Some writers start out writing a story knowing exactly who and what they are writing about and stay true to that vision from beginning to the end. Others write about one character doing one thing, then switch to another character doing something else, and then switch back to the first character or switch to an entirely new person with different action. Switching viewpoints reveals a multitude of sides to a story. Switching too many times leads to a tangled mess.
A writer works on the same historical novel for 5 years. She writes a completed draft from beginning to end in 3rd person omniscient. The time she takes researching and writing the first draft serves her well; she knows all the angles of her exotic and mysterious world and all the nuances of her major characters.
Unsatisfied with the distance created by the omniscient pov, she undertakes writing the story from beginning to end from the pov of a major male character in the clergy who is a true historic figure. Quickly, the writer knows he is the wrong choice to carry the story. She comes to me when she decided to write the story from the pov of view of the Grand Empress of her story -- a true historical figure.
Thanks to her broad and deep understanding of her story and the time and place in which the story takes place and a firm understanding of the craft of plotting, she plots out the entire story from the new viewpoint character's pov.
As she relates the scenes of the story, the writer struggles to surrender the story to the empress and release or push into the background some of the major elements that developed while writing the first draft and a half.
No time is ever lost when writing a story from beginning to end. Every draft, every dream, every scene makes for a better writer.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 4/3/2012
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: screenplay, a memoir, function of antagonists in a novel, the importance of setting goals for the character in stories, Add a tag
A joy working with a writer who looks to the end of her story for clues as to what belongs in the beginning.
She reports that some members of her critique group love the beauty of her language. Others complain about her story moving too slowly, that all the scenes seem the same, that the protagonist is "reporting" the story rather than living it.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/6/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
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meaning of a character's identification with objects in the beginning and the middle of a story, a memoir, how to write the climax of a novel, antagonists and subplots, and screenplays, Add a tagRather than start at the Climax at the End and work backwards, this year, I'm going to ask you first to focus on the Middle.
The Middle is the territory of the antagonists and subplots.
Make a list of the antagonists that/who interfere with the protagonist achieving her goal. The more at odds the rules and expectations made by society and created by the government, religious groups, bosses, schools, neighbors, our families and ourselves the protagonist the more tension is created in the story. For the protagonist to achieve her personal desires and save the species, grow and change and transform she ultimately will be challenged to break out and break away.
Mark each of the antagonists on your list that constitutes a subplot and runs primarily from the beginning of the middle to the end of the middle -- in other words, runs through the middle only (other than foreshadowing in the beginning).
For any major subplots, create a Plot-Planner-in-a-Plot-Planner. The subplots' Plot Planner, like the subplot runs only in the Middle, and has 4 Energetic Markers as does the Plot Planner for the overall story.
Keep track of how the themes of the subplots add to the overall story thematic significance.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 9/14/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
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screenplay?, a memoir, The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of the Universal Story Structure Any Writer Can Master PlotWriMo, Plot Book Group for Writers, new plot series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Add a tagThe next Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? Plot Book Group for Writers has officially begun!
and visit:
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 8/20/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
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I like to think of them as potter people. People who look like us but are more eccentric, often with a flair of whimsy. They magically appear, complete a task effortlessly and disappear -- the exact right person at the exact right time.
Peter Archer is a bit of a potter person to me. He also exemplifies to me an East Coast intellectual. Granted, my impressions are just that... I have never met the man. He was the editor assigned me for The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master. I admire him greatly.
Thanks to Peter, the rough draft of The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of the Universal Story Structure Any Writer Can Master turned into an amazing book.
Beneath the surface of both the vlog and the book is the element I am most passionate about --
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 6/12/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
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By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 2/19/2011
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
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Nothing worse than when a writer commits to a deadline and then is unable / unwilling to accomplish the feat. Well, that's a bit extreme but too often, I see what happens when writers fail to meet deadlines.
Such a failure frustrates me personally because rather than move forward in our consulting sessions, even if the writer tells me how much research she accomplished or thought she gave or plotting she did, if she is not writing, we are standing still.
Two, a writer's writing time is just that. Time to write. Not to brainstorm with others or to organize your space or to read internet news or play solitaire on your computer. Your writing time is time to write.
When breaking deadlines is chronic, though I can always cancel sessions until productivity improves, the writer's disrespect of herself costs her spirit (energy).
Once or twice is to be expected but when a writer comes up with more excuses than writing, such an abuse signals a problem.
There are two kinds of writing deadlines:
1) Deadlines imposed on you by another professional
2) Deadlines you set for yourself
Meeting the first kind of deadline is a critical if you wish to be a successfully published author. Book and magazine publishers, acquisition editors and critique groups expect you to be true to your word. Do that and you become a trusted and reliable team member.
Meeting the deadlines you set for yourself is great practice for when you are asked to keep a deadline for someone else. Also, meeting the deadlines you set for yourself is a personal message that you think enough of yourself to do what you commit to do and that you are able to count on yourself.
Be realistic when you commit to a deadline with others and with yourself.
Breakdown the total number of scenes or chapters or words you need to write overall
Divide by the number of writing days you have between now and the deadline
For every working day, schedule how much productivity is required for ultimate success
Show yourself and the muse that you are to be trusted.
Only make promises to yourself you know you can keep.
Show up for yourself.
Live up to your commitment and write.
Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? is playing on my YouTube channel. Currently, there are 21 Steps. Step 22 goes up later this weekend. A directory of the program is to your right. Each link takes you to a video that explains that particular writing concept.
Benefits of watching the Plot Series:
Great advice for developing subplots. I never consciously thought about them having distinct plot points just like the main plot, but looking back, it makes sense.
Thank you very much for this wonderful site. I'm currently working through the steps and I begin to see the universal story line. I am really surprised at my own story. I see, however, that it needs a major rewrite.
Helpfull advise really nice! Thnaks!
Its really resomable at some extend !
Thats really nice post!
Wow... Thanks.. I'm at the first time on your blog! And I like it! Thanks for sharing info. Keep up the good work
Hi Dolores,
I'm so glad you're pleasantly surprised by what you are learning about your own story! Yay!
Major rewrite should be effortless once all the analyzation is complete.
Glad you're following along!
fondly,
martha
aka
plot whisperer
Hi Connie,
Thank you for your comments. I'm pleased you are finding this process helpful!
Glad you're following along.
fondly,
martha
aka
plot whisperer
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