At a recent plot workshop, one of the writers stopped me on the way to lunch to ask for help. I asked her to tell me a bit about her project.As soon as she starts in, I'm hooked. She has a truly novel idea with an even more novel format in which to tell her story.As with most highly creative writers, she has trouble bringing the story into focus. She wanders to one plot point and then flits to another unrelated point. I hold each of these fragments and slowly begin to put them into position in …
Writers: It’s not life or death. Have Fun
I forgot to say, Have fun!In deepest gratitude to each of you responsible for the 3 sold-out plot workshops -- at the overall story level, scene level, and thematic significance level, I send a final message that includes writers everywhere -- loosen up and have some fun.Writing is not life or death. We artists like to imagine what we do is so dramatic. And, yes, those elements -- life and death appear in the story. Just like in the natural world, over and over again. For you as the writer, …
Long-term vs Short-term Protagonist Goals
One of the more difficult aspects of creating a compelling Dramatic Action plot for highly creative, so-called right-brained writers is to come up with concrete goals for the protagonist.I have written an article for March issue of The Writer magazine that will be out in bookstores mid-February and will not go into all the details about the importance of goals, examples of goals in literature, and how to create them -- you can read the article for more.What I do want to cover here is the …
Flashback versus Memory
A problem I often find in the plot consultations I provide to writers is the misuse of flashbacks.During a plot consultation, a writer outlines her historical novel to me. Before long, the story takes a u-turn into flashback. My immediate reaction is to refocus myself. I quickly scan the Plot Planner I am creating for her for what I know of the story so far ~ the time frame, the place, and the characters ~ in order to keep in perspective the time and place change.If you've read Blockbuster …
Writers on the Hero’s Journey
Last Saturday I taught the 1st in a series of 3 Plot Intensives in Capitola, CA. I covered plot at the overall story level. This Saturday I teach the 2nd plot workshop to cover plot at the scene level. Next Saturday I teach the 3rd and final workshop; Plot for Meaning at the overall plot level.Saturday for the first time I asked writers to fill out the Character Emotional Plot Profile for more than just their protagonist and antagonist. This time, they also filled out one for themselves as a …
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