I blogged a while back about the second time through a plot being the better one. Considering that I'm now on the second version of the new plot for that story and two other second versions of the two different plots I was set on getting straight so I could write them this year (deep breath), I'm now starting to wonder if I'm not driving myself mad.
Yes, this is a post about wondering if I'm doing it right, and it's not even IWSG time. Fear not! I have another post full of neuroses already planned for next Wednesday.
Anyway.
I have a horrible habit of second-guessing myself. I do my best to follow my instincts, especially where writing is concerned, but lately it feels like I'm doing the same thing with every plot I write down. I like it for a while, I work on it a lot, and then one of two things happens: either it falls apart and I shove it aside, or I come up with a different angle that sounds like it will work better. So I write down stuff on this new angle. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
And either way, I'm left staring at a plotting document with a higher word count than some short stories, wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do with it.
It often starts with this vague sense that something about the original plot just doesn't work. For the one I've worked on the most, an interplanar adventure, it's the involvement of Earth. Yes, even with a theoretically infinite multiverse to work with, I'm still telling tales about the home turf. But by taking out that element, by giving the big bad (who's played by Benedict Cumberbatch in my head) a different goal, the story takes on a remarkably different set of stakes. It becomes more about saving someone special from being horribly used, and less about saving the old homeland.
I think I've mentioned it before that far too many of my plots fall into the 'save the world' trap. I have to actively work to prevent this. That's why I took down a page and a half of re-plotting notes tonight, because I know the story will work better if it's smaller and more personal. Taking that step was a huge difference between the plots of SKYBORNE and THE ACCIDENTAL WARLOCK. And I know the latter book is better for it.
What will come of this? I don't know. But I do know this: I have to do the courier route for work tomorrow, which means I get about three hours of doing little but driving. I get some of my best story ideas when what I'm doing doesn't require my mind's full attention. (Which explains why I get so many good ideas in the shower.) So now that I have a half-formed re-plotting in my head, tomorrow I'll have plenty of time to flesh it out.
As for the rest of it, the frustration has put me into "Screw it, let's go play WoW" mode, so I'm off to set some pixels on fire. Grr. Arg.
Hmm, sounds like a process problem. As in, your process leads you to a place of insecurity.
ReplyDeleteFirst: all writers dance the knifes edge between despairing "I suck and will never write well" and "Holy Crap! this is amazing!" All of them. The ones who seem calm cool and collected just know not to let those moments of crazy be seen. It doesn't mean they aren't there. (So yeah, you're normal like all the other writers.)
Second: sometimes it helps to change things up and try a different kind of process. I recently decided I'd write a book by Blake Snyder's Beat Sheets. I know you don't like structure like that, but sometimes it's good to take your process and tweak it so you can see if it really fit you well in the first place.
I hope your plotting goes well.
Thank you. ^_^ For some reason this reminds me of you saying, way back when, that I was one of the only writers you knew who loved their first draft, and I'm starting to think that was a sign that I just hadn't done enough first drafts. And now that sort of thing is creeping into my plots, as the plots spawn multiple drafts. Oi.
DeleteI'm going to look up the Beat Sheets, now that I've seen two endorsements of them. I've always thought I'd know what I needed to because of all the reading I've done, but I've spent enough time beating my head against the same damned wall. It's time to try something new.
Plotting is SO hard! I'm in the middle of taking an old story and tweaking the plot myself, rearranging, cutting, and adding a lot! It's hard to make sure all the points are covered. I agree with Rena--that Save the Cat Beat Sheet is a life saver for me. Good luck getting things figured out! :D
ReplyDeleteIt really is - I envy the writers who can just sit down and go, figuring it all out along the way. Every story I've tried to write like that has been bad. @_@ But thank you; as I said above, I'm going to give the Beat Sheets a try. They definitely can't make things any worse. ^_^
DeleteI second those beat sheets--they're very helpful and give great direction.
ReplyDeleteGood luck solving the plotting woes! And it never hurts to save the world again, right? ;)
I gave the beat sheet a try last night, and it's almost scary how well it's working so far. And thanks! Though the problem I've found with saving the world in the first book is, really, then what do I do in the second? @_@
DeleteRena is spot spot spot on. I had to repeat that, cuz I really mean it :) I say stick with one plot. Choose it, stick with it, find the angle the interests you the most. Don't give up. Keep plugging, no matter how discouraged you get. And finish it - and see what happens. Not great concrete advice, I know, but the best I've got right now.
ReplyDeleteEhh... I want to have two plots ready to write, so I can do them one after another; that's been the plan for this year. But we'll see how it goes. Thanks for the encouragement, though. ^_^
DeleteI struggle with plotting too, and I've found that stalking my characters and following their "hearts' desires" is a better route to take. Let the plot unfold around your characters and conflicts. Or not. Now I'm second-guessing myself...
ReplyDeleteI generally agree, but sometimes there's a lot happening around the characters, so some of the plot is things that happen *to* them. Which is another set of problems entirely. Grr. Arg.
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