A Plot, A Plot. My Chocolate for a Plot.
The time has come to begin the next book. And I’m stymied.
Usually a new idea arrives, almost on cue, a few weeks before the WIP is finished. In fact, sometimes I can hardly wait to finish the current work because I’m eager to get started on the next one. The ideas for all three previous stories each appeared first as a scene. The scene developed outward from there into the whole.
Well, sure enough, about three weeks ago a hero and heroine popped in for a cup of tea. Told me their life stories up until the time they met. Told me what they wanted out of the future, although they weren’t sure how to get it. I smiled. “Leave that to me,” I muttered.
They had just said goodbye, when the villain slunk through the door, calling for a cup of ale. He settled for coffee. With a sneer, he told me just enough to make me really dislike him. Then I recalled that a well-known author (whose name does escape me) said every villain is the hero of his own story. Perhaps Sir Bad Guy did have a sad childhood. I’ll think about it.
So I sat down to begin my process. Usually I do an initial write-through with backstories and overview of the whole book. In the past, this rough synopsis has run about three pages, single spaced. I started to write:
Backstory on heroine and her motivation up to the point she meets the hero? Check.
Backstory, et al, for hero? Check.
Inciting incident for their meeting? Check.
Motivation for villain? Check.
Then I hit a wall--and realized--I have no plot.
Yikes!
For the next several days, I wrestled with one option, then another. To no avail. Today I took the problem to my critique group for a brainstorming-plotting session.
Bless them, they had several suggestions, and I have some points to build on now. Just talking out the problem helped tremendously. One thing I realized; I need to go back to my research books to pin down the historical events so I won’t have King John in the wrong location as the action takes place.
I’m looking forward to it.
At Last!
How do ideas come to you? Does your new story interfere with the WIP?
10 comments:
You are so methodical. I'm impressed. :)
I usually forget the conflict - he winds up helping her overcome which doesn't help the story at all.
I've been told my characters are too nice. I guess I'm writing my fantasy world... LOL
Good luck finding your plot.
Glad to hear you're starting a new story.
What a great post! I'm having the same problem right now.
Selena Fulton
Finding that "story worthy" idea can be really tough. There have been a few times I start out strong then realize I just started writing what I hoped would be a novel using a subplot.
I don't know what I'd do without my CP. She majored in plot, I majored in emotion. Together we're unstoppable! :-)
Lynn, I loved your comment about having characters that are too nice. I'm the same way. I hate to have really bad things happen to my characters--even my villains are nearly as bad at the end as they start off to be (well, except maybe one.) But I want everyone to get alone and be happy :)
Selena, it's heck, isn' it? Good luck with finding the path through the woods! LOL
Mindy, How disappointing to do that. But at least you recognized when your story took that turn. Hope it's going well now.
Carla, I so agree about the CP's. And you're lucky to have found good, supportive ones. They are incredibly valuable. I couldn't keep on track without mine, either. They're golden!
Great post! I don't remember where or when I get my story ideas, but I know they come at odd times, like when I'm in the shower, or I'm driving, or I'm half-asleep. I had an idea for the villain in my WIP while watching a presentation at a British-American Chamber of Commerce meeting. :)
My problem is that I am terribly undisciplined. When a story idea strikes I have to run with it, at least for a little while. I need to be more methodical.
Good luck with your story!
Post a Comment