Aug
Plotting Plotting Plotting
Well, that’s what I’m doing at the moment. Even if a lot of it has to be done in my head while doing brainfree tasks at work. (Unfortunately I have a couple of boring tasks now and then, such as folding and sending out the printed version of the personnel information.. Can you spell y a w n ?) It does allow the mind to roam freely though, and then I can take a break and write it all down.
My next WIP is going to have some external plot, a bit more than my previous two, so I’ve changed the approach slightly this time. I have written a background document just for myself to remember who knows what, who’s seen what etc. Else I fear I’d get lost once I start writing. (Something I’m dying to do, but won’t allow myself until I’ve made those two dreaded synopsises.)
I was desperately wanting someone to toss ideas about with for a moment the other day. I was sitting at work, doing boring annual leave audits as I was trying to figure out a reason, a motivation (anything, really) for my hero to kiss the heroine in the first chapter. I did eventually come up with something, but I’m sure it would have taken only half the time with someone to talk to about it. In my old office a friend of mine (who is also someone who usually reads everything I write and check for typos) used to discuss things with me. But can you imagine me turning to my new colleagues and asking, “So.. guys.. Any suggestions on why Hero should kiss Heroine? I’m thinking that maybe it’s a dare.. what do you think?”
Actually, it would probably be quite funny seeing their faces go, “Huh?”
Anyway, so I’m plotting and planning. And I already love my new heroine. She’s quite different from my previous two, which is naturally nice for me as a writer. I just think she’s hilarious. She’s one of those characters who just kind of create themselves. I love those, less work for me… 
How do your characters come to you? Your plots? Do you have to work hard on them or are they usually pretty fleshed out already?
I find that my characters I know fairly well quite quickly, but I have to work harder on the plot. Making sure everything makes sense, that it’s actually at least somewhat feasible. You know, all the usual stuff.. But it takes me a whole lot longer than working out my characters.
Emily, yes I have the same thing, my characters I can flesh out pretty quickly. I have a great “character sheet” that really makes me think like the character, and get to know them, I only do this for the H/H because it’s about five pages long. lol.
The plot…that’s a different story. Before writing, I have my handy-dandy notebook and jot down the basic plot idea(s) see which one sparks my interest, then I write!
I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of author, but I do have a basic outline before I stat typing away.
Yes I have two books finished and I’m about half-way through editing the first book. After that, my CPs and I will get together and write the dreaded stnopsis, and query letters!!!
My plots I have to work on, but the characters pretty much for the most part come already formed in my vivid imagination.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:51 amMichelle
Ooooooooooh, what if he thought he was kissing someone else? Then, delightfully, learns he’s kissing a woman he’s never met before … but definitely wants to get to know better by the end of the chapter. And what a first meeting, huh?
Makes for an interesting hook!
Good luck with it!
August 31st, 2006 at 12:39 pmSophie
Sophie,
That’s a great suggestion, and I did play around with something along those lines. But I already have the setting and situation for the first few chapters and it just doesn’t fit. But I think I finally found a possible solution, so I’m gonna see if it works out when actually writing it
Michelle, good luck with that synopsis. I know I’m dreading mine, and I’m not allowed to start writing my next MS until I’ve written the synopsis. *lol* And as I’m almost done with proofreading and editing I’m running out of excuses for not writing one *lol*
Emily
August 31st, 2006 at 1:11 pmMy characters came to me first…specifically my heroine. My plot popped into my head shortly after and I thought, BAM! That’s it! Since then, I’ve outlined the entire book and still add little scenes in between as I go. Now I just need to finish it!
Good luck to you Emily!
Andrea
August 31st, 2006 at 2:12 pmAnyone who’s been keeping up with my blog knows I have the most problems with plots. LMAO Now that’s an understatement if I ever heard one!
August 31st, 2006 at 5:39 pm*sigh* I can’t explain it, but my characters just ’speak’ to me….
August 31st, 2006 at 9:16 pmI get character ideas first and usually some sort of situation or basic plot idea. I’m definitely a pantser. Interestingly, the heroes usually come to me first. Not sure why that is!
Darcy
P.S. Michelle - are you watching too much Blue’s Clues or do you really have “handy dandy notebook?” LOL!!!
August 31st, 2006 at 9:18 pmAnother wonderful blog, Emily. For me, my characters usually come first. The idea for my current story came while listening to Howie Day’s Collide. I could see my H/H the very first time they meet, both realizing they both have met their match.
I’m not a pantser at least not with this book. However, I think I’ve over planned so much with this book that it’s taken me a long time to take it off the ground.
Isabel
August 31st, 2006 at 10:05 pmEmily, You crack me up! Let’s just say one of my kids really loved that show…and it’s a sure sign you’re a parent if you caught the phrase “handy-dandy notebook!”
LOL
Michelle (Who’s notebook is hardcover with horizontal stripes or red, pink, blue, purple and brown, thank you VERY much.
August 31st, 2006 at 10:12 pmEmmie, what if he knows exactly who she is? What if he’s wanted to kiss her for years and finally screwed up the courage? What if he knows they can never be together but he seizes the moment anyway?
To answer your question, sometimes I start with characters, sometimes a bit of plot — they seem to grow and progress together. I love plotting. I’m really anal about it. lol. But then I also like to leave room to let things surprise me.
hugs!
August 31st, 2006 at 11:03 pmK
Well Emily, you know you can toss these ideas to any of us and we’d gladly help you find the perfect kissable moment hehe.
Best of luck to you with the scene.
Michelle, you can have your “handy-dandy-notebook”, just so long as you don’t start singing the songs from Blue’s Clues like my sister does.
My notebook is actually a pretty journal looking thing with flowers all over it, looks kinda like something you’d see in a scrapbook.
September 1st, 2006 at 8:36 pm