tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post300647754632319296..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Oh, For the Love of Plot! (a NaNo update from my wife)Andrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-22117703866553097342012-11-13T07:52:53.938-08:002012-11-13T07:52:53.938-08:00Good for you! Just keep going:) It will all work i...Good for you! Just keep going:) It will all work itself out as you continue to write. Good LuckJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-46131970169479307012012-11-12T11:23:51.996-08:002012-11-12T11:23:51.996-08:00Michael: There'll be at least one more.
J.R.:...Michael: There'll be at least one more.<br /><br />J.R.: Oh, but I hate outlines!<br /><br />Jericha: Wait, wouldn't that mean a book of constant fight scenes? :PAndrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-23409767249671918832012-11-11T10:05:19.242-08:002012-11-11T10:05:19.242-08:00Oh, the plot. Damn its eyes. I'm using NaNoWri...Oh, the plot. Damn its eyes. I'm using NaNoWriMo to rewrite my novel from LAST year's NaNoWriMo, and this is draft FOUR, and I'm STILL struggling with the plot. My boyfriend's advice has been very helpful, though: "When you get stuck, have someone get into a fight." It's been working for me so far...jerichashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14313710420089008960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-19137816548708989452012-11-10T07:17:59.218-08:002012-11-10T07:17:59.218-08:00I think your wife is making great progress with he...I think your wife is making great progress with her first book! <br /><br />Here's a quick tip for a little make-it-count plotting, taken from K.M. Weiland's book Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success. That book is seriously worth the money, by the way. <br /><br />If you're looking to expose the bones beneath the surface of your story, I've found this very helpful:<br />On a blank sheet of paper, write "What if…?" at the top, and then write down every "what if" question that pops into your mind about your characters, plot bunnies, etc. <br /><br />Don't count on using all of the ideas, but if the exercise brings to light a couple of details you didn't know before, it's worth the time. Best of luck!J.R. Pearse Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00163199989017556255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-81494427407452707182012-11-09T20:19:22.611-08:002012-11-09T20:19:22.611-08:00Anne - Yeah, it's not easy to get into writing...Anne - Yeah, it's not easy to get into writing mode at 8 or 10 pm when I'd really rather just watch some TV with Andrew. Thanks!<br /><br />Alex - I've sort of been thinking about this story for many years, off and on. Since I hadn't taken the time to outline it before, well, I knew I would never do it. This at least forces me to do some of it.<br /><br />mood - Thanks!<br /><br />PT - Are you suggesting that Snow Crash would have been <i>worse</i> without the ninja pizza delivery guy? Wow, I hadn't considered that possibility before.<br /><br />LG - I honestly hate rewriting. I mostly don't do it; I prefer for my first draft to be my only draft. Fortunately, in the business world, I'm a good enough writer that this strategy usually works out for me. We shall see if I have the interest and courage to do a rewrite after NaNo is over :)<br /><br />Matthew - You can tell the difference because I'm the fun / interesting / good-looking one (not really, we just weren't clear enough in our signalling of who was doing the writing, it seems like).<br /><br />DG - If by "writing life" you mean drinking lots of coffee and getting to tell people to quit bothering me because I'm writing, then I am already in deep appreciation.<br /><br />Michael - Thanks, glad you enjoy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16208411347934458436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-40903518802100836332012-11-09T15:04:14.506-08:002012-11-09T15:04:14.506-08:00Keep plugging away. I enjoy these updates.Keep plugging away. I enjoy these updates.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-2457025574251069622012-11-09T11:03:48.821-08:002012-11-09T11:03:48.821-08:00Anne: The children are like little containers of c...Anne: The children are like little containers of chaos!<br /><br />Alex: I wasn't really laughing -at- her...<br /><br />mooderino: If we can keep getting the children into bed on time, we may survive.<br /><br />PT: See, I'm not sure I can get behind that, although I think it might be cool if the next pizza delivery guy we had was a ninja. Maybe a turtle.<br /><br />L.G.: Personally, I'm not for the rewriting.<br /><br />Matthew: I added into the title; I hope that helps.<br /><br />D.G.: Angst? What angst? Oh, man, did I do something wrong again? >runs off to find angst<Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-39754274543013557822012-11-09T09:35:47.430-08:002012-11-09T09:35:47.430-08:00What Matt said. (I guess we should have known by t...What Matt said. (I guess we should have known by the bolding who was talking).<br /><br />Wishing 'good and productive writing' to your wife. Trying to write a book gives us a much greater appreciation for the writing life and the writer's angst.<br />D.G. Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213237734772028645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-65367956340950055962012-11-09T06:39:59.633-08:002012-11-09T06:39:59.633-08:00I was halfway through this post before I realized ...I was halfway through this post before I realized it was by your wife.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-13916866409327299702012-11-09T05:58:53.101-08:002012-11-09T05:58:53.101-08:00Heheh, keep writing. Most writing is rewriting any...Heheh, keep writing. Most writing is rewriting anyway. That's what December is for. :PPLuanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-69394504510241942062012-11-09T05:48:52.175-08:002012-11-09T05:48:52.175-08:00All plots are better with ninja pizza delivery guy...All plots are better with ninja pizza delivery guys.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-48281817917028163472012-11-09T04:11:15.685-08:002012-11-09T04:11:15.685-08:00Sounds like everything's going smoothly (or as...Sounds like everything's going smoothly (or as smoothly as you could hope for).<br /><br />Stay calm and keep writing!<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-63460239288220083192012-11-09T03:27:47.355-08:002012-11-09T03:27:47.355-08:00Don't laugh at her! Lightning might come out o...Don't laugh at her! Lightning might come out of her eyes at this point. Sorry she's struggling with the plot. That's why I outline to death before I ever begin.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-19170674110153913902012-11-08T23:25:03.070-08:002012-11-08T23:25:03.070-08:00Cheers to you for plugging away despite your uncer...Cheers to you for plugging away despite your uncertainties. This must be difficult with work and children both because switching gears is tricky. I do like the idea of killing off characters though. That takes guts. Best wishes!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01681799401614263953noreply@blogger.com