If you're joining 4th Annual PlotWriMo for the 1st time, we're entering the analyzation phase.
Time to make a mini-plot planner for your story. Grab a few 3 X 5 white index cards and colored pens, and transfer the themes you jotted down at the top of the index card. In the main body of the card, draw a tiny PP -- tiny because it only has to fit 7 scenes maximum for now.
Using the scenes/events you generated on Day Three, transfer to the index card with the tiny Plot Planner the scenes that best represent the 4 Energetic Markers. Continue exploring the themes as they appear.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/4/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
(Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
character development, dramatic action plot, Martha Alderson founder of PlotWriMo PlotWrMo, 4th Annual Plot Writing Month, Add a tagFour days have passed since the end of NaNoWriMo.
In the Native American tradition, mouse medicine focuses on the attention to detail and runs in about 5- to 6-week cycles. NaNoWriMo writers devote fastidious attention to writing at highly concentrated levels. Like the mouse, when we are in the flow of getting the words on paper, we often neglect other areas.
Hawks embody visionary powers and guardianship. I invite you to enter into the realm of expressing a higher vision of your story beyond the word level itself. Stand back. See the bigger picture and allow for new ideas.
Today:
Examples of themes like:
Poverty
Trust
Family
Prejudice
Forgiveness
Carry your lists and a pencil or pen with you everywhere.
I see you standing in line at the post office and the grocery store serenely grateful for the wait because it allows you more time to ponder your story. You wait in parking lines at the mall and in thick traffic with your eyes up and to the left glazed over as inspiration fills you. You unplug from negative thoughts about not getting enough done and plug into your story instead.
Story is all about character transformation.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/3/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
(Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
character development, dramatic action plot, Martha Alderson founder of PlotWriMo PlotWrMo, 4th Annual Plot Writing Month, Add a tagIf you are just joining us, welcome! Begin at Day One (you have to scroll down) and work your way here.
Today, make a list in order of all the major scenes or events you wrote (do not go back into the manuscript to locate scenes and/or events. Remember: no reading yet).
That is it for today. We are complying the materials we need for the rest of the month.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/2/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
(Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
character development, dramatic action plot, Martha Alderson founder of PlotWriMo PlotWrMo, 4th Annual Plot Writing Month, Add a tagFor those of you NaNoWriMo writers who have not finished the draft of your story, keep writing. I encourage you to reach the end. Having written the Climax helps with the work you do here. While you write, follow the steps. One should not interfere with the other but rather compliment each other. (If you haven't started writing and only have an idea for a story, ignore today's prompt and adapt all future suggestions to fit your needs.)
Today is easy. Print out a hard copy of your manuscript. That's it.
As tempting as it is with the manuscript sitting right there in front of you, remember, no reading. Not yet. Let the story sit. Let yourself unplug from the writing side. You are now entering the analytical side.
For those of you who shudder at the thought of structure and run from the idea of plot, I'd like to share Joseph Campbell's words:
"It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life.
Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.
The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to the the source of what you are looking for. The damned thing in the cave that was so dreaded has become the center."
Plot and structure are the jewels. You'll see. Trust the process.
**If you're just joining us today, please read the last couple of posts to catch up.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/1/2010
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
(Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
character emotional development plot line, major plot lines, how do I plot a novel, How Do I Plot a memoir, screenplay? Plot Series, secondary plotlines, dramatic action plot, subplots, Add a tag
For those of you who have not yet finished the 1st draft of your story, keep writing. I encourage you to reach the end. Having written the Climax helps with the work you do here. While you write, follow the steps. One should not interfere with the other but rather compliment each other. (If you haven't started writing and only have an idea for a story, ignore today's prompt and adapt all future suggestions to fit your needs.)
Today is easy. Print out a hard copy of your manuscript. That's it.
As tempting as it is with the manuscript sitting right there in front of you, remember, no reading. Not yet. Let the story sit. Let yourself unplug from the writing side. You are now entering the analytical side.
For those of you who shudder at the thought of structure or run from the concept of plot, I'd like to share Joseph Campbell's words:
"It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life.
Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.
The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to the the source of what you are looking for. The damned thing in the cave that was so dreaded has become the center."
Plot and structure are the jewels. You'll see. Trust the process.
Yesterday, I referred you HERE for added information about the three most important plot lines in every great story using as examples: The Girl with a Golden Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Space Between the Stars by Deborah Santana, click here.
For information about subplots. click here.
**If you're just joining us today, please read the last couple of posts to catch up.
new posts in all blogs
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/5/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dramatic action plot, Martha Alderson founder of PlotWriMo PlotWrMo, 4th Annual Plot Writing Month, character development, Add a tag
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: dramatic action plot, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 5 of 5
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/5/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dramatic action plot, Martha Alderson founder of PlotWriMo PlotWrMo, 4th Annual Plot Writing Month, character development, Add a tag
Wait... before you click away, I admit what we're doing here is not very romantic, especially if you've just emerged from under the spell of creating a new story. Still, what you do here for this month, rather than strip away, actually strengthens and builds your story's vital essence and clears a path for a dynamic rewrite.
PlotWriMo works best if you start at the beginning. Scroll down to Day One and work your way back.
If you've followed my blog or the plot series on Youtube or read my new plot book,
you are familiar with the idea of the Universal Story. Every story has its own unique energy. At the same time, everything around us follows a similar path. We are born, challenged, come to fullness, and die to who we were. Within the greater pattern, a similar version repeats itself innumerable times throughout our lives.
A Plot Planner replicates the rhythm of the Universal Story.
4 Comments on 4th Annual Plot Writing Month -- Day Five, last added: 12/8/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
You begin to wind down. Words subside. Your body return to rest. (I had a comment from a writer last year who had a tough time getting back to her regular writing routine in January after stopping for this month of reflection. If that is you and you want to continue writing, terrific! Start something new. Go back to something old. Just let the words of this current work-in-progress go... for now.)
1 Comments on 4th Annual Plot Writing Month -- Day Four, last added: 12/5/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
2 Comments on 4th Annual Plot Writing Month -- Day Three, last added: 12/3/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
For those of you who have recently resurrected an old manuscript to re"vision", don't reread your old work... not yet, anyway. When needed to complete the exercises, rely on your memory.
To familiarize yourself with the Universal Story and the basic plot terms we'll be using throughout December:
1) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. A directory of all the steps to the series is to the right of this post. 27-step tutorial on Youtube
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (Now also sold as a Kindle edition)
3 Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. A directory the book examples and plot elements discussed is to the left of this post.
For additional tips and information about the Universal Story an
1 Comments on 4th Annual Plot Writing Month -- Day Two, last added: 12/2/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
0 Comments on 3rd Annual International Plot Writing Month -- Day Two as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
Really interesting and nice thanks!
Nice kind story!
hello) very good post! thank you
I'm onboard for the whole month, and it's already paying off: My plot is clearer, I can tell which scenes I need that don't yet exist... Very inspiring! Thanks for creating this structure!
Thank you, Ruth, for your kind words!
Glad you're following along.
fondly,
martha
aka
plot whisperer