tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8948880554917781075..comments2024-03-28T18:40:05.789-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Plotting: My Writing WeaknessJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-43550622194505848482014-08-20T07:55:32.384-04:002014-08-20T07:55:32.384-04:00Riley and Cara, thanks so much for the great recom...Riley and Cara, thanks so much for the great recommendations. These are books I will definitely check out. Hope today's a good writing day for all!Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-29580505810073941012014-08-20T00:03:01.708-04:002014-08-20T00:03:01.708-04:00Thank you for the book reviews, Paula. I placed a ...Thank you for the book reviews, Paula. I placed a few on my TBR list.<br /><br />I also recently read James Scott Bell's book. It gave me a new perspective on constructing a story and the importance of the middle. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38186757281364515462014-08-19T21:53:44.936-04:002014-08-19T21:53:44.936-04:00Thanks for sharing these reviews. It's really ...Thanks for sharing these reviews. It's really interesting to get a glimpse into other writers' processes. I read WRITING FROM THE MIDDLE recently as well. Loved it. I also really appreciate advice for screenwriters-- books aimed at the movie industry tend to have tight plotting advice. Two in that category stand out for me. 1) I adored STORY by Robert McKee and 2) SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529091676234064844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79025743553317088332014-08-19T19:15:20.623-04:002014-08-19T19:15:20.623-04:00Thanks, Shari. My box arrived from Amazon with Ang...Thanks, Shari. My box arrived from Amazon with Angela Hunt's complete series. I'm looking forward to digging in and learning a great deal.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11385559108304399332014-08-19T17:03:39.007-04:002014-08-19T17:03:39.007-04:00Hi Paula, I am now feeling the need to buy all the...Hi Paula, I am now feeling the need to buy all these books! Thank you for all the great resources.<br />I haven't written enough to figure out what kind of writer I am, but I do know that finding a good writing resource gets me thinking about technique, and I know that will make my writing better.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-52021806337615425302014-08-19T13:57:31.958-04:002014-08-19T13:57:31.958-04:00Gloria, I always enjoy your books and stories. Tha...Gloria, I always enjoy your books and stories. Thanks for sharing your novel writing process. I'm going to try your approach.<br /><br />Jim, you're one of the most savvy marketers I know. And your novels are terrific. Everyone, spread the word!<br /><br />Warren, I concur. And, I'll keep trying until I get it write. I mean right!<br /><br />KB, I know what you mean. Middles make or break a story. Keeping them moving is a challenge.<br /><br />Sandy, I'm glad to have your recommendation. I had seen Bell's book, but haven't read it yet.<br /><br />Bobbi, I hope you have a chance to check these books out. You're right. There is a real adjustment going from shorter to longer works.<br /><br />Thanks, Jacquie. I'm becoming more of a plotter than a pantser, but I'm still in between.<br /><br />Maryann, I love Wheat's book, too. I especially appreciate how she distinguishes between mystery and suspense.<br /><br />Susan, thanks for your recommendation. It's hard to find good books that concentrate on plotting, isn't it?Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53839566195177640692014-08-19T11:26:26.595-04:002014-08-19T11:26:26.595-04:00Great topic, Paula. I spent many hours this year r...Great topic, Paula. I spent many hours this year researching books about plotting, but my results weren't great. It's nice to hear your recommendations--along with others mentioned in the comments. Years ago, I used (and liked) THE MARSHALL PLAN WORKBOOK, but I think it's only available used these days.Susan O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00645351764741013129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-28685789928390461912014-08-19T10:58:55.008-04:002014-08-19T10:58:55.008-04:00My favorite book for structuring mysteries and sus...My favorite book for structuring mysteries and suspense is Carolyn Wheat's <i>HOW TO WRITE KILLER FICTION: The Funhouse of Mystery & the Roller Coaster of Suspense</i>. Wheat describes a four-arc system that I've found helpful for creating a high-level outline of the whole plot.Maya Corriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08353162256268887619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-63204551262176612592014-08-19T10:32:09.940-04:002014-08-19T10:32:09.940-04:00I appreciate learning about these two resources, P...I appreciate learning about these two resources, Paula. I'm one of the authors who believes it's important to outline a plot before starting to write, even if it's rough and needs tweaking later.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-73538370699694389532014-08-19T10:03:00.582-04:002014-08-19T10:03:00.582-04:00Paula, these look like really good resources! I do...Paula, these look like really good resources! I don't have much trouble plotting, per se, but do have problems with my villain being obvious to some of the more experienced mystery readers. Maybe that comes from writing so many short stories and the fact that they are more about the hunt (as in suspense) than they are traditional "whodunnits."Bobbi A. Chukran, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678371925926783260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8866858559476213232014-08-19T09:47:14.524-04:002014-08-19T09:47:14.524-04:00Plotting doesn't come easy for me either. I re...Plotting doesn't come easy for me either. I recently read Write Your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell. It gave me a new way to look at the story, which I found helpful. Sandy Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824301408180614516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-41360621041753609402014-08-19T09:38:40.706-04:002014-08-19T09:38:40.706-04:00Plotting is hard for me, too.
I get the beginning ...Plotting is hard for me, too.<br />I get the beginning and ending just fine. The middle throws me for a loop. Even for short stories it is a tedious process. It hurts but it is a good kind of hurt.KB Ingleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06089951663907060127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-44170581050020945182014-08-19T09:19:34.835-04:002014-08-19T09:19:34.835-04:00Writing is one area where age and practice can imp...Writing is one area where age and practice can improve abilities. Practice PrcticeWarren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-58738329625842507752014-08-19T07:29:38.845-04:002014-08-19T07:29:38.845-04:00Every aspect of my writing can improve, but the bi...Every aspect of my writing can improve, but the biggest weakness is developing a market for my novels. People like them if they read them, but can’t read them if they don’t know about them.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-56812135471493187952014-08-19T07:25:54.778-04:002014-08-19T07:25:54.778-04:00Paula, I guess I never thought about this in any d...Paula, I guess I never thought about this in any depth. Maybe it's because I'm mostly a pantser. I have the general idea for the book in my mind before I start; murder and why they decide to murder, the victim, and the general idea. I keep a running synopsis of each chapter, the day and time of day and the characters in that chapter, and then decide what characters need to return, etc. and what needs to happen next as I go along. Maybe that's plotting. I never really thought of it as such before. My current book is only different from former ones because almost half way through I changed my murderer.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.com