by Ann Lee Miller
I wrote two novels
without plotting. Backtracking to fix things as a result of ninth hour twists
drove me crazy. I resisted outlining and plotting because I’m not naturally an
organized, methodical person. But when editors praised my writing, yet rejected
my books due to plot weaknesses, I had to learn some new tricks.
I tried Randy
Ingermanson’s Snowflake method (available free at http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/)
with my third novel because Randy clearly explains each step. I liked the
method because it was a compromise between plotting and not plotting, but I
ended up with a novel half the length I desired. I used Karen Wiesner’s First Draft in 30 Days to help me fatten
up my story by weaving in more subplots. I found her method to be complex and
tedious, but effective.
For my fourth novel
I borrowed much from Weisner—completing all research and mapping out each scene
in the book before starting to write—and ended up with 30,000 words in my detailed
outline. While this type of plotting is arduous at best, I am completely
satisfied with the result and intend to live out the rest of my writing days as
a born-again plotter.
I also use Angela
Hunt’s plot skeleton to insure each of my characters has hidden and obvious
needs, an overarching goal, inciting incident, escalating conflict, climax,
blackest moment, moment of decision, lesson learned, and resolution. [See
diagram below.]
Anyone who shares
my internal lack of order may benefit from imposing organization on their
writing by outlining.
Giveaway:
Everyone who leaves a comment with their e-mail address will
receive a free e-copy of Kicking Eternity,
also from the New Smyrna Beach Series.
Author Bio:
Writer, Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative
writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left
her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking
to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When
she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find
her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her
kids’ lives.
AnnLeeMiller.com
Twitter: @AnnLeeMiller
Buy
her book:
I'm always looking for plotting techniques. I haven't found one that works for me...yet. There has to be one out there, though.
ReplyDeleteI might have to give this a try.