tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post7543001566622709808..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: Quick turning points schemaEdittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-8192281574800858642009-11-12T17:23:05.313-06:002009-11-12T17:23:05.313-06:00Amazing timing. I've started struggling with m...Amazing timing. I've started struggling with my project, and this helps greatly.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12930683694045169948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-14557341835776217272009-11-12T13:34:42.116-06:002009-11-12T13:34:42.116-06:00"The point of no return often seems deceptive..."The point of no return often seems deceptively trivial and is only shown as important when the disaster happens."<br /><br />This post you're cooking up sounds AMAZING. <br /><br />You know, the first crisis is so important, too. In media res is great and all, but I really hate it when I feel like I;m watching a movie that's too dark, you know what I mean? When you're squinting and straining to see? I hate beginnings that start too far ahead and just make me WTF through the first 100 pages. <br /><br />And, it also ties to the end, so your catalyst/resolution can mirror.<br /><br />EvaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-30530079171345319362009-11-12T10:40:57.413-06:002009-11-12T10:40:57.413-06:00Alicia,
This really is a great post - combining t...Alicia,<br /><br />This really is a great post - combining two different languages I've seen. The plotting language my writing instructor uses (Initiating Event, Point of No Return, Climax, Resolution) and screen writing/play write language (Act I, II, & III).<br /><br />I think we all intuitively know how to tell a story - but the value of the structure is it helps us keep things tight and moving forward while maintaining the conflicting tension. (and also insure you have conflict between a protag and antag - and are not just wandering around inside some really great vignettes that don't add up to diddly.) <br /><br />I've never felt like I need to plot each of these steps before I start writing - but it's SO HELPFUL when I get stuck - to be able to look at the structure and know what I'm working towards. It also helps me evaluate my character actions/reactions and stops me from rabbit paths that won't fit (or support) the final story.<br /><br />Thanks so much for reinforcing good structure = strong story with no sagging middle!MitMoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05748735568467215959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-21687762378172195762009-11-12T09:04:27.150-06:002009-11-12T09:04:27.150-06:00I do my plot in three sections. I like the idea o...I do my plot in three sections. I like the idea of a reversal I do that but I've never thought about consciously doing it.:)emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680468150513341426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-52901958788929585412009-11-11T21:39:23.710-06:002009-11-11T21:39:23.710-06:00Alicia,
Great post. What resonated with me thoug...Alicia,<br /><br />Great post. What resonated with me though, was one of your comments:<br /><br /><i> Often small emphasis changes can make a big difference.</i><br /><br />So true. So timely. So awesome.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />Murphy:DRiley Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817930302085699222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-21250767684022820042009-11-11T20:37:49.794-06:002009-11-11T20:37:49.794-06:00John, I'll be doing a post when I get some tim...John, I'll be doing a post when I get some time free-- all about the point of no return. Here's the real difference -- the dark moment is obvious. The point of no return often seems deceptively trivial and is only shown as important when the disaster happens.<br />More later.<br />AEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-49200568133537967432009-11-11T17:51:26.423-06:002009-11-11T17:51:26.423-06:00Yep, I am familiar with that muse that likes to ha...Yep, I am familiar with that muse that likes to hang out in the shower. I can't figure out if it's a prankster-(Kokopelli? in his trickster form) waiting until you have NO paper/pen and laughing hysterically while you repeat it to yourself over and over just so you remember. OR it could be a water sprite, Nyriad? Siren? Ohhh Njord, he's a bit scrumptios or a Nix?Eva Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834856467514439544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-77408900602546544122009-11-11T16:59:46.418-06:002009-11-11T16:59:46.418-06:00Leona,
LOL!!! Won't shut up - yes, that'...Leona,<br /><br />LOL!!! Won't shut up - yes, that's the correct description. :)<br /><br />Jami G.Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-51778336798601407582009-11-11T16:50:33.200-06:002009-11-11T16:50:33.200-06:00Jami G.
Your muse... How about Thoran. Its the n...Jami G. <br /><br />Your muse... How about Thoran. Its the name of a hero I intend to write about in the future. He shows up briefly before he gets his own story... He's very courageous and strong and won't shut up! LOLLeonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786326364037397675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-334387907428058912009-11-11T16:42:30.516-06:002009-11-11T16:42:30.516-06:00Eva,
Any suggestions for a grand name for my muse...Eva,<br /><br />Any suggestions for a grand name for my muse? :) (One note, my muse often wants to have conversations with me while I'm in the shower, so it needs to be a male name... LOL!)<br /><br />Jami G.Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-3883148575937630092009-11-11T16:40:07.781-06:002009-11-11T16:40:07.781-06:00Alicia,
A couple of comments have mentioned that ...Alicia,<br /><br />A couple of comments have mentioned that they weren't familiar with the "reversal". Maybe a post with more examples of that might be in order?<br /><br />Jami G.Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-67577003976226240352009-11-11T14:41:07.893-06:002009-11-11T14:41:07.893-06:00i like to plan a structure as 3 disasters plus an ...i like to plan a structure as 3 disasters plus an ending, which more or less lines up with 3 acts. I found that if i plan it out ahead of time, it saves me issues of writing stuff in the middle with nothing happening.Sarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-35429783919211010052009-11-11T13:53:58.282-06:002009-11-11T13:53:58.282-06:00So I plot? Thank you. Although I think I'm sti...So I plot? Thank you. Although I think I'm still going to be talking to myself alot! <br /><br />Jami, yes, your muse deserves a name. Something grand.Eva Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834856467514439544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-20426432554886068222009-11-11T13:20:13.115-06:002009-11-11T13:20:13.115-06:00I envy you guys doing the nanomo. I have done stu...I envy you guys doing the nanomo. I have done stuff all writing in the last few months. With wife and baby, the only chance I have to write is my lunch break, and things are so hectic at work, I can't remember the last break i had!John Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-22319171876754890332009-11-11T12:45:47.054-06:002009-11-11T12:45:47.054-06:00If I plot in outline form or work out the details/...If I plot in outline form or work out the details/structure and how it ends. I'm done. I'm bored. I've figured it out and I'm ready for the next book. If I get an idea for plot, and see a few characters in my head, then I can write.<br /><br />I let the characters work with the idea. Always, with my best stories, things are added in (hopefully hit save before shutting down) that I hadn't planned that bring a cohesiveness to the story. <br /><br />I'm 27 words away from 25k for nanowrimo and I need to get back. happy writing ::)<br /><br />PS Anyone seen my glasses?Leonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786326364037397675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-5963905269473484682009-11-11T12:10:52.658-06:002009-11-11T12:10:52.658-06:00Interesting reading, Alicia. The reversal is a ne...Interesting reading, Alicia. The reversal is a new idea to me. <br /><br />I'm not entirely sure of the differentiation between the 'point of no return' and the 'dark moment'. <br /><br />I've done things a bit differently in the latest short story i'm trying to unload on someone. In my story, the climax is the point where he decides to change and fight and it is left open. By all appearances he is a bout to get killed, but the resolution is left unsaid and i leave it the reader to decide for themselves. <br />Of course not adhering to the 'rules' might be hindering me selling the story, but I haven't given up yet!John Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-61544483670163643632009-11-11T11:32:42.351-06:002009-11-11T11:32:42.351-06:00Eva,
You sound like me. I am very organized (alt...Eva,<br /><br />You sound like me. I am very organized (although you wouldn't guess it by looking at my desk :) ) and I do outlines and all that kind of stuff. But I've also had to trust my subconscious. There are things that it tells me to put into my story and I don't find out until months later why it wanted me to put it there. (I really need to give a name to my muse/subconscious so I'm not calling my own brain "it". :) ) I think it's fascinating how it all comes together.<br /><br />Jami G.Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-75028672540079826522009-11-11T09:01:10.976-06:002009-11-11T09:01:10.976-06:00Eva, you do plot. Just not consciously and ahead o...Eva, you do plot. Just not consciously and ahead of time. Plotting can be done in revision. And some writers are natural plotters and can write a draft and have it fall organically into a coherent draft (though in my experience, many writers who AREN'T think they are, and don't replot as they revise). <br /><br />Often small emphasis changes can make a big difference.Edittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-68917416849691306432009-11-11T06:54:53.875-06:002009-11-11T06:54:53.875-06:00Ohh, that makes my head hurt.
I plot, but I do i...Ohh, that makes my head hurt. <br /><br />I plot, but I do it more organically only because when I write it all out and shuffle it around to hit the high notes, like clockwork when I'm writing Other Things Appear (which are so much better than what I first came up with) and the cards get thrown up in the air and flutter down around me. If I can plot it loosey goosey, just main GMC, then I can fit in the fun stuff my subsonscious brings to the partay. <br /><br />So, I can't see those things until the story is down. THEN I go back and squeeze a little here, and expand a little there. <br /><br /><br />Believe me, it's not something I'm proud of. I'm an extremely organized person and I HATE not having and follwing a structure. But it's something that I've had to trust even though it takes a lot of talking to myself and pats on the head.Eva Galehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834856467514439544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-23186083611289712462009-11-10T21:45:51.346-06:002009-11-10T21:45:51.346-06:00I loved this post! I linked to it from my blog bec...I loved this post! I linked to it from my blog because everyone who reads my ramblings ought to be reading this. It's very timely for nanowrimo writers as well.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14497045412007902460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-59002496953707448632009-11-10T18:12:12.451-06:002009-11-10T18:12:12.451-06:00Seriously Alicia, perfect timing :)
I finished re...Seriously Alicia, perfect timing :)<br /><br />I finished reading my MS last night and summarised chapters in Act/scene index cards. I'm excited! I read your post and, in my head, I saw each scene slotting into its own place. I had outlined this plot structure before writing, so it's reassuring to see it work. <br /><br />Ever since I first learned the ascending plot structure at a workshop run by Aussie author Kate Forsyth, my MS has improved dramatically. My favourite in my MS is the dark moment ... hopefully my readers won't see/expect the twist :)<br /><br />Thanks again,<br />RachelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-34107567837452834542009-11-10T15:15:13.386-06:002009-11-10T15:15:13.386-06:00This is especially helpful today. I've started...This is especially helpful today. I've started wondering where my NaNo plot is headed. Right now it feels like a character study. Will look at the concept of reversal. Bound to be something there. Ahhh, Casablanca... Will not stop writing to go watch the movie.Joan Morahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03152990243138876941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-90600222847435296422009-11-10T13:56:19.719-06:002009-11-10T13:56:19.719-06:00Cool.Cool.Weshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077791761104576436noreply@blogger.com