Comments on: Part Five: Plot Humps For Planners http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html Non-Fiction & Fiction Writing, Editing, and Web Technology for Freelancers Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:04:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-96 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Sat, 13 Oct 2007 08:55:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-96 Kelley: I've never heard it put that way before. Are there any links to the NYC 'thing'? I'd love to read more about it. :-)<br/><br/>Michele: It's always fun to return to fiction even if you primarily work with non-fiction. I hope these entries offer you some ideas and inspire you to return to the unique exploration of character depth and world-building.<br/><br/>Jeff: Alas, I expect most or all of the DC's are troubles writers will cross at some point. It helps to do what we can to avoid little problems getting worse and it's always important to remember that these sorts of things can be fixed in future drafts. Welcome to the Writer's Round-About, it's great to see you!<br/><br/>Steve: I'm glad you've enjoyed the series Steve. It can be tricky to get characters out of their little corners but it can be fun too.<br/><br/>Thanks everyone for reading! Kelley: I’ve never heard it put that way before. Are there any links to the NYC ‘thing’? I’d love to read more about it. :-)

Michele: It’s always fun to return to fiction even if you primarily work with non-fiction. I hope these entries offer you some ideas and inspire you to return to the unique exploration of character depth and world-building.

Jeff: Alas, I expect most or all of the DC’s are troubles writers will cross at some point. It helps to do what we can to avoid little problems getting worse and it’s always important to remember that these sorts of things can be fixed in future drafts. Welcome to the Writer’s Round-About, it’s great to see you!

Steve: I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the series Steve. It can be tricky to get characters out of their little corners but it can be fun too.

Thanks everyone for reading!

]]> By: Steve M http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-95 Steve M Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:04:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-95 Great tips Rebbecca,<br/><br/>One of the joys i find in writing is letting the characters and plot evolve over time, but it does sometimes get me into a corner that is hard to get out of. This series has had some great advice Great tips Rebbecca,

One of the joys i find in writing is letting the characters and plot evolve over time, but it does sometimes get me into a corner that is hard to get out of. This series has had some great advice

]]> By: Scriptorius Rex http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-94 Scriptorius Rex Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:10:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-94 Most of those Devastating Consequences have happened to me at one point or another. Well framed advice, Rebecca. Most of those Devastating Consequences have happened to me at one point or another. Well framed advice, Rebecca.

]]> By: twizzle http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-92 twizzle Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:28:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-92 it's a great post, and loved the quiz, btw. I call it strings and mouseholes. From the Rowling/King/Irving thing in NYC. King said he sees his writing as following a string to the mousehole. And he has no idea what's in the mousehole--he just goes where the string takes him. Irving said he's has thoroughly inspected and pulled all permits on the mousehole before he goes in. Me? I'm the sheep. Before it gets shorn, and the wool even gets turned into the yarn that forms the string. Yes. I'm that bad. But, so far, it's working. it’s a great post, and loved the quiz, btw. I call it strings and mouseholes. From the Rowling/King/Irving thing in NYC. King said he sees his writing as following a string to the mousehole. And he has no idea what’s in the mousehole–he just goes where the string takes him. Irving said he’s has thoroughly inspected and pulled all permits on the mousehole before he goes in. Me? I’m the sheep. Before it gets shorn, and the wool even gets turned into the yarn that forms the string. Yes. I’m that bad. But, so far, it’s working.

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-91 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:18:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-91 *blushes* Thank you Virginia and Bill. I'm truly honored that you have all enjoyed this post so much. I'm glad others are finding my entries useful.<br/><br/>Kathleen, you may eventually come back to that story, or you may not. I know there are a couple I began that I won't return to. Sometimes stories are just there to begin and aren't actually meant to be finished. Sometimes, they ARE so follow your instincts. :-) *blushes* Thank you Virginia and Bill. I’m truly honored that you have all enjoyed this post so much. I’m glad others are finding my entries useful.

Kathleen, you may eventually come back to that story, or you may not. I know there are a couple I began that I won’t return to. Sometimes stories are just there to begin and aren’t actually meant to be finished. Sometimes, they ARE so follow your instincts. :-)

]]> By: Bill Fullerton http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-90 Bill Fullerton Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:18:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-90 First-rate piece of writing adive, Rebecca. I'm a "pencil planner." I do character profiles and an outline before starting a novel, but I write them with the firm conviction they aren't chiseled in stone but will change and evolve.<br/><br/>FWIW, I done DIGG'ed ya. First-rate piece of writing adive, Rebecca. I’m a “pencil planner.” I do character profiles and an outline before starting a novel, but I write them with the firm conviction they aren’t chiseled in stone but will change and evolve.

FWIW, I done DIGG’ed ya.

]]> By: Michele http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-93 Michele Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:40:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-93 Like I've said before, I'm more into nonfiction at the moment, but I am really enjoying this series, Rebecca!<br/><br/>Actually, when I was about 14-years-old, I started writing the first of a fictional series. I never finished it, though, and have at times wondered if I ever will. I think I might.<br/><br/>I have had fictional characters floating around in my head for a while now. I've written a few thousand words of yet another book, but haven't gone back to it yet.<br/><br/>You give a writer a lot to think about. Perhaps, I'll spend some time polishing my characters and plot and allow the fictional pieces I've began actually turn into something I can be proud of....<br/><br/>Smiles,<br/>Michele Like I’ve said before, I’m more into nonfiction at the moment, but I am really enjoying this series, Rebecca!

Actually, when I was about 14-years-old, I started writing the first of a fictional series. I never finished it, though, and have at times wondered if I ever will. I think I might.

I have had fictional characters floating around in my head for a while now. I’ve written a few thousand words of yet another book, but haven’t gone back to it yet.

You give a writer a lot to think about. Perhaps, I’ll spend some time polishing my characters and plot and allow the fictional pieces I’ve began actually turn into something I can be proud of….

Smiles,
Michele

]]> By: Kathleen Frassrand http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-89 Kathleen Frassrand Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:51:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-89 Oh that horrible writer's block. I actually stopped halfway through one of my novels and just gave up on it. I couldn't make the ending work. I am a planner, but I hadn't planned it well enough. Once my characters started making their own decisions on the plot... I lost my ending. It has been about a year now.. and I'm still patiently waiting for the perfect ending to POP into my head. UGH..<br/><br/>Thanks for all the great info in this post. It was a wonderful read! Oh that horrible writer’s block. I actually stopped halfway through one of my novels and just gave up on it. I couldn’t make the ending work. I am a planner, but I hadn’t planned it well enough. Once my characters started making their own decisions on the plot… I lost my ending. It has been about a year now.. and I’m still patiently waiting for the perfect ending to POP into my head. UGH..

Thanks for all the great info in this post. It was a wonderful read!

]]> By: Virginia Lee http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-88 Virginia Lee Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:04:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-88 Wow! I couldn't have read this at a better time, Rebecca. I tell myself that my improv experience will keep me from getting all shook up (heh) by my plot and characters, but I know that I'll run into a glitch here and there. I'm printing this post out and sticking it on my writing wall so I don't lose track of it. Wow! I couldn’t have read this at a better time, Rebecca. I tell myself that my improv experience will keep me from getting all shook up (heh) by my plot and characters, but I know that I’ll run into a glitch here and there. I’m printing this post out and sticking it on my writing wall so I don’t lose track of it.

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners.html#comment-87 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Tue, 09 Oct 2007 02:01:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/2007/10/05/part-five-plot-humps-for-planners/#comment-87 :-) You may have something there, Terry. The subconscious works in strange ways. Some writers believe they channel their stories, others believe the stories have always been inside them waiting for them to listen enough to get them on the page. I suspect we each come to our writing differently.<br/><br/>Perhaps each story is different as well. Two years ago I had a remarkable dream. I woke up from it inspired to tell it as a book. I wrote down everything I could remember of the dream and two years later the book still isn't written but I AM still determined it will be, some day. Meanwhile, I'm writing the first of a series of books that I'd never have imagined I could come up with. It was thanks to the inspiration of a friend that these characters and this world first found root but now I'm just as determined to see their story through to the end.<br/><br/>Were both stories always in my subconscious? Was just the first? I think perhaps, while we aren't writing our subconscious mind is working on the story so that each time we come back to the page a little more of it is already written in our mind.<br/><br/>The psychological roles involved in writing could be a whole new series. *chuckles* Thanks for stopping by, Terry, and for your thought provoking comment. :-) You may have something there, Terry. The subconscious works in strange ways. Some writers believe they channel their stories, others believe the stories have always been inside them waiting for them to listen enough to get them on the page. I suspect we each come to our writing differently.

Perhaps each story is different as well. Two years ago I had a remarkable dream. I woke up from it inspired to tell it as a book. I wrote down everything I could remember of the dream and two years later the book still isn’t written but I AM still determined it will be, some day. Meanwhile, I’m writing the first of a series of books that I’d never have imagined I could come up with. It was thanks to the inspiration of a friend that these characters and this world first found root but now I’m just as determined to see their story through to the end.

Were both stories always in my subconscious? Was just the first? I think perhaps, while we aren’t writing our subconscious mind is working on the story so that each time we come back to the page a little more of it is already written in our mind.

The psychological roles involved in writing could be a whole new series. *chuckles* Thanks for stopping by, Terry, and for your thought provoking comment.

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