tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2272663291878371313..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Unpredictable...That's What You Are: Keeping Plots Fresh Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36694632484614262032016-07-08T00:18:50.018-04:002016-07-08T00:18:50.018-04:00The whole book is like that, during the last revis...The whole book is like that, during the last revision at least three chapters got chopped, or whittled down to tooth picks and murged with the next one. Arrg.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34547102444825952272016-04-19T05:49:46.377-04:002016-04-19T05:49:46.377-04:00I don't know, as long as the story is well wri...I don't know, as long as the story is well written and well paced, how you wrote it shouldn't matter at all. It's the final book that matters. If it's a great story readers want to read, it should be fine. Pantsers sell books all the time, same as outliners.<br /><br />And both are affected by the fickleness of publishing :) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66194345888397995982016-04-19T05:47:14.252-04:002016-04-19T05:47:14.252-04:00Thanks! Thanks! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66816662529299277702016-04-13T13:03:08.719-04:002016-04-13T13:03:08.719-04:00I never outline. Every story I tell is the one my ...I never outline. Every story I tell is the one my characters take me through. The real question is how publishable such a story will be. I think they end up being more original, but too far outside the rather limited bounds that traditional publishers set for the books they'll accept.Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18316825723835547403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6696992670427121442016-04-12T12:34:45.641-04:002016-04-12T12:34:45.641-04:00Great post, as usual! I love it when the character...Great post, as usual! I love it when the characters take the reins in the story. The readers will most likely get hooked, especially if the characters don't go for the 'scenic route.' Looking forward to more helpful posts!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08791599588253220218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49316925847104434912016-04-11T08:26:23.067-04:002016-04-11T08:26:23.067-04:00Hopefully they're giving you better stories as...Hopefully they're giving you better stories as they do that :) Mine like to run off like that as well.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8487924814154575832016-04-10T15:26:58.803-04:002016-04-10T15:26:58.803-04:00My lovely characters like to do whatever they want...My lovely characters like to do whatever they want... then I get to go back and fix stuff...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140397176461144474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79236584365945536302012-09-06T07:51:26.671-04:002012-09-06T07:51:26.671-04:00Very fun! (only writers can say that and not get i...Very fun! (only writers can say that and not get into trouble) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46486985987923469692012-08-26T01:04:05.633-04:002012-08-26T01:04:05.633-04:00As in something happens and the character gets kil...As in something happens and the character gets killed off. :P<br /><br />And woot, yeah, that would be awesome. Lucky she's in France, though. Amazing scenery. :D<br /><br />Diana Juliannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645346227759177481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63021725408853144762012-08-16T07:33:12.864-04:002012-08-16T07:33:12.864-04:00Julianna, as in "they find a dying person&quo...Julianna, as in "they find a dying person" or "I'm going to kill them off?" <br /><br />We can ask her. She's living it up in France right now, but I bet she'll be looking for post ideas when she gets back. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52866777130803322122012-08-16T05:43:50.955-04:002012-08-16T05:43:50.955-04:00Whenever my subconscious leads me somewhere else, ...Whenever my subconscious leads me somewhere else, it's usually a character dying. >:D<br /><br />Also, do you think your friend Juliette can write a post on that? Seems amazing. :)Diana Juliannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645346227759177481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-29124979042484498552012-08-15T16:51:40.528-04:002012-08-15T16:51:40.528-04:00Amelia, it can be fun and frustrating. More fun on...Amelia, it can be fun and frustrating. More fun on a first draft., more frustrating on revisions when deadline loom, hehe.<br /><br />Wendy, same here. Sometimes you gotta let the muse have her way.<br /><br />Julie, going through a draft after a break can be such fun. That's great that it's surprising you! Must be a winner :)<br />Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77010803387904117252012-08-13T22:52:58.921-04:002012-08-13T22:52:58.921-04:00I love your idea of playing with it to see where i...I love your idea of playing with it to see where it may lead. No harm done in that!<br /><br />I'm re-reading through a draft right now, and since it's been a while since I've gone through it, I'm surprised by some of the turns!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39850566983397576442012-08-13T18:35:11.827-04:002012-08-13T18:35:11.827-04:00Thanks for the affirmation! I love when the chara...Thanks for the affirmation! I love when the characters decide to run a little bit with the reigns - sometimes they shout out with a stronger personality than I'm willing to give. Love the unpredictable!Wendy Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838968505007211095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32764891232443600242012-08-13T18:18:25.485-04:002012-08-13T18:18:25.485-04:00You are so right! And I love seeing where the stor...You are so right! And I love seeing where the story goes with these "scenic routes". Sometimes we end up in Serendipity and other times we find ourself on a cliffside with nowhere else to go. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14324491231695823916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-11412752832866194412009-05-21T08:01:41.322-04:002009-05-21T08:01:41.322-04:00Thanks Michelle!
Katrina, I know what you mean. M...Thanks Michelle!<br /><br />Katrina, I know what you mean. My best friend Juliette has the most amazing ability to take exactly the same scene, change a few words and have it mean something totally different.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61728031982639847312009-05-21T00:27:34.245-04:002009-05-21T00:27:34.245-04:00This exact thing happened to me when I was writing...This exact thing happened to me when I was writing my first book! Halfway through the first draft a new character walked in that I hadn't included in my outline. I ended up scrapping so much of the beginning to work him in, but he was so vital I don't know how I could have plotted the story without him!<br /><br />(BTW, Janice- I've been lurking here for awhile, this is such a helpful blog! I'm living in Korea right now and it's hard to get books, but I'm planning on picking up The Shifter as soon as I get back to the U.S.!)Michellehttp://matadortravel.com/travel-community/michellesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-45453703631797642272009-05-20T20:08:04.103-04:002009-05-20T20:08:04.103-04:00I'm in the process of rewriting an entire volume o...I'm in the process of rewriting an entire volume of my book (10 chapters in total) and adding an additional 10 more because of something like this. Lol it sure is going to be long summer.Glen Akinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09647296775230237162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66901802324755637132009-05-20T20:06:59.331-04:002009-05-20T20:06:59.331-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Glen Akinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09647296775230237162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53330089080422547832009-05-20T13:51:09.760-04:002009-05-20T13:51:09.760-04:00It never ceases to amaze me how little groundwork ...It never ceases to amaze me how little groundwork needs "fixing" to support a major change later on. I once solved a major plot problem by changing the attribution in some dialogue. "OH! If THIS person says such-and-such, instead of THAT person, everything makes sense as far as character motivation" Slaps forehead :-)Katrinahttp://www.katrinaarcher.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64443060831208179312009-05-19T12:05:00.000-04:002009-05-19T12:05:00.000-04:00I recently had a bad case of unpredictability. My ...I recently had a bad case of unpredictability. My story outline (which exists solely in my head, since I can never write those things down without ruining them) called for Character A to bring Character B to an important location. That's all I was going to write: lots of walking, a smattering of exposition, and nothing else. Of course, that would have been boring as hell, so I tweaked it slightly (Character B finds his way there on his own) and suddenly ended up altering the entire plot in a fairly major way. <br /><br />The story will ultimately be better for it, but it meant cutting nearly 5,000 words and taking a short break while I restructure things in my head. Let's hope that doesn't happen too often from here on out!Sean Willshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369840744013951942noreply@blogger.com