Saturday, August 19, 2017

HOW TO MOVE YOUR PLOT ALONG

Here we are with our August Round Robin Topic. This month the question is: when you are stumped on moving a plot line forward, what do you do to reinvigorate your imagination and get your characters moving?  

One of the first things I learned on this subject was to have something happen to your character(s). Preferably something bad! As an introductory creative writing tutor explained it, “Shoot the sheriff on the first page”.

Since those early days of introductory creative writing classes, I’ve learned that if you do hypothetically shoot the sheriff on the first page, you need to have a lot more to backup that action all the way through the book – especially if you want to avoid the dreaded sagging middle.

Writers who plot may be ahead of the game on this issue. They may have all their scenes in place and know what is going to happen to their characters. Maybe not so much for a writer who is a pantser – writing more organically and from the ideas in their head rather than bullet points on a page or sticky notes on a white board.

I tend to be a bit of both. I know my characters, I have an idea of where the story is going so flesh out my plot points before I start but I can still get caught out. Initially, I may just put the writing aside so the ideas can flow and gel into some sort of cohesion. I’ll revisit my characters’ motivations. Who wants what the most? What will they do to get it? What are they afraid of if they don’t achieve their goals? Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation, and Conflict is one of my go-to craft books when I need a nudge.

Is this a place where I can reveal something about my characters? Maybe something good/bad from the past that neither knows about the other. It better be juicy because it could affect the relationship (not necessarily a romantic one) between my characters, for better or worse. Deep, dark secrets surfacing could hurt your character, or maybe explain why a character acted the way they did. Does your character need protecting from this secret? If so, why?

Using your setting to propel your plot line could also work. An environmental threat like a blizzard or a hurricane could prompt your characters into doing something extraordinary. I think we’ve all heard of someone suddenly displaying superhuman strength to move an object in order to save someone else. But please, if your character cannot swim, don’t have him/her dive into a raging torrent to save someone from drowning. The actions have to be plausible and in keeping with your character’s character.

Sometimes I’ll simply take the section I’m stuck on, start a new document with a lot of ‘what ifs’ and play with it. What if my heroine is trapped in a burning building? What if my hero has a broken collar bone and can’t get to her? What else might he be able to do? Who else might be involved in this scene?

I have generally found that if I do this, the plot picks itself up and off I go again. Like life, you never know when the curveballs are going to come your way, or how you are going to deal with them until they happen. Keeping an open and curious mind can lead to endless possibilities. It’s why I love writing.

Take a look at these other fine authors and see how they deal with their plot lines.




12 comments:

  1. I am a follower of Debra Dixon's Goal Motivation and Conflict as well. But one other comment you made rang a bell, too. Long ago, when I lived in Maine, I belonged to the Maine chapter of RWA and one of our members who'd just landed a big 6 figure contract gave a workshop. The thing I remember clearly from that talk was Don't Let Your Heroine Get Comfortable. If things are going too well, have her run into a wall, slam a door in her face, have her well laid plans blow up in her face. Sounds like your advice to wonder if this place you're stuck at is where something bad needs to happen.

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    1. My local chapter of RWA, CaRWA, invited Debra Dixon to present a workshop for us. She gave a lot of very good information. As I'd bought her book in preparation for the workshop, I highlighted text as we went along instead of taking notes. I found it interesting then and still useful now.

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  2. Thank you for this, Victoria. I love the idea of revealing a dark secret from the past or throwing in a storm or some bad weather! I once read that you can introduce a new character too...

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    1. Dark secrets are a wonderful vehicle! Thanks for the comment.

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  3. Victoria,
    We have a lot in common. I, too, am half-pantser, half-plotter. And, like you, I really try hard to get the setting right and add some drama too it. I noticed several other writers do the "What if" exercise, and I am going to try this soon, as it can lead to plot breakthroughs. Secrets are gold, and we can start telling them when we get stuck. Enjoyed your post. A lot.

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    1. Thanks, Judy. Plotting, too me, is too cold blooded! I love the surprises I get from my characters even though at times they can be really annoying. Only another writer can understand that. Thanks for dropping in.

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  4. It sounds like 'What if' questions are the answer!!

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    1. Or there is also 'what then?' I'm not sure if that was advice from another workshop on deep point of view, but I've found it works too.

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  5. Victoria, plotters may have a plan but it's like a road trip, you never know when you'll hit a detour and end up lost or miles away from where you want to be.

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    1. I guess that's what makes the writing life so interesting. And I don't know about you, but I'm never bored when I have so much to write!

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  6. I liked some of the question's you ask about your characters. It's another way to get to know them better. Good post. Beverley

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