Pre-Plot or Write?

She has several successful YA novels, a memoir, and an adult novel published by major publishing houses and a contract for the novel she's working on now. Having never considered theme in her writing and wanting to use theme to deepen her new story, she bought The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories. After filling out the exercises, she asked for a plot consultation to work further on theme and, for the first time, to pre-plot the character emotional development rather than see what happens writing by the seat-of-her-pants.

She's been pre-plotting for more than 6 months, working out the non-linear dramatic action plot, the magical realism plot, the historical plot. We spent two hours, brainstorming the thematic significance statement while concentrating primarily on the protagonist's character development.

After she better understands the role of the scenes that lead up to the crisis and following the biggest scene in the story so far, she hung up from the consultation with lots of ideas to incorporate and the energy to start writing. A couple of weeks later, she asks for more time together. By then, she's firmed up the themes and worked out more of the magical legacy for her new story.

At the end of our session together, rather than support her urge to continue working out the various plots and theme and character development, this time I encourage her to begin writing. At some point, she has to get out of her head planning and plotting and get into her body and write. Writing is where the magic happens. Getting close to the character in moment-by-moment scenes connects her better to the character development than merely thinking about what she'll do or not do. She's ready.

Her time to write is now.

Today I write. How about you?

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1) Track Your Plot at the Scene Level Webinar
Learn to Maximize the 7 essential plot elements in every scene (one of 7 essential plot elements in every scene is CONFLICT) from the comfort of your own home.

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Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot reinforces daily writing practice and allows for more productivity in 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 inThe 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
Plot Whisperer on Pinterest