tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3934515541927498821..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: 6 Easy Steps to Planning Out Your Novel Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-45768665720618335952018-01-09T23:46:06.173-05:002018-01-09T23:46:06.173-05:00I've always had the Stephen King mentality whe...I've always had the Stephen King mentality where I basically put myself in the characters' positions and "live." I know the ending, somewhat, but there are times when it even surprises me! Those are the best! Watch for Vermill!on Beach!Poppethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16447902536161003196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88467735713885987382017-03-21T21:14:14.194-04:002017-03-21T21:14:14.194-04:00Okay. Thanks for replying! I will! The book change...Okay. Thanks for replying! I will! The book changed as I learned deep pov and got to know the characters better, what they really wanted. So the ending changed too. I'm revising the older chapters to reflect this. It's painful! Am akso editing out filler words, crutch words, deleting unneeded scenes. Am adding in the backstory as scenes, but only a few paragraphs, so as to not stop the book to a halt, and am changing the forshadowing, along with redherrings. This is a dark fantasy with touches if suspense, mystery and horror. =) I've had to read a lot of articles on all of those. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-15186862282658006542016-08-13T14:22:18.321-04:002016-08-13T14:22:18.321-04:00This sounds like a good idea, and we like the diff...This sounds like a good idea, and we like the different coloured cards/pens, as well. We always have difficulty figuring out a book, and this may help. Graham and Wolf MacFaddenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484682424315277930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-9487798501650502342016-07-12T16:27:42.175-04:002016-07-12T16:27:42.175-04:00Remember L.S., for most people (me included) the f...Remember L.S., for most people (me included) the first novel manuscript is all about figuring out what you're doing. So don't beat yourself up. Just keep writing, and let me know how it's going! :) Come check out my other writing tips at <a href="www.laurencemacnaughton.com" rel="nofollow">www.laurencemacnaughton.com</a>Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19308993481562812742016-07-07T21:14:31.462-04:002016-07-07T21:14:31.462-04:00I'll try this for the second book. Genius, tha...I'll try this for the second book. Genius, thanks for sharing. I didn't purposely choise to write this first book paintser style, just didn't know any better. Going to try this with book two. Hope this gets rid if: Bangs head on desk for the next twenty minutes because I wrote myself into a corner yet again. x.x <br /><br />Thanks also for allowing us to delete our comments, I spot typos usually after they are posted. xPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-32687519811279464022016-07-07T10:51:22.966-04:002016-07-07T10:51:22.966-04:00Wow! This is one of those "Why didn't I t...Wow! This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments! So practical. Thank you for sharing your process!Wendy Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838968505007211095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77040903119786386942016-07-06T13:48:39.218-04:002016-07-06T13:48:39.218-04:00So true, PD! I often start with paper index cards ...So true, PD! I often start with paper index cards first, because then I feel less locked in to any specific ideas. Once I've gone through the paper versions and discarded what I don't want, I transfer the rest to the computer and continue working from there.<br />Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18144798463565587322016-07-06T11:33:21.805-04:002016-07-06T11:33:21.805-04:00And if you're a tech geek, you can always use ...And if you're a tech geek, you can always use virtual index cards on Scrivener! I like to brainstorm/mindmap using the Scrivener free form index cards, and then develop a plotline using that as a starting point. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04217192664906748187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26557083614727223122016-07-05T22:59:42.603-04:002016-07-05T22:59:42.603-04:00Sheryl, it actually works great for already-comple...Sheryl, it actually works great for already-completed manuscripts. I’ve done this exercise myself with a few manuscripts, and helped writers in my group do the same. <br /><br />One thing you might consider as you go through your manuscript: use white cards for the main plot, and different color cards for each subplot. (Colored pens work, too.) <br /><br />That way, you can spread out your cards and see visually how they go together. Look at each plot separately, and then together as part of the whole.<br /><br />Let me know how it works out!Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16929588737497275532016-07-05T18:45:32.103-04:002016-07-05T18:45:32.103-04:00Laurence, I wonder if this would work as well for ...Laurence, I wonder if this would work as well for a novel that is written but whose structure is not quite jelling? It's frustrating me to bits and just seems too much to get my head around at the moment. :) Sheryl Gwytherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03660201098245632077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-92013382194768868992016-07-05T15:37:34.330-04:002016-07-05T15:37:34.330-04:00FYI: if you're having trouble posting your com...FYI: if you're having trouble posting your comment using the Chrome browser, try switching browsers. Firefox works for me. :) <a href="www.laurencemacnaughton.com" rel="nofollow">www.laurencemacnaughton.com</a>Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22044451277489623972016-07-05T15:36:20.965-04:002016-07-05T15:36:20.965-04:00Good to hear, Pam. One of the things I like about ...Good to hear, Pam. One of the things I like about using index cards is that because they're small and disposable, they can prompt you to be creative faster, coming up with more ideas in less time. Give it a shot, and let me know how it turns out! <a href="www.laurencemacnaughton.com" rel="nofollow">www.laurencemacnaughton.com</a>Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79620466820091846412016-07-05T15:35:12.647-04:002016-07-05T15:35:12.647-04:00MH, I can't tell you how many writers I hear f...MH, I can't tell you how many writers I hear from who swear that they can't plan anything out beforehand. But this method seems to work really well for just about anyone, because you can make it as simple and unobtrusive as you want. That gets the outline out of the way, so you can just focus on the good stuff: writing! :) Try it, and let me know how it works out for you. <a href="www.laurencemacnaughton.com" rel="nofollow">www.laurencemacnaughton.com</a><br />Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49661330086318410862016-07-05T15:29:10.079-04:002016-07-05T15:29:10.079-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Laurence MacNaughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183421490081237798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88658019153903658482016-07-05T11:51:15.919-04:002016-07-05T11:51:15.919-04:00I'm a planner. This is similar to what I do,bu...I'm a planner. This is similar to what I do,but I like the index card suggestion. Thanks.Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641800481681697132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-4669658405319299922016-07-05T11:51:07.737-04:002016-07-05T11:51:07.737-04:00I'm a planner. This is similar to what I do,bu...I'm a planner. This is similar to what I do,but I like the index card suggestion. Thanks.Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641800481681697132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40445745309916546622016-07-05T10:25:11.051-04:002016-07-05T10:25:11.051-04:00I am not a planner which makes me work pretty hard...I am not a planner which makes me work pretty hard to get from the beginning to the end. However, I think maybe I can manage this way of planning. I am just about ready to start a new project and I think I will give this a try. Thanks for sharing this!MH Staighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11265124977424263272noreply@blogger.com