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• Plot versus Character

  Posted on Tuesday November 17th, 2009 at 09:58 in character transformation, developing a plot-driven story, character versus plot

  Funny to have two plot consultations with two different writers with such antithetical points of view when it comes to Plot versus Character.In my previous blog post, I ranted about plot getting a bad rap. The day after, I consult with a writer who c...

• An Insult to Plot

  Posted on Tuesday November 17th, 2009 at 09:56 in developing story, writing dramatic action, plot driven versus character driven fiction

  At first, I'm offended. But I'm always a little touchy when it comes to put-downs on plot.A writer gives up dreams of literary genius. Okay... this could be good. Writing a novel is a journey; can't afford unnecessary baggage. Letting go of genius ...

• Slogging through the 1st Draft

  Posted on Saturday November 14th, 2009 at 12:03 in halfway point, martha alderson, blockbuster plots, plot whisperer, the writers journey, slogging through first draft, beginning middle and end of a writing project, the hero journey

  I wrote today's Twitter (1/2 pt. = commits to journey. Things seem to get a bit better. They're about to get way worse = Crisis 3/4 pt.) based on something I heard Andre Agassi say in an interview about his memoir. I missed the part about why he desp...

• Scene Organization

  Posted on Monday November 9th, 2009 at 10:16 in climax, resolution, screen plays, end of the beginning, halfway point, how to write memoirs, character transformation crisis, major scenes in novels

  Whether you like to work out the elements of your story on the page or are a pre-plotter, everyone benefits from a bit of periodic organization. See how many of the key scenes you can identify in the story you're imagining, writing, or perfecting:1)...

• 5 Benefits of Writing a Truly Awful, Lousy 1st Draft

  Posted on Thursday November 5th, 2009 at 09:30 in short story, martha alderson, writing the first draft, memoirs and screenplays, how to write memoirs with a focus on you as the main character, how to start writing a novel

  1) Rather than stop and start over again and again, when you allow yourself to write a truly awful, lousy first draft from beginning to end, you actually finish a draft all the way through.2) Until you write the end, you do not have a clear grasp of...

• Tracking Conflict, Tension, and Suspense

  Posted on Wednesday November 4th, 2009 at 10:57 in plot planner, blockbuster plots for writers, creating conflict, scenes above and below the line, conflict in every scene, tension and suspense

  The Plot Planner I create for writers during an On-going Plot Phone Consultations (and encourage all writers to create for on their own for their individual writing project) is simply a line that divides scenes into "above the line" scenes and "belo...

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