Do you Plot or Not?

[Misty_Blue]

Well here's a couple of questions I'm interested in hearing the responses about from all you aspiring novelists out there.

1) When you start a project from scratch do you write up a whole synopsis? storyline? or do you just go with a few ideas and see where it takes you?

2) Also, how long would you say you spend on the preparation before digging in, any deadlines on completion etc?

[veinglory]

I have a plot, totally. I do not write a synopsis--the plot is just stored in my memory.

I general think it over a day or two and then start writing. Only one book at a time is on a deadline--usually 1-6 months.

[Marlowe]

Against the fools who oppress me? Oh, such plots I have, it would burn your soul to hear them...

Fiction wise, I guess. I've never understood the distinction; I have a basic idea when I start the story, and that idea gets clarified and altered as I write. Is that basic idea plotting? Or are notes required? (Not being sarcastic, I'm honestly curious.)

[Misty_Blue]

Great quick responses, cool guys.. well Marlowe I think whatever way works for you (notes or not) if one reaches the end and is happy with it, who cares how it really began :)

Its a personal thing I guess! Though many tell me they might 'lose the plot' and get lost midway if they dont follow some type of structure. But then again... some might find a rigid storyline and too much pre-planning affects some of their artistic freedom and flow, when writing on the fly!

[veinglory]

I think you are mixing up the degree of pre-planning with the need to write it down. My plots are preplanned to a high degree, but the only writing I do is the main text. I don't have too many subplots and I do have a good memory. All I need to remember is how the character sees the world and the main things that will happen to him.

[SpookyWriter]

I don't know about plots, but there's definately something going on here. This thread keeps disappearing and re-appearing with different post counts and the such. Maybe this has something to do with plots? I don't know for sure. But will this message get through?

[Poetic Pen]

I tend to mull an idea around in my head for a good month before I'm inspired by anything to base a whole novel around.

Once I have it though, I'm pretty plot-orientated, writing the entire plot out as I'd like to see it progress in the story. Unfortunately, characters have a way of making their own changes.

[bluegrassandyb]

I start with a basic story idea and strongly developed characters. When I actually start writing, I go wherever the story leads. I don't set any deadlines as my writing schedule is rather sporadic due to my job.

[iggypopforyou]

Length of my first novel, finished, but long, then about the plot and constantly reminding myself how sick I get when I can’t find truly character driven fiction by the majority of American authors, but rather the book shelves are stacked and packed with quick, mechanical, formula plots enacted by the most unbelievable characters with no heavenly chance of being recognized in reality. Still, stacked and packed shelves tell me, “Dude, plot obviously sells!” Then I’m running back to my manuscript wondering if the most delicious deception is the wool I’m pulling over my own eyes by allowing characters developed to the point they almost wrote the whole book for me, while I sat convincing myself that they were more important than the plot itself.
I only wish they could now edit the damn thing for me.
Thanks for having me here.
brian

[civilian chic]

I do like bluegrassandyb does ... these great characters arrive, and a senario presents itself, and I write about it. I have no idea what will happen. No outline at all. (Whether this is actually an effective way to begin a novel is another story... my writing sometimes seems to have structural problems, and an outline would probably help that. It's something I'm trying for my next novel.)
Welcome, Brian :)

[Jamesaritchie]

No, never any plotting in advance. I'd rather let good story structure create the plot by itself. Read King's "On Writing," and Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing."

[maddythemad]

I tend to think about the story for about a week (get an idea of the central conflict, main characters, etc.), maybe jot a few notes down, and then start writing. I usually don't figure out the ending until it's time to write it.

[Amiton]

It depends on the particular project for me. Shorts and poetry never get written notes unless I'm in the middle of something and I'm worried about forgetting it before I can get to it. Novels I think I will always have to write out some kind of structure. The storylines get complex and I forget things if i don't write them out, and the written structure also allows for easy planning and insterion points for new information.

In terms of general planning, I do it for anything before I commit anything to paper. I have to mull things over and decide if I like something before I'll put the time and effort into it, so there is always mental plotting on my behalf.

Amiton.

[Saundra Julian]

I agree with James...

[Amiton]

No, never any plotting in advance. I'd rather let good story structure create the plot by itself. Read King's "On Writing," and Ray Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing."

Are you telling people not to plot their storyline, or are you merely stating that it's your approach?

Amiton.

[ChaosTitan]

... some might find a rigid storyline and too much pre-planning affects some of their artistic freedom and flow, when writing on the fly!

I've never understood that. The notion that having notes or an outline or doing plotting in advance somehow detracts from spontaneous writing and artistic flow. Why must one exclude the other?

I like to plot in advance. I like to know who the characters are, have a handful of plot points to aim for, and a general idea of where the story is headed before I start to write the actual manuscript. It's like giving me a McNally atlas and saying "Drive from Little Rock to Seattle, make sure you have a stopover in Denver, and then tell me how you got there." I couldn't imagine hitting the road with no destination in mind, or any idea how to get there.

I've been making exciting progress on a WIP that I outlined last year (the manuscript went into a drawer in favor of other projects). But as I've been writing, new scenes pop into my head, characters have come and gone, and not once have I felt restricted by that outline. It still feels spontaneous, and I still get into a great flow, sometimes spinning out the words faster than my fingers can type.

Last night I had a long, fun conversation with my co-writer about our next book (since book one will be finished on Sunday *crosses fingers*). We tossed out ideas, potential storylines, plot points we want to hit. The creativity was just flying around the room, and we had a blast. We came up with some good ideas, but just as with our first book, many of the specific scenes we made up as we went along. But having that initial roadmap allowed us to write an awesome book that doesn't look like it will need any major rewrites (just polishing).

Plotting isn't restrictive, and not plotting isn't more creative.

[Mr. Funktastic]

I don't plot it out in advance. I get the characters, develop them in my mind, and let them create the story. If I write out an outline or whatnot, I usefully find my writing pretty bland. I just like to wing it, I guess.

[wordmonkey]

I know my characters and I know where I'm going, but I rarely have the faintest idea how I'm gonna get there. I may be the god to my characters, but I gave them all free will. Now if I could just make the ungrateful buggers do some work...

I've never understood that. The notion that having notes or an outline or doing plotting in advance somehow detracts from spontaneous writing and artistic flow. Why must one exclude the other?

.....

Plotting isn't restrictive, and not plotting isn't more creative.

I can answer this. For me at least.

I get bored. I'm the kinda guy who watches detective shows and within five minutes I know "whodunit." So if I'm reading a book and by page twenty I know what's happening and how it's all gonna play out, it's gotta be really well written to keep me reading. I'm a very tough audience.

I had one novel idea and I was very daunted by it, so I actually sat down and planned it out. Plotting to the nth degree because there were a lot of characters all had their own little tasks which then interlinked with the overarc plot that was the real story. But then I knew what happened and knew how it ended, so I have a nice folder full of this very complicated clever plot that I will never write from.

I'll go back to the idea at somepoint and give it some more thought, but I will never go back to the plot points I wrote out.

I NEED to NOT know everything. And for as well as I know my characters, I'm usually surprised by each and every one of them when they reveal some new thing about themselves. A new skill or a past experience, or an attitude to a new situation. Ultimately, even as I write, I guess I'm my prime reader so the writer me needs to always push the limits and challenge the reader me.

Insane, huh?

I guess I'm just an outside the lines kinda colorer. Probably a good thing I decided against a career in the military.

[beezle]

All I do is plot.

[kuatolives]

the ideas I have while writing are always infinitely better than the ones I sit down to write. So no, I don't bother outlining or plotting.

[scarletpeaches]

I have the kick-off, a situation, a character or three...I also have a destination.

What I don't have, and don't want until I write it, is any idea of how to get there.

However, when I come to a chapter that has a 'timetable' - that is, characters acting in certain ways to a schedule...A knocks on the door and 2 minutes later across town B notices her answering machine light flashing and the next day C kills D just before E comes to call...well, I make a list of the order in which certain events must occur for the story to make sense. That's as complicated as my outlining ever gets.

[loquax]

I plot everything I write, down to the very word.

[rugcat]

No, never any plotting in advance. I'd rather let good story structure create the plot by itself. I do the same. But how do you adjust if you're writing a projected series, and an editor shows interest but wants to see a detailed outline for the next two sequels?

[ChaosTitan]

I NEED to NOT know everything. And for as well as I know my characters, I'm usually surprised by each and every one of them when they reveal some new thing about themselves. A new skill or a past experience, or an attitude to a new situation.

I am right there with you.

Co-writer and I are working on a series. Before we started writing book one, we had a general idea of an arc for the first three books, as well as thoughts on what certain characters would do/be like. During our brainstorm last night, we discussed how many of those thoughts had changed in the writing of the first book, and how they will now be very different in later books.

Turncoat Character decided she was no longer a willing participant in her own duplicity, and the story will reflect that change. Lone Wolf Character has become emotionally invested in someone, and that will continue to affect him in future storylines.

My plots provide a road map, and my characters provide the company. But the sheer joy and freedom of writing comes with discovering the open road and all the pot holes and exits it has to offer.