SPECIAL EVENTS:
1) Book Giveaway:
Comment on Writer's Block at The Bookshelf Muse. Win a free copy of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. Contest open until Saturday, March 2nd,
2) Feature Article:
Emotional Elements of Plot
Showing how a character feels in scene is critical to fuse the relationship between characters and the audience or reader. Showing how the character transforms is critical in delivering on the promise of your story. Learn the difference. Plot tips how and where to develop transformational emotional maturity. Read the entire article:
http://www.scriptmag.com/features/emotional-elements-of-plot
3) Plot Webinar:
Join me virtually on March 6th to Track Your Plot at the Scene Level, webinar hosted by the Writers Store.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
28 February 2013
24 February 2013
How to Deal with a Time Jump in Your Novel, Memoir, Screenplay
Upon entering the Middle of your novel, memoir, screenplay, if you have a time jump, this is where to make the jump.
The end of the beginning scene you wrote based on Prompt 30 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing moves your protagonist from the relative safety of the beginning into the exotic world the antagonists in the middle.
In satisfying the reader's expectations for conflict and plot twists early-on in your story, the reader moves forward into the story with trust. The beginning quarter of the story operates as a plot within a plot and ends on a high note of anticipate -- what happens next?
Jumping now in time, creates more curiosity and wonder in the reader as she moves into the great unknown of the middle. Now the story develops around the contrast between the world where the character started and where she is now.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Book Giveaway:
Comment today (2/27th) on Writer's Block at The Bookshelf Muse. Win a free copy of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Plot Webinar:
Join me virtually on March 6th to Track Your Plot at the Scene Level, webinar hosted by the Writers Store.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
The end of the beginning scene you wrote based on Prompt 30 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing moves your protagonist from the relative safety of the beginning into the exotic world the antagonists in the middle.
In satisfying the reader's expectations for conflict and plot twists early-on in your story, the reader moves forward into the story with trust. The beginning quarter of the story operates as a plot within a plot and ends on a high note of anticipate -- what happens next?
Jumping now in time, creates more curiosity and wonder in the reader as she moves into the great unknown of the middle. Now the story develops around the contrast between the world where the character started and where she is now.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Book Giveaway:
Comment today (2/27th) on Writer's Block at The Bookshelf Muse. Win a free copy of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Plot Webinar:
Join me virtually on March 6th to Track Your Plot at the Scene Level, webinar hosted by the Writers Store.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
23 February 2013
Writer's Block or Procrastination
By Prompt 32 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing you are beginning to better understand your story. You also understand how many holes you've created and you often feel like you're floating without a net. By now, you also appreciate the discipline it takes to write a story with a plot from beginning to end.
Now you know or at least are beginning to suspect that the reason you procrastinate about writing has nothing to do with being blocked or not knowing what to write next. The daily prompts in PWBook of Prompts do that for you.
The reason you procrastinate is because you're afraid. You're afraid what you write isn't good enough or clever enough or witty enough. You worry you'll never capture the brilliance you see in your head and translate it to the page and, even if you do, you know it won't be perfect so why bother. Or this, you delight in your own writing and still, you resist, it all seems like such hard work.
Replace your belief in scarcity with the belief that so long as you sit down, read the next prompt, open yourself to inspiration and write your intended daily word count, you have enough, you are enough. You always have been. You always will be... enough.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Book Giveaway: Next week, a couple of awesome websites are hosting a book give-away and party in celebration of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing release last month. Stay tuned for more information.
Plot Webinar: Join me virtually on March 6th to Track Your Plot at the Scene Level, webinar hosted by the Writers Store.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
Now you know or at least are beginning to suspect that the reason you procrastinate about writing has nothing to do with being blocked or not knowing what to write next. The daily prompts in PWBook of Prompts do that for you.
The reason you procrastinate is because you're afraid. You're afraid what you write isn't good enough or clever enough or witty enough. You worry you'll never capture the brilliance you see in your head and translate it to the page and, even if you do, you know it won't be perfect so why bother. Or this, you delight in your own writing and still, you resist, it all seems like such hard work.
Replace your belief in scarcity with the belief that so long as you sit down, read the next prompt, open yourself to inspiration and write your intended daily word count, you have enough, you are enough. You always have been. You always will be... enough.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Book Giveaway: Next week, a couple of awesome websites are hosting a book give-away and party in celebration of The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing release last month. Stay tuned for more information.
Plot Webinar: Join me virtually on March 6th to Track Your Plot at the Scene Level, webinar hosted by the Writers Store.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
20 February 2013
10 Tips to Immediately Create GREAT PLOTS
For those of you who missed my talk at the 10th Annual SFWC, I share the handout.
In Honor of the 10th Anniversary of the San Francisco Writers Conference
10 Tips to Immediately Create GREAT PLOTS for Your Novel, Memoir, Screenplay
By: Martha Alderson, aka Plot Whisperer
GREAT
1) Generate external dramatic action excitement with a concrete goal for the character in every scene
2) Rather than tell the protagonist’s backstory in summary, show what she is unable to do today because of her backstory wound
3) Establish scenes by cause and effect
4) Activate the 4 energetic markers first and fill in all other scenes later
5) Test yourself for what you’re really trying to say in your story, what your story is really trying to say, for the thematic significance
PLOTS
6) Plot the territory of the antagonists in the Middle as an exotic world to the protagonist
7) Love the first ideas that come to you in the rough draft. In subsequent drafts, replace your initial ideas with ones that provide more depth and are more closely tied thematically to the whole of the story and are connected by cause and effect
8) Optimize your protagonist’s character emotional development transformation as you plot and write by keeping an eye out for the gift she brings
9) Take your story all the way from beginning to end before going back and writing the beginning again
10) Start plotting at the Climax and think backwards to the beginning
For More PLOT TIPS:
• How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? 27-step free tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/user/marthaalderson
• http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/ Best Writing Advice blogs as awarded by Writer's Digest 2009 & 2010 & 2011 & 2012
• http://twitter.com/plotwhisperer
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-PlotWhisperer/129253400461923?ref=ts
• http://www.blockbusterplots.com
(****NOTE: For those of you who are following along as you write a story from beginning to end following one prompt at a time, I'll start back in tomorrow at the MIDDLE. Gives you time if you need to catch up.)
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
In Honor of the 10th Anniversary of the San Francisco Writers Conference
10 Tips to Immediately Create GREAT PLOTS for Your Novel, Memoir, Screenplay
By: Martha Alderson, aka Plot Whisperer
GREAT
1) Generate external dramatic action excitement with a concrete goal for the character in every scene
2) Rather than tell the protagonist’s backstory in summary, show what she is unable to do today because of her backstory wound
3) Establish scenes by cause and effect
4) Activate the 4 energetic markers first and fill in all other scenes later
5) Test yourself for what you’re really trying to say in your story, what your story is really trying to say, for the thematic significance
PLOTS
6) Plot the territory of the antagonists in the Middle as an exotic world to the protagonist
7) Love the first ideas that come to you in the rough draft. In subsequent drafts, replace your initial ideas with ones that provide more depth and are more closely tied thematically to the whole of the story and are connected by cause and effect
8) Optimize your protagonist’s character emotional development transformation as you plot and write by keeping an eye out for the gift she brings
9) Take your story all the way from beginning to end before going back and writing the beginning again
10) Start plotting at the Climax and think backwards to the beginning
For More PLOT TIPS:
• How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? 27-step free tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/user/marthaalderson
• http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/ Best Writing Advice blogs as awarded by Writer's Digest 2009 & 2010 & 2011 & 2012
• http://twitter.com/plotwhisperer
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-PlotWhisperer/129253400461923?ref=ts
• http://www.blockbusterplots.com
(****NOTE: For those of you who are following along as you write a story from beginning to end following one prompt at a time, I'll start back in tomorrow at the MIDDLE. Gives you time if you need to catch up.)
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
14 February 2013
1st Energetic Marker & Major Turning Point in Your Story
Prompt 30 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing prompts you develop a scene showing the end of what has been in your novel, memoir, screenplay thus far. Next comes the middle where the real struggle begins.
For some writers, you couldn't get to the end of the beginning scene quickly enough. You followed prompts 1- 6, creating scenes and developing characters and relationships, conflict and dramatic action, setting and theme. Then, about halfway through the beginning section of the prompts book, you found yourself flipping ahead, combining more than one prompt in a scene, skipping prompts and struggling to develop meaningful characters goals and create enough tension and find the exact right secondary characters and becoming more and more impatient to get to the exotic world of the middle.
Other writers found the beginning prompts wondrous places to linger as you introduced things as they are in the story world starting out. The nearer and nearer you came to Prompt 30 and this final beginning scene, the slower you wrote. You took time to research authentic details rather than write, you filled out the exercises in for the beginning section The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories.
However you find yourself here, celebrate your achievement. You have written an entire quarter of your story.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
For some writers, you couldn't get to the end of the beginning scene quickly enough. You followed prompts 1- 6, creating scenes and developing characters and relationships, conflict and dramatic action, setting and theme. Then, about halfway through the beginning section of the prompts book, you found yourself flipping ahead, combining more than one prompt in a scene, skipping prompts and struggling to develop meaningful characters goals and create enough tension and find the exact right secondary characters and becoming more and more impatient to get to the exotic world of the middle.
Other writers found the beginning prompts wondrous places to linger as you introduced things as they are in the story world starting out. The nearer and nearer you came to Prompt 30 and this final beginning scene, the slower you wrote. You took time to research authentic details rather than write, you filled out the exercises in for the beginning section The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories.
However you find yourself here, celebrate your achievement. You have written an entire quarter of your story.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
13 February 2013
Plot Survey: (This comes out of and in reaction to the affirmation in Prompt 21 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing)
1) How often do you find yourself berating rough draft words and scenes you write?
Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
2) How often do you find yourself honoring rough draft words and scenes you write as new gifts, invisible right up until the instant when they appear on the paper in front of you, as if by magic?
Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
I look forward to hearing about your process. Please record your answers on the Plot Whisperer page on Facebook.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
1) How often do you find yourself berating rough draft words and scenes you write?
Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
2) How often do you find yourself honoring rough draft words and scenes you write as new gifts, invisible right up until the instant when they appear on the paper in front of you, as if by magic?
Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never
I look forward to hearing about your process. Please record your answers on the Plot Whisperer page on Facebook.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
11 February 2013
The Use of Objects to Evoke Emotion
Prompt 21 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing prompts you develop an object or place or detail you introduced in an earlier and that now can be repeated and then used again later for emphasis and with the potential to reveal deeper meaning in your novel, memoir, screenplay.
As you scan your story for a significant detail you've created in your story, look for anything that seems to represent (or could be written to represent) suppressed emotions in the protagonist. Flip through the scenes you've written for any detail that can stand in for this emotion-charged symbol, phrase, observation.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
As you scan your story for a significant detail you've created in your story, look for anything that seems to represent (or could be written to represent) suppressed emotions in the protagonist. Flip through the scenes you've written for any detail that can stand in for this emotion-charged symbol, phrase, observation.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
09 February 2013
Finding the Through-line, the Primary Plot
She stakes her claim on her story boldly and with confidence. Quickly, it becomes apparent to me that the writer is speaking in a different language. I stop her mid-sentence and ask her what happens at the climax of her story. She pauses and then continues. Still, in the foreign language. I stop her again.
"Rather than tell me about the special features and functions of the outer-space suits they're wearing and all the other technical details about the exotic world you've created for your story, tell me what the protagonist does at the climax."
She takes a stab at answering my question. Before she can leap back to her place of confidence and try to wow me with the authentic details of her story, I ask her what happens to the protagonist at the crisis of her story.
Again, another good attempt at an answer.
Not giving her a chance to say anything further, I ask her what affect the crisis has on the protagonist or, in other words, what does she learn at the crisis that helps her prevail at the climax?
The longer I probe and the deeper we dig, slowly the through-line or the primary plot that drives the external action of the story emerges. Unencumbered by the techie jargon and heavy details, the writer is free to roam the galaxy she's created in search of the dramatic action, character emotional development and thematic significance of her tale.
Yes, the authentic details she's dreamed up make her story unique and the establishment of all the inner workings of the story world is important.
Stepping back and evaluating the story at the overall plot and Universal Story level is essential.
Today, I write.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
"Rather than tell me about the special features and functions of the outer-space suits they're wearing and all the other technical details about the exotic world you've created for your story, tell me what the protagonist does at the climax."
She takes a stab at answering my question. Before she can leap back to her place of confidence and try to wow me with the authentic details of her story, I ask her what happens to the protagonist at the crisis of her story.
Again, another good attempt at an answer.
Not giving her a chance to say anything further, I ask her what affect the crisis has on the protagonist or, in other words, what does she learn at the crisis that helps her prevail at the climax?
The longer I probe and the deeper we dig, slowly the through-line or the primary plot that drives the external action of the story emerges. Unencumbered by the techie jargon and heavy details, the writer is free to roam the galaxy she's created in search of the dramatic action, character emotional development and thematic significance of her tale.
Yes, the authentic details she's dreamed up make her story unique and the establishment of all the inner workings of the story world is important.
Stepping back and evaluating the story at the overall plot and Universal Story level is essential.
Today, I write.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
05 February 2013
Time Out to Create a Plot Planner
Beginning with Prompt 6 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing, you're asked to plot the scenes you write above or below the line on a Plot Planner for your own individual novel, memoir, screenplay.
In an attempt to write purely from the Writing Prompts and without relying on the visual aide for as long as I could hold out, I kept delaying plotting out my scenes on a Plot Planner. The very rough and messy Plot Planner I'd sketched out when deciding to undertake the challenge to write a novel from beginning to end using the PW Book of Prompts no longer served me -- rather than keeping my mind organized, the rough plot planner confused and cluttered my imagination.
Finally, unable to calm the chaos, I took out time to create a plot planner using the smallest post-it notes to plot out the scenes I'd written from the prompts and added the vague ideas I had for each of the 4 Energetic Markers.
One color for the front story, a different color for the backstory wound, another for the romance plot, one for theme introductions, the Plot Planner quickly turned into a fluttering display of vibrant colors, gave me a sense of order and control, for now.
Today, I write.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
In an attempt to write purely from the Writing Prompts and without relying on the visual aide for as long as I could hold out, I kept delaying plotting out my scenes on a Plot Planner. The very rough and messy Plot Planner I'd sketched out when deciding to undertake the challenge to write a novel from beginning to end using the PW Book of Prompts no longer served me -- rather than keeping my mind organized, the rough plot planner confused and cluttered my imagination.
Finally, unable to calm the chaos, I took out time to create a plot planner using the smallest post-it notes to plot out the scenes I'd written from the prompts and added the vague ideas I had for each of the 4 Energetic Markers.
One color for the front story, a different color for the backstory wound, another for the romance plot, one for theme introductions, the Plot Planner quickly turned into a fluttering display of vibrant colors, gave me a sense of order and control, for now.
Today, I write.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
03 February 2013
How to Create More Dramatic Action in Your Novel, Memoir, Screenplay
Prompt 11 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing prompts you to introduce and develop a major antagonist for your novel, memoir, screenplay.
In many character-driven stories, the antagonist that most interferes with the protagonist reaching her goal is herself -- an internal antagonist. However, by always or whenever possible, creating a secondary character or even a major viewpoint character who acts as an external antagonist allows for external action rather than internal monologue. With an external antagonist on the page facing the protagonist, the action you write will always be dramatic and, so long as the antagonist is in control, those scenes always belong above the Plot Planner line.
Finding that exact right character is not always easy. The difficulty likely stems from the same issue I wrote about in the previous two blog posts as it has to do with maximizing the crisis. Women writers often resist, fear, shy away from and avoid having to create a dark side to their stories.
My advice: As in all other aspects of writing a story from beginning to end:
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
In many character-driven stories, the antagonist that most interferes with the protagonist reaching her goal is herself -- an internal antagonist. However, by always or whenever possible, creating a secondary character or even a major viewpoint character who acts as an external antagonist allows for external action rather than internal monologue. With an external antagonist on the page facing the protagonist, the action you write will always be dramatic and, so long as the antagonist is in control, those scenes always belong above the Plot Planner line.
Finding that exact right character is not always easy. The difficulty likely stems from the same issue I wrote about in the previous two blog posts as it has to do with maximizing the crisis. Women writers often resist, fear, shy away from and avoid having to create a dark side to their stories.
My advice: As in all other aspects of writing a story from beginning to end:
- Face the fear
- Challenge yourself to dig deep
- Write what comes.
Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot allows for a more loving relationship with your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.
Today, I write.
To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms used here and in the PW Book of Prompts:
1) Watch the plot playlists on the Plot Whisperer Youtube channel.
2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
3) Fill out the exercises in The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories
4) Visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook
Plot Whisperer on Twitter
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