Funny to have two plot consultations with two different writers with such antithetical points of view when it comes to Plot versus Character.In my previous blog post, I ranted about plot getting a bad rap. The day after, I consult with a writer who cares only for plot (or, since I believe character transformation is critical to plot, rather the dramatic action side of plot.) This writer states his preference right up front when he declares that he doesn't know how the character changes …
An Insult to Plot
At first, I'm offended. But I'm always a little touchy when it comes to put-downs on plot.A writer gives up dreams of literary genius. Okay... this could be good. Writing a novel is a journey; can't afford unnecessary baggage. Letting go of genius allows her to write what comes to her. Not to censor herself. Let it be crap. Trust the process as she messes around exploring different voices on her search for her own true, authentic voice. ...for a "mass market deal you buy in the airport." My fur …
Slogging through the 1st Draft
I wrote today's Twitter (1/2 pt. = commits to journey. Things seem to get a bit better. They're about to get way worse = Crisis 3/4 pt.) based on something I heard Andre Agassi say in an interview about his memoir. I missed the part about why he despises tennis from the start but at around the Middle of his journey to wholeness, he quits drugs and alcohol and commits to tennis for the very first time. Agassi's Halfway turning point does what all good Halfway turning points do: signals a move …
Scene Organization
Whether you like to work out the elements of your story on the page or are a pre-plotter, everyone benefits from a bit of periodic organization. See how many of the key scenes you can identify in the story you're imagining, writing, or perfecting:1) Set-up: The set-up you create in the Beginning makes the journey the protagonist undertakes in the Middle feel inevitable. 2) Inciting Incident: A moment, conflict, dilemma, loss, fear, etc. that forces the protagonist to take immediate action.3) End …
5 Benefits of Writing a Truly Awful, Lousy 1st Draft
1) Rather than stop and start over again and again, when you allow yourself to write a truly awful, lousy first draft from beginning to end, you actually finish a draft all the way through.2) Until you write the end, you do not have a clear grasp of what comes earlier.3) You accomplish what you set out to do.4) Once you have a skeleton in place, a writer is able to stand back and "see" her story in an entirely new light5) One of the greatest benefits of writing a truly awful, lousy 1st draft is …
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