I have just started to write something new after a gap of more than a year. I have not been away from writing, just putting up my blacklist on to Smashwords and Kindle. At the moment I am editing "A Chance Encounter" which will be the 12th Regency romantic adventure to be published on KDP. At the same time I am attempting to add 1000 words a day to my new book which is entitled "The Duke's Proposal".
What has this to do with plotting? Well – I am writing this new book without any planning at all – the original story came to me when I was half asleep and I was so pleased to have something to put down on the blank screen, that I went with it. I dictated 2000 words, while doing so the main characters came alive in my head, as did the setting. However, I then had to go back and write the opening chapters and when I got to the scene I had written I realised neither character would have behaved like this and so the entire thing was scrapped. I didn't mind as writing this had got me going again. If I had plotted story before I started I would have avoided wasting 2000 words. I don't write my Regency books with any more planning than an idea and voices of the two main characters in my head. I then let the story develop, characters go where they want, and it works for me.
With my mainstream historical novels, "Barbara's War and Hannah's War", I worked quite differently. I needed to do a timeline, far more research, and have a page of notes for the plot. Not as detailed as an outline, more a guide.
Jean Fullerton plots her books scene by scene, she puts everything on a virtual A3 sheet, before she starts. She notes down significant historical events, whose point of view she will be using for that scene, and a couple of lines on what will actually happen. Therefore when she starts writing the book she knows exactly where she's going, can tick off a scene as it's done, and check the historical accuracy. It works by her – she is a well-known and respected writer of historical fiction. "Call Nurse Millie", her latest book is already proving to be a big hit with readers.
Maureen Lee,a bestselling historical saga writer, does no written planning but works the whole story out in her head before she starts. She does her research whilst she is writing, not before she starts.
How do you do it? It's always fascinating to get inside a writer's mind – I would be interested to hear what other writers do.
Fenella J Miller
I see from your heading that the Pocketeers are all women, so please excuse a man popping in for a moment. The way you plot your novels, Fenella is very similar to mine. I'm in the middle of a romantic thriller, a genre in which I have never written, but as a writer, I should be able to produce something. Like you I will be led by my characters whether I like it or not, and this system has never let me down yet. And like you, I too have been putting my backlist on Amazon. I'm 40,000 words into my novel. With luck it will be ready by the end of the year. Good luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteMichael - thanks for dropping by. I like the sound of your romantic thriller - let us know when it's published.
DeleteAs you know I actually have a plot grid and a colour code when I'm writing a book and plot out the main events before i even start. I find it saves me writing myself up a blind plot alley. Of course, it changes and evolves as I write as other idea pop into my head but i find it works for me as it's very easy to get lost in 130,0000 words.
ReplyDeleteWas talking to Fay Cunnigham and she nver plots - and has written 120K romantic thrillers too. I am in awe of your method -it just doesn't work for me.
DeleteI like the excitement of not knowing what is going to happen next. First, I have the setting and a couple of main characters. I have an idea where the story is heading, and a couple of major scenes in my head. This time a tropical storm and an unexpected birth will fit in somewhere along the way, but how my characters will arrive at these points I have no idea. Not yet, anyway.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, Fenella. I have to know the entire story before I start. Nowadays, before starting the next chapter, I ask myself: What do I want to achieve with this chapter and how will it move the story on? It helps me keep extraneous rambling at bay :-) I'm in awe of anyone who makes it up as they go along. On a practical note I find Scrivener helps me keep track of everything.
ReplyDeleteLiz, not tried Scrivener -but have heard of several writers who use it. I used to plan out every chapter/write biographies for each character etc etc - but after writing the first ten or so Regency stories I found I no longer needed to plan and could make it up as I go along.
ReplyDeleteI checked with Maureen yesterday -and I'd got her method right.
Hi Fenella - this just goes to show there are many routes to a finished novel. I tend to know the beginning and the end and cannot plot beforehand to save my life. I have to just jump in at the deep end. It does mean that I always get to the middle and have to 'plan' my way out and sometimes go back and tweak to make it work. Tortuous but I get there in the end and that's what really matters. Really wish I was more methodical I'm sure there's loads of comfort in having a plan.
ReplyDeleteI read that the creative side of the brain writes the first draft but the other side does the re-writes. Thus re-writes can be said to cut the originality/sparkle from your writing. I only do one draft - then edit a couple of times- but rarely change much. Does this make be super creative or dead lazy?
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post, Fenella. I am a meticulous planner, who never sticks to the plan. I admire writers who can start with a blank page /screen with no idea where a plot is going. A plan provides a frame to build on, but it doesn't have to be rigid. I love it when my characters take the story in a different direction. Like Liz, I find Scrivener really helpful for keeping me in touch with the whole picture. Rx
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