There are several BIG problems with working this way, but the biggest is that editing takes forever and I never have much an overall game plan to guide me. I need more.
Recently, someone pointed me to Take Off Your Pants: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker.
As the title implies, it's a plotting books for people who don't plot. It's making sense (mostly) to my brain! YAY!
Some of it is a little too visual for a kinaesthetic learner like me (inverted triangles, I'm looking at you!), but I'm starting to get the hang of it.
I've followed the book through for an older story I knew wasn't working It didn't take long for me to realize the big issue in the story and it's helping me work out a way to solve it while keeping true to the story itself (which I love).
For the first time, I have some hope that I may be able to tighten up the pacing in my stories without driving myself completely crazy.
How about you? What resources do you use for plotting & outlining? Or, do you?
I have that book although I haven't read it. (I'm a dedicated outliner. Couldn't write without one.) Glad it's helping you.
ReplyDeleteIt's feeling good right now! We'll see :)
DeleteYou're learning how to plot!
ReplyDeleteI know!!!! Terrifying! :P
DeleteSounds like a good book to have. Glad that's it has pointed you in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
I hope so!!!
DeleteWow, I just saw a post today that was meant for pantsters! http://writersinthestormblog.com/2016/08/craft-books-for-pantsers/ This sounds like one that should be on the list!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I'll check that out! :)
DeleteI struggle with plotting and pacing in my longer works. I'm working on it, though, and hopefully will have a better handle on it come NaNo time. :)
ReplyDeleteI love NaNo!!! Don't know where I'll be in November, but I love joining in the fun!
DeleteOh, how exciting for you!
ReplyDeleteI'd put myself about halfway between plotter and pantser. I found John Truby's Anatomy of Story very helpful.
That's the book that Libbie Hawker recommends in this book!! I'll have to check it out. Thanks :)
DeleteI get that you're supposed to plot big time. I've read some awesome writers might spend 2 years outlining. It just doesn't work for me. My stories come alive as I write, truly. I pause occasionally and work on that very rough outline I started cuz I was supposed to, but really, it's a time waster for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteDenise - I'm similar, but I can NEVER get the pacing right. I've always got lags and gaps and I'm hoping this will help me tighten it all up! :)
Deletesome of the popular YA writers, if not all, should, methinks, read it too, I swear some of them have the writing level of a 10 year old bad pupil
ReplyDeleteWe're definitely reading different YA books! I've been super impressed by almost of the writing I've encountered!
DeleteI did Aveyard, Marie Lu, Tahereh Mafi, Casandra Claire for my publishers... they're all extremely flawed writers, some of them to the point of being ridiculous :( Mafi, for example, would fail miserably at my classes, if she was my student.
DeleteI remember Libbie from back when we both used to be on Absolute Write all the time! I believe she's also proving to be a success story as a self-published author who is able to make a living from her writing. Keep us posted on how this works for you!
ReplyDeleteI can't say I really have a resource anymore, or that I ever did. I read a fair number of writing books, but I can't say I have any that I go back to--I just write.
That's awesome!
DeleteI do as well, but my nature is to fix things, not make things worse, and that doesn't help the book get better!! :)
I am certainly an outliner. I will check this out. I was drawn in by your title--hee hee.
ReplyDeleteLOL - yay!!! I wonder how many people have been a bit surprised by the content!! :)
DeleteGotta giggle at the title! My current "go to" for story structure is a fab book called INTO THE WOODS A FIVE-ACT JOURNEY INTO STRUCTURE by John Yorke. It's amaze!
ReplyDeleteI know - I love the title! :)
DeleteSounds great - thanks!!
This looks like a helpful read. I use a chapter outline that I found online. I've used it for all my books except my first.
ReplyDeleteI've just never found anything that is compatible with my brain - hoping this one works! :)
DeleteHey Jemi,
ReplyDeleteThat book seems like a plot in itself. Whatever that means.
Never plot or outline writing. I leave that up to a certain celebrity dog.
Do I drop my pants here...here for dry cleaning?
Have a good Labour Day weekend, Jemi.
Gary :)
Penny does such a good job on the writing, I don't think you'll ever have need of such book!!
DeleteAnd... you might be better off at the actual dry cleaners!!! :)
Whatever it takes to make a good story, I'm for that. Glad you're finding a way to re-work that story so you're happy with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee. I know the problems, but I'm hopeful this is helping me solve them!!!
DeleteJemi, what works for you in the best thing for you to do :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm hoping this is it!! :)
DeleteHi Jemi! I clicked through and read about that book and then bought it. Thanks for sharing about it.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm really finding it helpful! Hope it works for you as well!!! :)
DeleteThanks for the link to the book.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great resource and I am glad it is helping you with your technique. :) I can see how editing would be tough!
ReplyDelete~Jess
It is!!!
Delete