WIP: Second Update

WIP: Second Update

I have been spending quite a bit of time pouring over the notes that I have created for different points that I wanted to capture within the story. I was pondering how I was going to plan out the plot. I was thinking of using multicolored post-it notes and charting out how the plot would play out; assigning a colour to each character and then one to main plot points. After starting this, I realised it was too hard to maintain a tidy storyline – it would go all over the place and it was difficult to keep track of what point happened when.

I had another think about it and realised using a grid system was much better – as each column could represent a character / set of characters and/or different plot lines. Each row allowed for a different point in time to be specified so there was no confusion as to what happens when. I now have five pages of notes, which outline the main points of the plot from beginning to end. There are a couple of areas which seem weak, but these can be rectified as I begin to write, I’m sure that these will iron out and the plot will become completely solid.

I wanted to make sure that each point in the plot happened for a reason; if there was something that occurred that was in some way not relevant to the moving the story forward, it would just be a loose strand that had strayed from the main story. I look at the plot of a story as being a rope – made up of individual strands twisted together, weak by themselves, but twisted with a number of other strands, it forms a strong rope.

Next step: Decide whether or not to create back stories for all my characters. Will this make the characters stagnant and stop them from developing within the story?

I also need to start writing smaller pieces to rebuild my abilities. In conjunction with this, I need to start reading. Now and often. Let the bookworming begin.

Submeg

writing, my writing, WIP