With STARWIND mostly on pause until after the writing workshop, I'm back into plotting again. I've spent the past few days working my way through the pile of yellow papers covered in scribbles that accumulated while I was editing the book. There are a total of five different projects I have notes on, all in varying places in the process.
And dealing with this many plots at once is its own kind of highly variable hell.
I have a bunch of notes for a project that feels like it's a wash because I can't for the life of me figure out what the actual story is supposed to be. Another idea might as well be directed by Michael Bay, as it feels like it's a lot of awesome things but no real substance. A third could be interesting and unique or it could be just an excuse to try writing a poly relationship. And the fourth is something I want to write so badly that having it not work out feels like something's going seriously wrong with my life.
The worst of that last one is that it started as something completely different. I made up two sort-of secondary characters, and they swiftly took over the entire thing and said no, the story was about them. And now I can't figure out what that story is. I'm focusing on what needs to happen for these two, but it's like pulling teeth. What's worse is that I can't help thinking anything that comes out of this plot will be yet another story of mine where I'm utterly fascinated with the characters and the way they interact but no one else gives a damn. And I've written enough of those already - hell, I spent six months querying one.
The only good thing to come out of all the plotting is the sequel to STARWIND, which is coming along well. I have an outline of the plot, notes on three new characters with more surely to come, and a scattering of events that need to take place over the course of the story. I am incredibly thankful for this. With everything else that's happening (or more precisely, not happening) with all the other plots, it's a huge relief to have something go right that could end up being quite important to have.
Especially if multiple sequential miracles occur and I actually get to do the seven-book series I have planned for this thing.
Next week: IWSG. Depending on how the next week goes, it'll either be full of gushing encouragement or yet another bitter ramble.
At least the sequel is going well. I'm dealing with a mess of an outline right now and not sure how all of the elements will come together. Maybe they won't. Sometimes that happens.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's true that things don't always work out, and unfortunately, knowing that doesn't make it easier to deal with. >_< I accept it but I keep hoping it won't happen.
DeleteIt's interesting how your characters appear first, and then you need to find a story for them.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the premise is always first, then the characters, and then -- very slowly and torturously -- the plot.
It varies quite a bit - usually some sort of idea will come to me, whether a character or an event or something about the setting, and I build from that. It's always different, though. I think characters show up first most of the time.
DeleteYeah...I'm not the biggest fan of deep plotting. It all looks good until I go to write it and then the characters want to do something completely different. I'm following the love right now. The last book is DONE--as in goes to the formatter in a week or two, and in the meantime, I'm writing the project that loves me most. It's so freeing.
ReplyDeleteWay to go with your sequel! Here, have some cheese to keep you going!
Thanks. ^_^ And deep plotting is the only way I can get anything done that's worth reading. I have all my "why aren't these characters doing what I want" moments while I'm plotting, as things often go in unexpected directions there.
DeleteI start with an outline, but it doesn't mean much when the writing starts since characters and such do as they want. Then, I have to go back and re-outline. It'd be nice if one could just sit down, write and be done. But it's not that easy. Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I tend to start with vague outlines and build on them, filling in details and character stuff as I get to know the world and the people more. This does lead to a lot of rewriting my notes, but it keeps me from having to rewrite the book.
DeleteYay for Starwind sequels! I suck at plotting myself. I generally get an idea and run with it, with the hopes of filling in the holes as I go along. It doesn't always work out. :) I hope you get all your plots figured out!
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, thank you. ^_^ And yeah, I'm glad the STARWIND sequel plot is going well. I need to sit down and hash out an outline, but I think I've got it mostly figured out, just need to develop some new stuff.
DeleteLook at you! Getting it done. I'm super impressed that you can crank things out that fast. Totally not surprised about characters taking over. Someday, I'm going to coin a phrase for that and put it on a tee shirt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, but it hardly seems fast to me. I've been working on a lot of this stuff over the course of several months, and I finally get to work on it again. But I'm glad for any progress.
DeleteI'm impressed you can plot. That's sooooooo difficult for me!!!!!! But I'm trying my best to do so this time around. :)
ReplyDeleteHeh. It's been too long. I've always loved your blog. And I'm glad to be back in blogosphere. :)
Good to see you back. ^_^ And thank you. I can't write a story worth a damn if I don't know what's going to happen, so plotting is an absolute necessity for me. Hope yours goes well.
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