Plot Pickles: How Do You Clean Up Your Own Mess

Mharvey · Feb 26, 2012

So I've gone and done it. I'm 65% the way through a work in progress and I've hit a wall of my own creation. Now, this isn't a form of writer's block where I don't know what happens next: I know where the novel's going and I know how it ends. What's happened is, I have a particular conflict that has the interest of 4 separate parties in the novel and, for the life of me, I cannot get it straight in my mind as to how this particular conflict is going to unfold and be realistic to each of the party's motives.

Without getting into specifics, I have the main character and his allies. I have the main antagonist and his allies. I have a traitor in the main character's ranks and I have a second antagonist who is more or less just watching the conflict unfold.

Unfortunately, to borrow a cliche, I think I've put the cart before the horse. In incorporating all these elements, I've created a delicate web of character motivations and agendas, and I can't think of how to do what I wanted to do without creating an inconsistency with at least one of the parties. It's grounded me to a bit of a halt over the last day or two and I've been doing everything from working it out over jumping jacks/exercise to making spreadsheets.

I doubt I'm a unique and beautiful snowflake in the writer's world... first to experience something like this. Have you ever hit a plot pickle? How did you get past it or resolve it?

underthecity · Feb 26, 2012

Yes, I have hit plot pickles, and while I can't comment on how to fix your specific four-part one, I can tell you what I've done to get through them.

I have to walk away from the ms and reason it out. Sometimes this takes hours, sometimes three days. I think everyone has their own method, but with me I would lie on the bed and stare up at the ceiling or ceiling fan and think about it. Or think about it when taking a shower with the water hitting me in the back of my head. Or I have to take a walk, whether its around my house or around the block. Sooner or later the solution works itself out. It either comes to me while I'm thinking about it, or it comes while I'm doing something else.

GreenSquares · Feb 26, 2012

I've hit my share of pickles as well--I call it "plot-hole-whack-a-mole" because fixing one thing creates problems somewhere else.

I agree with taking some time away, letting the subconscious work it out. I also try figuring out what can't change and what can go, to try to cut down the number of options I have to sort through.

I tend not to outline before starting a project but do when I get stuck. Working with the whole of the plot at once helps me get a feel for its flow and solutions can fall into my lap.

I think its a case of try different things until something works

--GreenSquares

Aggy B. · Feb 26, 2012

Outlining what I think should be happening helps. I tend to use the index card method for sticky situations like this. Many times I've found most of the difficulties can be worked out by changing the order of events. (Not always, but much of the time it's a question of having the right actions in the wrong order.)

I also think back over what each (main) characters goals/motivations are. Some times the plot-wall is because I've drifted away from original goals or motivations without realizing it.

If none of that works I start writing it all out anyway, even knowing that it doesn't quite work. There's nothing like actually writing a scene/sequence to get the gears turning and work out a solution.

And take a deep breath. You can work it out. It just takes time.

inspiredbymusic · Feb 26, 2012

I write notes, brainstorm ideas, and, like others have said, just think about it and/or keep writing until it's figured out.

Laineywrites · Feb 26, 2012

I've done this more than once. My solution has been to put the novel away, focus on something else and let the "Brownies" solve the problem (and I don't mean the Girl Scouts).

Just before I fall asleep and for as many nights as it takes, I'll think about the pickle. Eventually, while washing dishes, food shopping or some other mundane thing, an idea will just pop into my head that clears the problem up. I thank the Brownies (and Robert Louis Stevenson for letting me borrow them), and keep on writing.

amschilling · Feb 26, 2012

I let my subconcious figure it out while I do other things. At some point I have an "ah-ha!" moment where it falls into place. If I try to think about it directly I end up like a hamster in a wheel, running my mental butt off and going nowhere.

EzzyAlpha · Feb 26, 2012

I usually work in another project. But beware, this might lead to pushing the first project aside for 6 months

job · Feb 26, 2012

This is Too-Many-Balls-In-The-Air Syndrome.

Can you remove one of the four groups?
That is, can you eliminate one of your subplots?

This will simplify your story,
which sounds like it might profit from simplification,
if you will forgive me for saying this.

Mharvey · Feb 26, 2012

Good tips so far. I had a rather productive session today. While I'm still working out things in my mind, I was able to get about 3000 words further and have worked out the basic stuff. Found a solution that fits 3 of the 4 characters like a glove. Just need to add a scene for the main antagonist that sorta rounds him out.

job said:
This is Too-Many-Balls-In-The-Air Syndrome.

Can you remove one of the four groups?
That is, can you eliminate one of your subplots?

This will simplify your story,
which sounds like it might profit from simplification,
if you will forgive me for saying this.

The one I was thinking of outright cutting was the traitor, but it just adds too much to the aftermath of this particular conflict, going to the climax of the story. I think the story would be far worse without it. I think I'm on my way to figuring this out, but if by the end, some of the elements/characters just fall flat, I'll remove them in the next draft.

Layla Nahar · Feb 26, 2012

job said:
Too-Many-Balls-In-The-Air Syndrome.

I'm taking notes. I think the Too-Many-Balls-In-The-Air is one of my favorite (that's not quite the right word ... most insidious? obstreperous? recidivistic???) plot pickles. I've been sharpening my hatchet and looking at on old stalled WIP...

muravyets · Feb 26, 2012

This happens to me a lot because I do tend to overcomplicate my plot. Simplification is the key for me. I have to figure out what's not working, why, and make a critical judgment about whether it can be fixed or if a darling needs to be killed.

How I do this depends on how bad of a pickle I've gotten myself into. Remedial methods range from taking a long hot shower to relax, to letting the plot "percolate" through the brain for however long while I do other things, to relentlessly and hopelessly torturing all my friends and relatives with painful "brainstorming" sessions. (Apparently, I know a lot of full-blown saints.) Eventually, something clicks. I find a staging or story solution I was missing before, or I pick which precious story elements to hack out.

Or... as in the case of my current WIP... I realize the whole goddamned thing was flawed in concept, and I chuck it and start over again. Sorry.

Paul · Feb 26, 2012

Mharvey said:
The one I was thinking of outright cutting was the traitor, but it just adds too much to the aftermath of this particular conflict, going to the climax of the story. I think the story would be far worse without it. I think I'm on my way to figuring this out, but if by the end, some of the elements/characters just fall flat, I'll remove them in the next draft.

top of the head, i thought narrate through the observers (ie the second antagonist) eyes, with his response, analysis - that way he's both part of it and detached.

soopykun · Feb 26, 2012

I agree about just giving it some room, stepping back and figuring it out while doing something else, something that you can do on autopilot. The bad news is, sometimes it unravels back to something that has to be fixed earlier in the plot. It's really frustrating, so good luck (and it's why I like outlining now...plot holes are a lot easier to fix the earlier you catch them).

Niiicola · Feb 26, 2012

soopykun said:
I agree about just giving it some room, stepping back and figuring it out while doing something else, something that you can do on autopilot. The bad news is, sometimes it unravels back to something that has to be fixed earlier in the plot. It's really frustrating, so good luck (and it's why I like outlining now...plot holes are a lot easier to fix the earlier you catch them).

Are you a knitter by any chance? That was the first thing that popped into my head with your unraveling description. Not the first time I've thought of the two things as similar

I agree with everybody about letting your subconscious work it out. Then when you have a rough idea, write the solution out blow by blow, but not within the MS. Tinker with it there until you find something that works. Good luck!

soopykun · Feb 26, 2012

Niiicola said:
Are you a knitter by any chance? That was the first thing that popped into my head with your unraveling description. Not the first time I've thought of the two things as similar

I agree with everybody about letting your subconscious work it out. Then when you have a rough idea, write the solution out blow by blow, but not within the MS. Tinker with it there until you find something that works. Good luck!

Niiicola, I AM a knitter, actually! i haven't done it for a long time, but, yes. And you are right--it's very much the same kind of idea. Ladder back, find where it got messed up, and work up from there!

Sirion · Feb 26, 2012

Sounds oddly tasty O_O

BrumBall · Feb 27, 2012

I noticed a plot hole in my story the other day, which meant rethinking the backstory of one of my main characters. One thing led to another, and now his backstory is more complex and interesting than the main story!

Which is good news if there is ever any demand for a prequel!

Plot Pickles: How Do You Clean Up Your Own Mess

Mharvey

Liker Of Happy Things

underthecity

Finestkind

GreenSquares

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

inspiredbymusic

Laineywrites

Just doing it.

amschilling

EzzyAlpha

Unable to write straight females.

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Mharvey

Liker Of Happy Things

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

muravyets

Old revolutionary

Paul

soopykun

Niiicola

Twitchy

soopykun

Sirion

practical experience, FTW

BrumBall

Keep Right On