plot

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Tue 15 Mar 2016

Storytelling

Posted by PJ under plot, quote of the day, stories, writing
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Random quote of the day:

“The story is not in the plot but in the telling.”

—Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering the Craft

telling4WP@@@ 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

 

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Fri 18 Sep 2015

Bantering

Posted by PJ under characters, plot, quote of the day, writing
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Random quote of the day:

“Plot is what gives your characters something to do while they banter.”

—Elizabeth Bear, Twitter, July 29, 2010

banter4WP@@@

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

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Mon 15 Dec 2014

What’s the plan?

Posted by PJ under plot, quote of the day
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Random quote of the day:

“It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.”

—Publilius Syrus, Maxim 469

plan4WP@@@ 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

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Thu 17 Jul 2014

Plotting

Posted by PJ under plot, quote of the day, reading, writing
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Random quote of the day:

“I don’t praise plots as accurate representations of life, but as ways to keep readers reading….When you exclude plot, when you exclude anyone’s wanting anything, you exclude the reader, which is a mean-spirited thing to do.”

—Kurt Vonnegut, interview, The Paris Review, Issue 69, Spring 1977

 plot4WP@@@

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this random quote of the day do not necessarily reflect the views of the poster, her immediate family, Siegfried and Roy, Leonard Maltin, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They do, however, sometimes reflect the views of the Cottingley Fairies.

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Tue 29 Mar 2011

Please help me with my plot

Posted by PJ under characters, novels, plot, poll
[2] Comments

You can comment here, or to actually check off answers in this poll, please visit my Livejournal blog.

I’m trying to get outside my own head here to see what other people might do given a certain set of circumstances. I know what I’ve written, but I can’t help thinking it needs a reality check. I seriously want to know what people might do in these situations.

Here’s the situation, Part 1: You’ve just met someone, but the chemistry is terrific, and everything you learn about him/her is terrific, and you come to believe in his/her sincerity, sensitivity, and many other endearing qualities. Even though it’s only been a few days, you think you might be falling in love. Then someone you don’t know sends an email saying there are things about this person you don’t know and should know. Almost no one knows you’ve been dating, so how did this person know? They direct you to a website where you can learn more about this. Do you…? 

Part 1.
  • Click through immediately to see what this is all about.
  • Some other thing I’ll discuss in the comments.
 

Here’s the situation, Part 2: Let’s say you click through and check out the website. It thoroughly trashes your Potential Beloved’s reputation. But the stuff it’s talking about happened many years ago when your PB was only fifteen. Let’s say you yourself got up to some really crazy stuff when you were fifteen, too. Let’s further say you have real issues with deception. PB’s shady past involves sexual pecadiloes and dishonest, if not quite fraudulent, behavior. As far as you can tell, he/she has led an exemplary life since. Do you…?
Part 2.
  • Decide that everybody gets up to crazy stuff when they’re fifteen and dismiss it out of hand.
  • Decide to have a serious talk with your PB, but trust his/her explanation of the situation.
  • Decide you’re not going to have anymore to do with PB unless PB proves her/himself worthy of further trust.
  • Confront PB, but take time alone to think things through, and never feel quite the same.
  • Confront PB, take time alone to think things through, then cave like a girly man and run after him/her.
  • Get a new plot twist because this one ain’t cutting it.
  • Write your own damned novel.
  • Some other thing I’ll discuss in the comments.
Thanks!

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Wed 18 Aug 2010

In media res: is it a genre requirement?

Posted by PJ under genre, pacing, plot, questions and answers, writing
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Here’s another writing question for you: does every genre story have to start in media res?

I think it may be a genre preference, and I do often enjoy stories that begin with a burst of speed, throwing the reader into the water and forcing them to swim or drown. Certainly, if you’re writing urban fantasy or paranormal romance or space opera or some such sub-genre, you’re probably going to want a quick immersion in plot.

But those aren’t the only kind of stories, and some of my favoritest stories in the world have not begun with a bang and a pop. They’ve built slowly, meandered through interesting character and setting introductions, created magic with language, every so many lovely loads of language, and eventually, yes eventually, wandered up to the plot and politely shaken hands before throwing it to the mat and beginning the wrestling match.

I’m not sure those kinds of stories are in fashion anymore. But I would be interested to know what you think on the subject. This is another of those personal preference things, and there is no wrong or right answer, I don’t think. There is just what is, and what you think, and what the market will bear.

Or what the reader will bear.

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