This month I'm presenting on the topic of outlining at my local
ACFW chapter meeting. I'm an extremely detailed, aka obsessive,
plotter. I'm planning to teach how anyone from a seat-of-the-pants writer to a plotter can use my system to organize their novel, either before they begin (for plotters) or as a tool for editing (for SOTP writers).
So I'm coming to you for help. If you were hearing a presentation on plotting, what would you be interested in learning? Would you like to see examples? Would you like to do some hands-on exercises? What questions would you have about the process of plotting?
Good questions especially for me as I don't plot nearly as much as I should. I guess I would want more detail on an easy way to do it without overwhelming me with too much. I would want to see the benefits so it would motivate me more to do it.
ReplyDeleteGood feedback! My process could probably get overwhelming for SOTP writers. I'll break it down before I present it. Good feedback.
DeleteI presented a workshop on revisions once. Because I didn't want to overwhelm the group of writers with the myriad details I address when I revise, I kept things general, giving them more of an overview. I learned from the critique sheets that they wanted the details and were disappointed I didn't include them.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is to teach your system your way, making it clear it's just one of many, and to use humor to lighten things up. Hope this helps.
I wouldn't have thought of that, but I so agree. I love details when I'm listening to a presentation. Thanks.
DeleteI am not very detailed with the plots of my novels; even though I start out with good intentions when developing a story. The dedication of plotting weakens and I let the story move along as I complete each chapter. However, I am very detailed when it comes to creating characters and would think the writing experience would be easier for me if I spent a little more time plotting. If I was attending, I would need specific details of your method to help with motivation and not push it back to the side, as I tend to do.
ReplyDeleteLooks like there is a theme - be specific! Thanks for the great feedback.
DeleteThe most informative and instructional workshops I've been to about plotting have taken a familiar movie and deconstructed it for plot points. After you've gone through say "The Wizard of Oz" for the class, then you choose another familiar movie and have them deconstruct it as a group.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Erica!
DeleteThe start of a novel is always difficult. You might bring out several examples of how to start...and where to start a story.
ReplyDeleteI love writing openings. That would be a good topic.
DeleteI'll be In the audience for your presentation, and I can't wait! As a new writer, I'm still trying to figure out the process that works best for me, so it really helps to see how other writers do it. I'd love to hear all the details of how you get from idea to outline to completed first draft. And after you have your basic plot laid out, do you outline each scene before you start writing or do it as you go?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it!
Yea! I look forward to seeing you there. I do outline each scene. You'll get all the juicy details a week from Saturday :)
DeleteI really would like to see 3D models for everything.
ReplyDeleteSure thing. Just for you :)
DeleteI agree with everyone else - I love details! And visuals. I really do so much better when I hear it, see it, and do it. Only after I've had the 'hand's on' experience does anything I've seen and heard sink in. So that is my suggestion, give lots of good details, visuals, and then give them a chance to apply your methods. How much time do you have?
ReplyDeleteWish I could be there! (Or even have a local chapter with meetings I could attend here.)
I think I'd like to hear a simple way of plotting that can be accomplished by a right-brained person. I always get so overwhelmed when it comes to making chapter outlines.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a plotter, but I'm giving it a try for my next novel. So any help you could give, I would like to receive. In fact, if you could somehow make the information from your presentation available to those of us less experienced in plotting, I'd be the first one to sign up for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with that presentation, by the way!
Wish I could attend, Julie! Sounds like a great topic!
ReplyDeleteWell, if you used index cards or not and how you use them. Or if you use one of those storyboards. I always wanted to try that.
ReplyDeleteBascially I would just want to hear step by step your process.
Wish I could be there to see it!
I'm visual so I'd like to see your progress. How you start to final product. You'll be fabulous! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has covered my ideas. :) Good luck with the presentation, Julie! I'm sure you'll do great. :)
ReplyDelete