Plotting a New Book
Well, tonight I hit the wall. I can’t write this book by the seat of my pants anymore. I have to take a moment and get my bearings before I can do new pages. 60 pages isn’t bad for a start, but I’ll never get 300 until I get this straight.
My writing process is…odd. I make a lot of lists. Right now I have scraps of paper with story arcs scribbled, the hero’s internal conflict, the book turning points, and I know I’ll throw every last scrap away. I doodle in order to make sense of the mess in my head. 
Once I have it straight on paper, I don’t need it anymore. It’s locked in the brain. Weird, but that’s the way it works.
I also tend to work in sections. I’ll blast my way through the proposal and be intensely excited about it. 
Then about chapter 5, I start slowing down. That’s the part when I have to figure out my subplot. I brainstorm lists of plot ideas and try out a few until one sticks. Then I can usually get to page 100. I do the same thing to page 200 and then I go through a mini-crisis where I lament the entire book and what was I thinking?? I moan and mope while my brain sorts through the mess. Then suddenly, there is a ray of light and I figure it out. Once I hit page 300, I’m golden. Endings are never a problem for me, and I’ve been known to get 25+ pages in a day if I set my mind to it.
It’s that darned middle. I keep hoping I’ll get better at plotting, but part of the problem is that the plots I envision don’t always match the characters. Once I’ve written 60 pages, I then think–Aha! I know who these people are. And I groan because whatever I thought would work…suddenly doesn’t. So that’s the stage I’m at right now.
The good news is, I know I can churn out pages when I know what to write. And I have to stop and regroup every so often, which means no new pages. I always make up for it later.
Tonight the goal is to keep working on my subplot and figure out how to effectively mirror the main storyline. I tell you, it makes my head swim. Most of the time, I’d like to say–forget it!–and just write my way through it. But I’ve learned the hard way not to discount my subconscious mind warning me of severe problems. Sometimes writing through the problem results in a bigger mess.
Anyway, send good thoughts my way as I brainstorm the next few turning points. I have to remind myself that this is a romance and killing the secondary characters probably won’t solve matters. 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 6:23 pm | Viewed 1117 times
Tori Says:
Good luck, Michelle!!! You can do it!!!!
kacey Says:
well, killing off secondary characters works better than killing off the hero or heroine…:confused2:
good luck with it! (you have an interesting process)
Amy K. Says:
OMG Your process sounds frighteningly similar to mine. And it IS a frightening process. Used to horrify me. Now I just know that my process is screwy but it works for me. We hope. :confused2:
Do you try to write a synopsis with the first three chapters or do you wait until you’re done with the story to write the synopsis? I usually waited to write it, since hello, if I did it first, the story would change 18 times anyway. Now I’m having to write the synopsis first and it’s killing me slowly.
Steph T. Says:
Oooh - you’re ME!!! And that should be scary enough to send you running…because plots? We don’t need no stinkin’ plots!
But those damned middle pages kill me every time.
Good luck - you’ll work your way through it soon enough - chocolate helps!!:headspin:
Suzanne Says:
Good luck with the plotting, Michelle!
Michelle Says:
Amy–I write the synopsis after the first three chapters,and I write a completely different synopsis after the book is finished. It’s such a pain! I don’t know why I bother.
But you’re right. You find your process and go with it.:coffee:
Kelly Says:
Hey, I say kill the secondary characters. Why not? Nothing like a good murder to get things rolling.
Stacy Says:
I think its finding what works for us that’s the hard part…then it’s accepting our unusual process….they yeah, it’s that darned middle section:hissyfit:
Mary Says:
I’m sending good thoughts your way.:dancingfool:
Melissa Says:
I know EXACTLY what you mean. The weird thing is, I actually plotted my entire novel out, sat down and started writing, and I STILL slowed down when I hit about chapter five. I know exactly where I’m going, but the engine ran out of steam!
Bosey Says:
Wow, so I’m not the only one
The tough thing is taking it as it comes, and accepting that there will be those sticking points. The comforting thing is knowing you’ve blasted through them before and can do it again. Sending good thoughts and magc pixie dust your way!
Stephanie (Bosey)
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
Woo Hoo, Michelle!!!
Here are the good vibes 
Olga Says:
Michelle, it’s okay to stop and regroup sometimes! And wow on 25 pages a day; I could never do that many! Sending good thoughts your way…
Crystal* Says:
LMAO
I understand completely. That middle part is brutal!
I’m sending good thoughts your way…and dialing in a reprieve (for now) for the secondary characters.
Grins*