Jessica Steiner (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-20 05:01 pm
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-04-20 05:01 pm
Entry tags:
Q is for Questions #atozchallenge
Friday is a bad day for blogging for me, but Sundays are a good day. Somehow this balances out.
Anyway, today's tip is about the two most important questions you should ask yourself when developing a plot for a novel. Though there are probably many more that are also key, these are biggies in my opinion.
1. Does this make sense?
Sometimes when you're writing, especially if you've followed my advice and have a great outline using the organic method, you will get to a certain point in the book where the character is going to take some important action that is absolutely necessary for them to get to the outcome you need.
And there's a little voice in the back of your mind that says "But..."
Because the action, for whatever reason - maybe because of the personality of the character, maybe because of something you've established earlier in the book, maybe because there's an obviously better course of action available - doesn't make any sense.
It sucks. But you have to ask that question, and you have to answer it honestly. If the action taken doesn't make sense, then you've lost the reader, and the whole rest of the book is ruined. It's key to find a way to either make it make sense, or to find another course of action that will still get you where you want to go. Or redevelop the ending in line with the new course of action.
2. Is this the most creative and mean I can get?
No one wants to read a book that's predictable, or where the stakes aren't high. If you fear for the character's life and don't know what's going to happen next, you'll be on the edge of your seat. If the most important decision a character has to make over the course of the book is whether to have white or brown bread on their sandwich, no one will care.
Generally as I'm plotting, I look at my first impulse and throw it away. The butler did it, yes! It's logical because I've already worked out all the great reasons why he would and he had the opportunity. No wait, maybe it's not the butler, but instead everyone will think it is, and instead it's the maid, who seems to have a solid alibi, and besides she's been the love interest of the main character for three books. It'll be devastating when he realizes.
The latter is a far more interesting outcome. Not only is the situation one that'll surprise and shock the reader, but it creates real consequences to the main character. You always want to be throwing away the most obvious and logical next steps and digging deeper, trying to find something that'll create more conflict, more emotional impact, and not be the first thing everyone thinks of. Remember, if it's the first thing you think of, then it's probably the first thing everyone else will think of, too. You don't want that.
Anyway, today's tip is about the two most important questions you should ask yourself when developing a plot for a novel. Though there are probably many more that are also key, these are biggies in my opinion.
1. Does this make sense?
Sometimes when you're writing, especially if you've followed my advice and have a great outline using the organic method, you will get to a certain point in the book where the character is going to take some important action that is absolutely necessary for them to get to the outcome you need.
And there's a little voice in the back of your mind that says "But..."
Because the action, for whatever reason - maybe because of the personality of the character, maybe because of something you've established earlier in the book, maybe because there's an obviously better course of action available - doesn't make any sense.
It sucks. But you have to ask that question, and you have to answer it honestly. If the action taken doesn't make sense, then you've lost the reader, and the whole rest of the book is ruined. It's key to find a way to either make it make sense, or to find another course of action that will still get you where you want to go. Or redevelop the ending in line with the new course of action.
2. Is this the most creative and mean I can get?
No one wants to read a book that's predictable, or where the stakes aren't high. If you fear for the character's life and don't know what's going to happen next, you'll be on the edge of your seat. If the most important decision a character has to make over the course of the book is whether to have white or brown bread on their sandwich, no one will care.
Generally as I'm plotting, I look at my first impulse and throw it away. The butler did it, yes! It's logical because I've already worked out all the great reasons why he would and he had the opportunity. No wait, maybe it's not the butler, but instead everyone will think it is, and instead it's the maid, who seems to have a solid alibi, and besides she's been the love interest of the main character for three books. It'll be devastating when he realizes.
The latter is a far more interesting outcome. Not only is the situation one that'll surprise and shock the reader, but it creates real consequences to the main character. You always want to be throwing away the most obvious and logical next steps and digging deeper, trying to find something that'll create more conflict, more emotional impact, and not be the first thing everyone thinks of. Remember, if it's the first thing you think of, then it's probably the first thing everyone else will think of, too. You don't want that.