How I plot a book (Conclusion)
This is the conclusion of yesterday's blog "How I plot a book."
BTW -- Beginning on Tuesday (since Monday is the Labor Day holiday here in the U.S.), I'll post another chapter (or at least a big chunk) from MLTF that didn't make it into the final version. Yep, more "Outtakes from the cutting room floor" back by popular demand.
After going through the process I described yesterday, I now have a big, bloated Word doc of scenes, snippets, dialogue and ideas that I may or may not end up using. The file for the book I'm plotting now is 77 pages. My next step is a careful read-thru, highlighting any elements that jump out at me. I cut & paste those up to the top of the file. Then comes the "sitting/pondering/staring at the computer" part of the writing process. Apparently during this time, Lucy (our Jack Russell terrier) doesn't think I'm working, and starts bringing me toys to throw for her. Gracie the Greyhound wants to be petted. To them (and to be honest, to any non-writer human), it probably looks like I'm about to go to sleep or have an out-of-body experience. Being a sucker for big, brown doggie eyes, I play and pet as commanded, while still sitting & pondering. It's multi-tasking at its finest.
Over the course of the next few hours/days/hopefully not weeks, I decide what the big plot points are that I want to include. I make a bulleted list. Of course this list can be added to, changed, or trashed completely depending on what comes to me at 4 a.m., or in the shower, or driving home from work. The subconscious mind is a wonderful thing. It works 24/7. I don't work 24/7 (though my husband would be the first to dispute that claim).
Once I've got that bulleted list, as much as it kills me, the best thing I can do is NOT sit at the computer. I want to work; but what I need to do is read, listen to music, sit in the tub (glass of wine is optional), etc. -- any activity that doesn't require conscious thought, to let my subconscious writing brain do its thing -- take the bits & pieces and turn them into the big scenes that'll form the core of the book. During this time, the first scene of the first chapter comes to me as well. Once I have that first chapter and the big scenes, I'm ready to start writing.
BTW -- Beginning on Tuesday (since Monday is the Labor Day holiday here in the U.S.), I'll post another chapter (or at least a big chunk) from MLTF that didn't make it into the final version. Yep, more "Outtakes from the cutting room floor" back by popular demand.
After going through the process I described yesterday, I now have a big, bloated Word doc of scenes, snippets, dialogue and ideas that I may or may not end up using. The file for the book I'm plotting now is 77 pages. My next step is a careful read-thru, highlighting any elements that jump out at me. I cut & paste those up to the top of the file. Then comes the "sitting/pondering/staring at the computer" part of the writing process. Apparently during this time, Lucy (our Jack Russell terrier) doesn't think I'm working, and starts bringing me toys to throw for her. Gracie the Greyhound wants to be petted. To them (and to be honest, to any non-writer human), it probably looks like I'm about to go to sleep or have an out-of-body experience. Being a sucker for big, brown doggie eyes, I play and pet as commanded, while still sitting & pondering. It's multi-tasking at its finest.
Over the course of the next few hours/days/hopefully not weeks, I decide what the big plot points are that I want to include. I make a bulleted list. Of course this list can be added to, changed, or trashed completely depending on what comes to me at 4 a.m., or in the shower, or driving home from work. The subconscious mind is a wonderful thing. It works 24/7. I don't work 24/7 (though my husband would be the first to dispute that claim).
Once I've got that bulleted list, as much as it kills me, the best thing I can do is NOT sit at the computer. I want to work; but what I need to do is read, listen to music, sit in the tub (glass of wine is optional), etc. -- any activity that doesn't require conscious thought, to let my subconscious writing brain do its thing -- take the bits & pieces and turn them into the big scenes that'll form the core of the book. During this time, the first scene of the first chapter comes to me as well. Once I have that first chapter and the big scenes, I'm ready to start writing.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:10 AM
2 Comments:
I have a very long, very winding, very traffic-less drive to work, and that's when my subconscious mind kicks into high gear many times. The drawback is it's difficult to jot down scenes while trying to negotiate sharp curves and mountain passes. That's when a mini-recorder would really come in handy, if I didn't have that case of micfright. LOL
Once I get into the actual writing of my next book, I'm sure the ideas will start popping into my head while I'm in traffic. I'm just gonna have to get over my micfright. I mean, dang, between the recorder and the cute aqua leather case, I've got about $100 invested in that thing. I WILL learn to use it. ; )
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