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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: Ursiel on October 09, 2007, 09:02:43 PM
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I've been thinking alot, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for or on a good plot. I want to write something but I can't seem to stick with one plot.
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Well, see, that's the funny thing...authors tend to hold onto their plots ;)
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That is not what I asked. I'm asking if anyone has advice on how to choose a plot. I have too many that I can't think of one to stick with.
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Maybe combine a couple of plot ideas and see what spawns?
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I had this problem too. Since I wanted to write all of them, I just had to confront myself and say "Look, prick, you will work on this one plot until it is finished, and then you can start the next one. Got it, bub?"
It seemed to work. I wrote a few short stories here and there to take a break from the pressure of the novel. That helped also, when I was stuck in the GSM. Took some stress off to just finish something.
So, I suggest just pick one and do whatever you need to do to make yourself work on that one alone. Even if the motivator is just to finish one of them so you can get to the next one. Whatever makes you stick.
That's just what worked for me, anyway.
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Take the one that has the best twists and the most complication.
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Head down to the library and browse through the volumes of plot summaries in Masterplots until you find one that feels like your characters would fit.
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Head down to the library and browse through the volumes of plot summaries in Masterplots until you find one that feels like your characters would fit.
Or steal from Shakespeare. They're mostly* solid plots, they have stood the test of time, and to a first approximation he stole all of them anyway.
*Mostly. Measure for Measure is completely insane.
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Something called Masterplots????? Good heavens, what is writing coming to these days. :D
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Something called Masterplots????? Good heavens, what is writing coming to these days. :D
It's not cheap, but most larger public libraries and university libraries have a copy in their reference sections.
http://www.amazon.com/Masterplots-Stories-Critical-Evaluations-Literature/dp/0893560847
At over $600 a copy, it's not the kind of book they're inclined to check out for free.
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Please delete this, the reply accidentally double posted.
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That one I have to take a look at. Interesting post! Thanks.
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My suggestion, come up with good, detailed characters, get into their heads, then figure out what the meanest thing you can do to them is, short of mulching them. Great characters, people you'd love to have a beer with, provide the best jumping off points, in my humble opinion.
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I have too many that I can't think of one to stick with.
Which ones have the most sex & violence? Ya can't lose with that!
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Everybody dies in increasingly horrible ways, and at the end the protagonist is alone.
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That is not what I asked. I'm asking if anyone has advice on how to choose a plot. I have too many that I can't think of one to stick with.
Make a list, using bullet-points, of your assorted plot ideas, all in one place. You might surprise yourself with what combinations & mixes complement each other. Sort of the intellectual equivilent of "I got chocolate on my peanut butter!" Of course, you'll come up with some turkeys, such as "I got peanut butter on my anchovies!"
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If all else fails, you can always try this plot generator (http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=quickstory).
:D
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Perfect source of plots: opera. Particularly Wagner. The best way to approach this is to read the summaries, tell yourself, "These are cheesy," and then figure out what to do to fix their plots. Voilą - instaplot.
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Make a list, using bullet-points, of your assorted plot ideas, all in one place. You might surprise yourself with what combinations & mixes complement each other. Sort of the intellectual equivilent of "I got chocolate on my peanut butter!" Of course, you'll come up with some turkeys, such as "I got peanut butter on my anchovies!"
I would have to agree with this, except give them all their own page...sort of like giving them the room to grow to their potential. If mixing is in order than do it. And save the papers(or file) just so that at a later date, if something just happens the hit you then you have what you saved, to continue to add. Nothing wrong with saving your ideas.