Plot a book? Or fly by the seat of your pants?
Today's question is one I've gotten before, but it falls under the category of "oldie, but goodie." It's constantly debated in writing circles, and every author has their favorite method. Write a full plotline before beginning, or write the book by the seat of your pants?
Me? I like the security blanket of a full plot outline. That being said, I usually stick to the basic framework of whatever plot outline I come up with, but it changes. Once I get into a book, new and better ideas pop up and push aside what I thought would have worked back when I was writing the synopsis. And yes, once you're published, a synopsis (or outline) is required for your agent to send to your editor to sell the next book(s). This is usually accompanied by the first three chapters of the book. But after my second book with Anne Sowards (my editor at Ace Books), she's fine with just a synopsis. She knows that I can deliver the book and doesn't need sample chapters to tell her that.
However, for Bewitched & Betrayed, the plot outline that I sent to Anne was pretty sketchy, like an Impressionist painting -- you could tell what the book would look like, but the details were kinda left up to the imagination. Yep, B&B is being written by the seat of my pants and I think it's going very well. The same was true with Armed & Magical. I had a detailed plot outline, but after determining that it didn't work, I ditched the entire thing and wrote the book from scratch based on a one-paragraph synopsis. It was my first National Bestseller.
So what is the best way? Plotter? or Pantster? Most authors, including myself, will tell you that it's a combination of both. It's good (and I believe necessary) to know approximately where your book will end, but there are plenty of ways to get there (much like a roadtrip). Don't go too far off the beaten trail, but don't be afraid to take a couple of interesting-looking left turns.
Upcoming contest drawing reminder: For everyone else who has entered The Trouble with Demons Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble review contest by posting a review and then emailing me to let me know -- your names are automatically in the hat for this Saturday's final drawing. And if you haven't had a chance to post a review and email me to enter, just do so by this Friday night EST. Go to my Wed. April 29 post for why I have this contest every year. Yes, there is a reason. And not to worry if you're not the winner of the t-shirt & book swag prize pack, there will be plenty of other contests.
And for those of you waiting for prizes and book goodies, I'll be putting those together tonight and mailing them out tomorrow. I promise. Life has been a little hectic lately. ; )
Upcoming blog topics based on your questions:
Me? I like the security blanket of a full plot outline. That being said, I usually stick to the basic framework of whatever plot outline I come up with, but it changes. Once I get into a book, new and better ideas pop up and push aside what I thought would have worked back when I was writing the synopsis. And yes, once you're published, a synopsis (or outline) is required for your agent to send to your editor to sell the next book(s). This is usually accompanied by the first three chapters of the book. But after my second book with Anne Sowards (my editor at Ace Books), she's fine with just a synopsis. She knows that I can deliver the book and doesn't need sample chapters to tell her that.
However, for Bewitched & Betrayed, the plot outline that I sent to Anne was pretty sketchy, like an Impressionist painting -- you could tell what the book would look like, but the details were kinda left up to the imagination. Yep, B&B is being written by the seat of my pants and I think it's going very well. The same was true with Armed & Magical. I had a detailed plot outline, but after determining that it didn't work, I ditched the entire thing and wrote the book from scratch based on a one-paragraph synopsis. It was my first National Bestseller.
So what is the best way? Plotter? or Pantster? Most authors, including myself, will tell you that it's a combination of both. It's good (and I believe necessary) to know approximately where your book will end, but there are plenty of ways to get there (much like a roadtrip). Don't go too far off the beaten trail, but don't be afraid to take a couple of interesting-looking left turns.
Upcoming contest drawing reminder: For everyone else who has entered The Trouble with Demons Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble review contest by posting a review and then emailing me to let me know -- your names are automatically in the hat for this Saturday's final drawing. And if you haven't had a chance to post a review and email me to enter, just do so by this Friday night EST. Go to my Wed. April 29 post for why I have this contest every year. Yes, there is a reason. And not to worry if you're not the winner of the t-shirt & book swag prize pack, there will be plenty of other contests.
And for those of you waiting for prizes and book goodies, I'll be putting those together tonight and mailing them out tomorrow. I promise. Life has been a little hectic lately. ; )
Upcoming blog topics based on your questions:
- Making the magic work, or at least make sense.
- How long should you prepare before starting a book?
- How much time should you spend developing a character?
- Am I moving my story forward?
- How do I figure out what happens next?
- Keeping your hopes up while looking for an agent.
- Writing in the moment.
- "Framing" your book.
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:44 AM
9 Comments:
I have a little plot in my head, which I work over while commuting, doing dishes/laundry/etc. I don't write it down. Unless it gets really complex, or I feel I need to. The less I put down, the happier my muse is. I just go for it! Characters end up changing what I write anyway, so why bother working on the detail beforehand, right?
I need a plot before I can write, and I need it written down. I always say start with the plot. The characters may change things, and so can revisions, but it's usually better to start with the skeleton of a story than with anything else. Like you said, Lisa it's like a road map, in that you might have several ways of getting to the destination, but you need the destination first.
I do this weird thing where I learn the characters by writing about a third of the story seat-of-the-pants then plot using whatever came up during the free-style beginning. Only by then my beginning no longer makes sense so I have to do major revisions.
Lisa, I am impressed that you know the ending when you start. (I'm impressed by anyone who knows the end when they start.) Endings are hardest for me because I reach the place where they're supposed to happen, and stare at my computer going 'kay... now what?
Thanks for the great input, everyone!
I'm a "create the characters and then see what they do" kinda writer usually.
It depends, though. Some stories write themselves, some need serious coddling!
What ends up happening for me is I tend to write it all from scratch. Although I like the end result sometimes I wonder if maybe my work would be better if I knew how much to put in a plot outline.
Lisa, while I'm thinking about it, I wanted to thank you. In one of your past blogs you mentioned `Writing the Breakout Novel' by Donald Maas. I'd heard of it before, but hadn't read it. The book is really helpful; so is the workbook that goes with it.
Chicory, I'm so glad it helped. Don's book did WONDERS for me. The lightbulb finally came on in my head as to what I was doing wrong, and what I needed to do right. I started writing Magic Lost, Trouble Found soon after.
Great topic! Hmm, I think I may have a question to ask you myself!
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