I shouldn't have tried to force my plot ~ NaNoWriMo sample chapter next week

Once I realized why I was having so much trouble with my plot, I was able to fix it. I was trying to force the plot to be something that it wasn't. I’d spent a lot of time on the characters back-stories, but then their pasts didn't impact the plot at all. So, it turns out what I thought was my plot was really just a subplot.

I hit my 50k on Wednesday, (Yay!) but I have a lot left to write before my story is finished. I know what is going to happen up to my climax now, but I still have to figure out how it’s going to end. Who’s going to be the real bad guy after all? At least I have plenty of options.

I’m glad that I attempted NaNo, because it’s taught me a lot about writing a plot.

To celebrate the end of November I’ll posting my first chapter here next week, after I've edited it a little. Sorry for the short post, I've been having a lovely Holiday weekend with my family.

How is your writing coming?

Plotting… I’m a writer it's what I (should probably) do

Panster vs plotter, I have no idea where these terms come from, but they describe the two methods of writing. A panster sits down and writes, (albeit with a clue of where things are going). A plotter plots out the story before starting, with pretty diagrams and summaries.

How does this whole plotting thing work? Since I've been a panster,  I don’t actually know, so I’m just going to link to some people who do. (Stupid autocorrect keeps making it punster… I do not make puns!)

Sometimes the directionally disabled need a map.

When I started my first novel, Woven Magic [insert book plug here], I had a pretty good idea of the plot and where I wanted it to go before I started. I didn't write a summary or anything, it just came together.

My nanowrimo novel on the other hand… is still a bunch of disjointed chapters. I've been reading online about plots and the key points there are supposed to be in a story. I don’t want to follow a blueprint, because I think that makes things far too predictable. My first book, sorry I won’t plug it again, actually had all the key points at around the right places, so that made me happy.

For my nano novel, I’m going to have to write out a summary, or at least have a better idea of where my characters are going. Even in a character driven novel like mine, there should be a plot. I suppose that’s the problem, I started writing without a clue as to the plot. Now I've gotten my characters in such a mess I don’t have a clue how to get them out of it.

This book's world is a mishmash of science fiction and fantasy. It’s set on another planet with alien species, advanced technology, and sorcery. My sorcery is key to one of my characters, but I think it will feel like too much of an add-on if it doesn't directly impact the plot. Okay, so how can magic get them out of this mess? I suppose I have to teach my character how to use magic first… Stop rambling Molly.

If this wasn't the blog you were looking for and you wanted to know how to outline a plot, here are some sites I've found useful when I was searching on how to get myself out of my mess.

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/09/14/25-ways-to-plot-plan-and-prep-your-story/ (Funny writer, but warning he likes swear words.)

http://romanceuniversity.org/2013/09/23/a-matter-of-timing-positioning-your-major-plot-points-within-your-story-by-k-m-weiland/ (Explains the key plot point percents.)

http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/2012/02/secrets-of-story-structure-pt-1-why.html (A series of articles breaking it all down.)

The best advice I found was that the first 25%-ish of the story should be establishing the everyday world, showing the plot, and introducing the characters. At around 50%, something should go wrong, a big plot point to hit at what the climax is going to be, with another one at about 75%. (The second link goes more into this.)

In case you were wondering why this blog sounds different, I've been far too worried about sounding professional instead of just being myself. Since this isn't about writing, but my writing, it’s just me, casual like. I am the sort of person who gets stage fright from writing on my blog…, which is why I try so hard. I’ll be more professional next week, promise. ;)

How do you plan before you start writing?

Character Relationships ~ Fictional Friendship

Relationships between characters are important, because they show what kind of people they are and help them to feel like real people.

When meeting someone new you slowly get to know them, so I do the same thing when my characters meet. Whether it turns into a friendship or a romance, I allow them time to get to know each other. I like romance where it starts out as a friendship and then gradually becomes something more. I have nothing against love at first site, but I like my characters to have a connection beyond their initial attraction. Their feelings for each other slowly build over time.  

A character's friendship should also grow as they get to know each other. I wouldn't tell someone I just met everything about myself. The same is true when characters first meet, they should hold things back. Even after they've known each other for years, there are going to be things they still don’t know about each other. Everyone has secrets, and characters should too.

Secrets are a good way to add tension and conflict to the story, and can cause problems for a relationship. When one friend has been keeping something important from the other, it hurts and can change things between them, even more so if they were romantic. If they make up, this experience can bring them closer together, but for some things there is no forgiveness.

Characters are like people in the way that they betray one another, for various reasons. Even if a betrayal doesn't end a relationship, chances are it won't be the same, trust will undoubtedly have been lost.

Just because characters are fictional doesn't mean they should always get along. If a relationship is too perfect it seems unrealistic and can become dull. No matter how much we like someone, we fight with them sometimes. I find the opposite equally annoying, when characters constantly bicker even though they are supposed to like one another. All relationships have their ups and downs. It's how friends handle the downs that's important.

A true friend is there not only during good times, but stays during the bad times as well. When everything goes wrong for my character do their friends stand by them? These are the kinds of things that make characters who they are. As their friendships grows and they get to know one another, it makes it feel as though they are real friends.

What is your favorite fictional friendship?

I’m a fan of the way JK Rowling handled Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Writer’s block. What I do when my Muse is ignoring me.

http://mollymortensen.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/thinkingcreativity-raybradbury.jpg?w=462

Writers have lots of creative excuses for when inspiration fails, but no matter what you call it, it’s annoying, and if you’re like me where your mood is tied to your writing it’s depressing too.

So what do I do when my creativity faucet is clogged?

I have to remember that I am writing for fun, because I enjoy it. Even if it’s a job, it’s the one I’ve chosen. It shouldn’t be “You should be writing” but “You could be writing” because really, I’d rather write than do anything else. But, as much as I enjoy writing, there are times where I stare at the page and think, okay… now what?

Everyone has a different suggestion, because everyone is different and what works for me might not work for you. The trick is to find what inspires you, what gets your creative juices flowing.

I sit down and try to write. When I don’t know where the story is going I skip ahead and write another part, and if that shuts down I skip again. This creates some rather interesting bits and pieces of a story, but by the end, they usually all fit together.

If I can’t get anything down on the page, I pick up a book, because reading puts my head in a better place. Many people seem to favor music, but I’m not really a music person. Sometimes a certain song strikes a cord with me and gives me ideas, so just because something usually doesn’t work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try. Recently I’ve found inspiration from looking at fantasy artwork online.

One of my biggest problems is focusing on just one idea, and not being sidetracked by all the other stories bouncing around in my head. For years I bounced around and wound up not finishing anything.

There are things that do the opposite, put me in a bad writing place. Playing randomly on the computer or watching certain dumb TV shows is bad for my writing juju and nothing kills my creativity faster than video games.

When I need to know know what needs to happen next in my story, taking a shower or vacuuming usually helps, or any monotonous tasks where my mind gets bored and starts creating stories. Going to bed always solves my problem, especially if my computer is off. I lay in bed and the ideas start to flow. I’m not one to put writing off, if ideas are flowing, I write. Forget sleep, food, and all the other important parts of life, the writing is working.

There is nothing better than a good writing day.

What do you do when you are having trouble writing? What kinds of things have given you a headache?

My first person point of view in my current novel has given me problems, especially when the main character isn’t the center of the action. I hate it when I get stuck, because I’ve gotten my characters into such a mess that I can’t see a way out. Crating the problems is fun, solving them can sometimes be tricky, because I like intelligent bad guys and I don’t want to make things too easy for them. It’s all the more rewarding when it suddenly clicks, the pieces come together, and I’ve conquered my character’s dilemma, even though I’m the one who put them into it.

via WordPress http://mollymortensen.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/writers-block-my-muse-is-ignoring-me/

Writer’s block. What I do when my Muse is ignoring me.

Writers have lots of creative excuses for when inspiration fails, but no matter what you call it, it's annoying, and if you're like me where your mood is tied to your writing it's depressing too.

So what do I do when my creativity faucet is clogged?

I have to remember that I am writing for fun, because I enjoy it. Even if it's a job, it's the one I've chosen. It shouldn't be “You should be writing” but “You could be writing” because really, I’d rather write than do anything else. But, as much as I enjoy writing, there are times where I stare at the page and think, okay… now what?

Everyone has a different suggestion, because everyone is different and what works for me might not work for you. The trick is to find what inspires you, what gets your creative juices flowing.

I sit down and try to write. When I don’t know where the story is going I skip ahead and write another part, and if that shuts down I skip again. This creates some rather interesting bits and pieces of a story, but by the end, they usually all fit together.

If I can’t get anything down on the page, I pick up a book, because reading puts my head in a better place. Many people seem to favor music, but I'm not really a music person. Sometimes a certain song strikes a cord with me and gives me ideas, so just because something usually doesn't work doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try. Recently I've found inspiration from looking at fantasy artwork online.

One of my biggest problems is focusing on just one idea, and not being sidetracked by all the other stories bouncing around in my head. For years I bounced around and wound up not finishing anything.

There are things that do the opposite, put me in a bad writing place. Playing randomly on the computer or watching certain dumb TV shows is bad for my writing juju and nothing kills my creativity faster than video games.

When I need to know know what needs to happen next in my story, taking a shower or vacuuming usually helps, or any monotonous tasks where my mind gets bored and starts creating stories. Going to bed always solves my problem, especially if my computer is off. I lay in bed and the ideas start to flow. I’m not one to put writing off, if ideas are flowing, I write. Forget sleep, food, and all the other important parts of life, the writing is working.

There is nothing better than a good writing day.

What do you do when you are having trouble writing? What kinds of things have given you a headache?

My first person point of view in my current novel has given me problems, especially when the main character isn't the center of the action. I hate it when I get stuck, because I've gotten my characters into such a mess that I can't see a way out. Crating the problems is fun, solving them can sometimes be tricky, because I like intelligent bad guys and I don't want to make things too easy for them. It's all the more rewarding when it suddenly clicks, the pieces come together, and I've conquered my character's dilemma, even though I'm the one who put them into it.

NaNoWriMo - Sounds strange, so what is it?

November is national novel writing month. The goal: Write 50,000 words in thirty days.

So, why join? It’s fun, meant to encourage good writing habits and you can make new writing friends and improve your writing together.

Is there a prize? Yes, you wrote a 50k story.

The magic number is 1667, meaning that’s how many words you have to write every day to make the goal. I’d say, write as much as you can, don’t think you’re there and stop. Plus, there are some days where the words just won’t come no matter how you force them. It happens to us all.

Writers are creative people, so we are great at excuses.

I can’t handle the stress. It’s nothing to stress about, you aren't out anything if you fail. November isn’t a good month, I know. I’m hoping to get a bit ahead of my word count for Thanksgiving.

I missed the first day. You can start at any time, even half way through November. There’s nothing wrong with being a bit behind, happens to me often. You can still take advantage of the event.

I don’t have a summary. You don’t need a summary. I don’t usually have a one anyway. Create a world, create characters, give them a problem, and let them go. My characters write the story I just record it.

Try to write everyday and before you know it, you will have a novel, or at least a novelette, as 50k doesn’t really make a novel anymore. (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about that long.)

Please add me as a buddy and we can help encourage one another.

http://nanowrimo.org/participants/mollymortensen

What do you think of the idea of NaNoWriMo?

My biggest problem with the idea is you aren’t supposed to edit, just write. I’m afraid I’m too OCD to leave something I don’t like or I know needs fixing.

There are special offers for free ebooks and discounts on software downloads for participants and winners. Check out this page to see them all. http://nanowrimo.org/sponsor-offers