Comments on: Plot Backward to Move Forward with Your Novel https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/ A Blog On Writing Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:33:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: ? Writing Links Round Up 12/31-1/4 – B. Shaun Smith https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-139181 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:07:51 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-139181 […] Plot Backward to Move Forward with Your Novel […]

]]> By: janicehardyauthor https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138191 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:50:34 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138191 In reply to Julie Glover.

I have a good friend who writes that way. I don't know how you guys do it, but I'm happy it works for you. Though with this book, I get a much better sense of how that would work really well. It does lend itself well to some genres.

]]> By: janicehardyauthor https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138190 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:48:56 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138190 In reply to Victoria Marie Lees.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

]]> By: Julie Glover https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138169 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 16:55:26 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138169 I'm not really a plotter — even with my whodunnit mysteries! — but I do what you're talking about in a different way. That is, I will write scenes out of order. So I might write a reveal later in the novel and then ask questions like you suggest to figure out what scenes lead up to that. It's a good way to keep the story structure solid. Thanks for the great tips, Janice!

]]> By: Victoria Marie Lees https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138148 Sat, 20 Oct 2018 15:18:35 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138148 These are great points, Janice. What a great way to think about writing mysteries, which I love. Thanks so much for sharing them. I’ve shared the post online.

]]> By: Jerold Heyward https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138120 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 19:03:52 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138120 In reply to janicehardyauthor.

Thanks much! I'll take a look.

]]> By: janicehardyauthor https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138119 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:25:31 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138119 In reply to Jerold Heyward.

Actually, a friend just this past week told me about one that you might like. It's called Scapple, and it's like mind-mapping,flow charty, free thinking stuff. It's from the same guy who created Scrivener.

One Stop for Writers (https://onestopforwriters.com/) also has some tools (they're subscription based, but affordable for the site). Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman run it, along with the same Scrivener guy--Lee Powell.

]]> By: Jerold Heyward https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138075 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:11:32 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138075 The * = PRELUDE: The Expanding Seas of Earth

]]> By: Jerold Heyward https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138074 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:10:37 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138074 Interesting. I'll try it on the re-working of the second book of my SciFi trilogy*. I like stories with multiple key characters responding/reacting to how their personal lives are affected by a main event (the story concept). Each has their own sub-plot and story-line, though all eventually merge in the end. It lets me explore more of the ramifications of the main event. And since each of these books needs to reach a specific destination, this method might help me navigate. I have a question... is there any plot diagraming software you might recommend. I use Scrivener (absolutely wonderful!), which has "cork board" notes that can be moved around, but I'd like to find something more visual for plotting purposes.

]]> By: janicehardyauthor https://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/10/plot-backward-to-move-forward-with-your-novel/#comment-138072 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:31:29 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=34939#comment-138072 In reply to Maggie Blackbird.

I don't write romance, so you'll probably want to do a bit more research on this, but overall it's very similar to any other novel. The big difference in the emotional impact I believe. You'll typically see your "meet cute" in the beginning, the first sign of the problem keeping the two lovers apart at the end of act one, something big and unexpected to create trouble for them at the midpoint (they're often have secrets that come out here), an emotional disaster at the end of act two (secrets here if they didn't come out earlier), and then growth into the people they need to be for the climax.

Often the character arc mirrors the plot arc much stronger since romance is so rooted in emotion. The characters want to be together so the problems come more from them not being emotionally ready or secure to get over their baggage and be happy with each other. Mistrust, hangups, whatever their flaw is holding them back.

Does that help?

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