing now to write a fast draft during NaNoWriMo, has a jump-start on November by speed-writing now to finish by the end of the year or has given up.  With novels anywhere from 50,000 (slight) to over 100,000 words, writing a fast draft gets you to the end faster. Problem at that point is knowing you're not finished -- not by a long-shot. One of the biggest shocks for novelists just starting out is the realization they may have to write more …

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