Comments on: Getting Lost: When Your Plot Hides Behind the Details

By: thewriteedge

thewriteedge — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 01:53:02 +0000

Oh my goodness. I think you just helped me solve a big problem for my novel in the course of this article. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

By: jorgekafkazar

jorgekafkazar — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 22:01:43 +0000

Okay, I'm reading this, carried along by the fine prose, and start wondering: "Surely no writer could get THAT lost..." Then I remembered "The Muse" (1999), where exactly that happened. And actually got tweaked, sold, shot and released. At the time, I thought the concept was at fault, despite sounding good: Screenwriter develops writer's block; Muse comes and saves him. After reading your post, I'm thinking, "Nobody stood back and looked at the big picture. Nobody revisited character wants and needs." If they had, it might have saved the picture. Or they might have realized the plot was Sharon Stone ex machina and cancelled it. Not every concept holds up under development. Great post, great comments!

By: wendyleslie

wendyleslie — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:43:18 +0000

In reply to Janice Hardy. Thank you, Janice I read your articles and like the way you explain things. I just need to follow instruction. From your link, above, Michael Hauge's Six Stage Plot Structure appeals most to me. I like the 'essence' and 'identity' aspect of it. Thanks again, Wendy

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 11:04:50 +0000

In reply to wendyleslie.

Most welcome. Perhaps try different size outlines? I did a post on my site about six different types of structures of various types and lengths. One is just three structure points. Maybe one of those will fit your pantser personality, but still give you the guidance you need to avoid those rewrites.

Here's the link if you're curious:

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2018/04/5-ways-to-structure-and-plot-your-novel.html

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 11:00:43 +0000

In reply to dholcomb1. Thanks! I do, too. I view a synopsis like brainstorming on paper. It's great for getting those "first ideas" down so you can come up with even better ones.

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 10:59:29 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Different brains, different superpowers. Humor is hard for me, so it all works out. :)

By: wendyleslie

wendyleslie — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 23:03:32 +0000

Thank you Janice, ^ such a great summary of related articles to 'see the big picture.' As an airy-fairy pantser, I'm finally leaning towards the log line, blurb and synopsis start, to solve endless rewrites, all of which join the mound of 'stuff too good' to throw away....and I'm drowning in it. Wendy

By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 08:16:01 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. I can recommend a book which helped a lot; beyond the basic Dramatica, A new theory of story, written by the co-creators, Dramatica for Screenwriters has lots of detailed examples of how to use the theory or the software (which is much less expensive than it started). Those examples are crucial, especially with the terminology. Armando Saldaña Mora is a professional screenwriter, and makes it much clearer how to use the theory.

By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 08:12:47 +0000

In reply to Janice Hardy. I don't recommend Dramatica, especially not to beginners - it takes a lot of time to learn to use it well, and without that depth it isn't as usable as most other methods. But I swear by it because of how it aids my writing process, and lets me work in small chunks of story, knowing their connection to the whole has already been decided. I pants the writing, the how, but from material already gathered, and arranged in rough order before I start.

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 03:06:50 +0000

great points to think about as I'm plotting a new story.

I love writing loglines and a synopisis .

denise