Prepare for NaNoWriMo

Way back on January 1st of this year I invited you to join me in writing a new story, one prompt at a time in honor of my then new book, The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.

Then I was writing all about beginnings and, with the help of the prompts, slipped easily into the exotic world of the middle.

I stopped writing shortly before the crisis scene in my story. No surprise there.

Now, an urgency to finish cries out and I'm inspired to use November to finish what I started earlier this year. Now, there's not enough time to daily follow only one prompt at a time. To finish my story in one month with the help of the prompts, I'll need to determine where I left off and how many prompts are left.

I invite you to write with me, beginning November 1st. Start writing from the very beginning of a new story, drag out and resuscitate an old story you never quite wrote all the way to the end or simply finish the story you've been working on all year.

If you're following along and wish to comment or ask questions, please use Twitter and be sure to include @plotwhisperer and #pwprompt to catch my attention.

For more about how to write the toughest scenes of your story, join me from the comfort of your home for this 1 1/2hour plot webinar hosted by The Writers Store: Writing Strong Crisis and Climax Scenes: The Two Keys to Screenplays That Connect with Audiences (and Hollywood)
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Take the PLOTWRIMO Pre-Challenge:

You have 1 Month and 1 day to get a draft written in time for PlotWriMo. Beginning December 1st, follow the exercises on the Plot Whisperer blog to re"vision" and redefine the plot arc of your story. PlotWriMo is custom designed to ensure your success even during the busiest time of the year.
Begin 2014 ready for a powerful rewrite.
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The following resources support you in your pre-challenge:
1) Plot your story step-by-step with the help of

The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
named BEST BOOKS FOR WRITERS by Poets&Writers. The author provides insight on how to create works of fiction with powerful stories and focuses on how to devise a Universal Plot, plot lines and subplots, compelling scenes, and character transformation.
 
3) Refer to The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing

for writing prompts for scene #1 to the very The End, one prompt at a time.

4) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube

5) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.

For more tips about how to use plot and the Universal Story in your novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:

Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)

Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Plot Whisperer on Pinterest 

***** 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 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.

Today, I write.

Writing One Prompt at a Time Straight into the Middle of a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay

The deeper you write into the Middle of your novel, memoir, screenplay, the riskier your commitment turns to write a story with a plot from beginning to end following one prompt at a time from The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.

By accepting this challenge, you forfeit your right to go back and start again or read what you've written. You resist the temptation to rewrite and revise and mess around with what you've already written and instead daily face the blank page and write into the unknown.

By Prompt 34, you find yourself everyday writing without any self-imposed doubts about what comes next, writing with the freedom of not having to plan and plot, and writing with the promise of reading the entire rough draft once you've reached the end at least one time.

By the middle of your story, you've established a writing ritual. You're showing up to write more consistently. Now, your imagination wanders without needing to come up with "what next." Instead, you find yourself stretching to expand and deepen the ideas you've already come up with while always looking toward the end, the climax, and the protagonist's final confrontation and crowning glory.

Writing daily by following the prompts provided you find yourself more and more you leaving behind the drama in your own life for the drama in your story.

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 inThe 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

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

Had a Great Start -- Back on Track Tomorrow

Well, now I'm completely flummoxed. Having contracted the flu or some other evil kind of yuk that knocked me under for a few days, I am behind. Behind, not only with my writing but, of course, also with this day-by-day idea of following together with you the plot prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. So, what to do now? If I start up from where I left off at Prompt #2, I'm way behind any of you who were following and have continued on your own.

Oh well, we do what we can.

My plan is to start up again tomorrow with Prompt #3 and hope for the best.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

See you here tomorrow.

If you're following along and wish to comment or ask questions, please use Twitter and be sure to include @plotwhisperer and #pwprompt to catch my attention.

The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. This book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. The book also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts for how to write a novel, memoir, screenplay with a plot. 

Join me here everyday as together we write our stories from page one and through all the prompts to the very end.

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

Writing Forward without Going Back

Writing Prompt #2 in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing allows you to return to what you wrote from Writing Prompt #1. I generally frown upon writers going back over what you've previously written because all too often writers get ensnared in that loop of going back to the beginning rather than forging forward and securing the plot and structure in place.

In this case and in appreciation of the nearly universal urge to read what you've written before moving on, you have this day to deepen the scene from Writing Prompt #1. You'll have further chances -- heck there are 120 prompts in the new book and that many scenes in a book could be a problem so you'll be given other opportunities to build on what you started the day before.

Tips for both PlotWriMo writers turned rewriters and PWPrompt writers how to write the beinnings scenes of your novel, memoir, screenplay, watch the Playlsit: Plot the Beginning

If you're following along and wish to comment or ask questions, please use Twitter and be sure to include @plotwhisperer and #pwprompt to catch my attention.

The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. This book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. The book also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts for how to write a novel, memoir, screenplay with a plot. 

Join me here everyday as together we write our stories from page one and through all the prompts to the very end.

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

2013: Your Year to Write a Story with a Plot

In honor of my new book, The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing, I invite you to join me in writing a new story, one prompt at a time.

Today is all about beginnings.

"Beginnings form the foundations upon which everything else rests. Beginnings, through fragile, emody great heart and great hope."

Beginnings can also be scary, especially when you step out without much of a pre-plot plan about what you're writing.

Tips for both PlotWriMo writers turned rewriters and PWPrompt writers how to write first scene of your novel, memoir, screenplay, watch: Plot Tip: First Sentence / Paragraph of a Story

If you're following along and wish to comment or ask questions, please use Twitter and be sure to include @plotwhisperer and #pwprompt to catch my attention.

The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. This book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. The book also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts for how to write a novel, memoir, screenplay with a plot. 

Join me here everyday as together we write our stories from page one and through all the prompts to the very end.

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

5th Annual Plot Writing Month ~~ Day Thirty-One

Today marks the final day of the 5th Annual International Plot Writing Month also known as PostNaNoPlotPerfection aka PlotWriMo for writers intent on crafting a story with a plot.

Tonight after all the festivities of saying goodbye to '12 and greeting '13 wind down and before you fall asleep, see yourself tomorrow writing. 

I'm beginning a new story tomorrow following one prompt at a time from The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. We'll likely move through our stories at a similar pace. Continue to visit here for plot support, one scene at a time, one writing day at a time.

May all your dreams come true next year...

Available Now:
The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to finish every one of your writing projects. This book guides you through each stage of the writing process, from constructing compelling characters to establishing an unforgettable ending. The book also helps you get into the habit of writing creatively every day, with brand-new imaginative prompts for how to write a novel, memoir, screenplay with a plot. 

Join me here 1/1/13 and together we'll write our stories from page one and working our way through the prompts all the way to the end.

To familiarize yourself with the basic plot terms we use throughout December:
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