To Plot or Not to Plot

Every writer has an opinion on whether or not to plot. I've tried it both ways. The first book that I wrote under the "No Plot, No Problem" school of thought was a hot mess. But at least I learned that I could produce a novel length work.

This inspired me to do a ton of research. Read a lot of books and plot, plot, plot. Even though I've changed it during the course of writing the actual novel. I think what I'll be doing for novel number three is to combine these two methods. I'll plot my main points and let my characters tell me how we'll get from point A to point B.

Just so you know, here are what some published authors do about plotting:

• Jeffrey Deaver plots extensively. I heard him say once that he'd rather waste four months writing a lengthy plot outline and discover that a book wouldn't work than spend a year writing the book and then realize that it won't work.
• Steve Berry says he plotted his first several books but doesn't anymore.
• William Bernhardt is a believer in outlining his books. He say "When you outline . . . . and you will outline."
• K.D. Wentworth doesn't outline.

Check out:

Plotting It Ain't for Wienies

Author Interviews with: Evan Marshall, Marilyn Harris Collins, and Carolyn See

Author Interview: Carolyn See

I love Carolyn See's book, Making a Literary Life. One of the things she recommends in the book is to send a charming note to an author, agent, publisher or editor daily. I felt it was appropriate that she be the recipient of my first charming note.

I later asked if she'd do an interview for me and she graciously consented.

MP: What is a typical workday?

CS: There is no "typical" work day. For my weekly reviews I try to take the book outside and read for a couple of hours until they're done. Then, since I'm such a terrible typist, I'll write the review on one day (they're 850-900 words, but I count them as 1,000), and type it the next -- which is the hardest part of the process. Then one day to revise, with notes from the editors of the Washington Post, and that can vary wildly, from ten minutes to three hours. They're wonderful people, but I have my favorites -- those who agree with me, of course.

If I'm going to a conference or a seminar, I'll spend a couple of hours organizing, or if I'm lazy, I don't.

For writing long projects, I try to do 1,000 words a day or (no more than) two hour's revision five days a week. If I'm working on a deadline, all that goes out the window, of course. I have a couple of anthology pieces coming up, and I'm procrastinating so much that I'll end up doing them over a period of three or so days. But I don't recommend that. I try to work in the morning, read in the afternoon. But I also try not to get tied to any particular schedule -- there too many ways to get off it and then beat myself up about it...

MP: How do you feel about plotting and outlining?

CS: For plot and outline, as I say in MAKING A LITERARY LIFE, I generally know the first thing that's going to happen and the last. Then I'll do the second chapter and the penultimate chapter. Then I'll do my favorite scenes, the ones I feel like doing that day. I don't want to be dogmatic about it, but I think, except for mysteries and commercial novels, you don't need an outline. Because life doesn't have one -- it's full of surprises, and by doing outlines you fence yourself in.

more later . . . . .

As more of this interview becomes available I'll get it posted.

My Favorite Writing Reference Books. . . So Far

It's hard to know which books to choose from the thousands of writing reference books available. As far as fiction writing is concerned, these are my favorites so far.

• Immediate Fiction: A Complete Writing Course by Jerry Cleaver-I love this book. Mr. Cleaver lets you know right up front that writing is an acquired skill. If you can't sit at the computer and have perfectly plotted, perfectly formed manuscripts pour from the tips of your fingers that's okay. My favorite quote: "Letting yourself be bad is the best way to become good."
• Fiction Writer's Brainstormer by James V. Smith, Jr.-James has great insights into the novel writing process. He revealed things that I'd never read anywhere else. And I've read a lot. James will take you through the process from choosing a salable idea to readability to submission.
• Writing Realistic Dialogue and Flash Fiction by Harvey Stanbrough- This book is an absolute must for fine tuning your dialogue. It'll also help keep your writing concise.
• Fiction Writing Demystified: Techniques That Will Make You a More Successful Writer by Thomas B. Sawyer.- Tom wrote many episodes of the popular series Murder She Wrote. He brings his experience as a screenwriter to fiction writing. If you want to know how to keep your reader turning pages, Tom will let you in on his secrets.
• The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall- Evan will give you all the information you need to know about how to structure a novel. He is after all an agent and an author so he should know what he's talking about.
• First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner- This book doesn't show you how to complete a manuscript in 30 days but it does show you how to outline and organize a novel in that amount of time. In addition, she reveals her method for planning your writing career. Excellent resource!
• Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton-This well written book will strike a chord with every writer. Les tells it like it is in a down to earth tone. It feels as if he's sharing this information with a friend over coffee. When you get ready to get real, the you need to pick up a copy of this book.
• Don't Murder Your Mystery [Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book] by Chris Roerden- Chris will walk you through all the mistakes that many writers make the first time out. If you want to produce a salable piece of fiction, mystery or not, this is a book that bears reading.

Like I said, this is the list so far. I find new ones all the time but these are the ones I've found most helpful. Leave me a comment and let me know what you're using. Who knows? You may have one that I need to add to the list.

Is Your Manuscript Pretty?

I had it pointed out to me that it doesn't matter if you write Pulitzer prize quality material. If it doesn't look good it'll never be read. Don't believe me? Fine, but can you afford not to? If your manuscript has lengthy paragraphs, say over 2-3 sentences per and not much dialogue then it's probably destined for the rejection pile.

I've heard from an eyewitness that agents and editors actually flip through your manuscript and may not read it at all based on the way the pages look. I've read that you should avoid large blocks of exposition but I didn't realize that it was because of the way it looks on the page I just thought it was because it'd bore your readers to tears. So you need to make it pretty. Leave plenty of white space and keep your paragraphs short.

I know I've harped on the Marshall Plan for Novel Writing a lot on this blog but listen to this. In a 400 page work an agent/editor will flip to page 100, 200,& 300 to make sure you have your turning points in place. Just as Evan Marshall tells us to do. He is an agent after all so he should know.

So add making a pretty manuscript to your list of things to do if you want to get published.

Author Interview: Marilyn Harris Collins

I had the opportunity to visit with Marilyn Harris Collins about her career as an author of non fiction books. She's the author of several books for Acadia Press. Her most recent work, Write History Right details how to capture stories from your family, town, church or civic group and organize them into book format.

MP: When writing non fiction do you outline before you begin?

MHC: I use a timeline covering the scope of my book as my "outline." Obviously, I start with the first event and end with the last, including backstory. I continually add to the timeline as I research the book. There is added value to a timeline other than keeping the story on track. Natural chapter breaks will appear. From this you can readily tell if you have too much information on one topic, not enough on another. This is a good time to assign an estimated word count per chapter -- thus the entire book. An overall project schedule will begin to take shape judging on how many words you can write a day plus adding time for research, site visits, interviews and so forth.

MP: What is a normal workday for you when you have a book in progress?

MHC: After I walk the dog, help my husband pick out a tie, I take a quick coffee run. When I set the coffee on my desk and turn on the computer, my day begins. I work until mid to late afternoon. Sometimes I could back and work late into the night - if I'm on deadline or the writing is going really well.

MP: About how long does it take to finish a first draft?

MHC: After several trial starts and stops, once I get started it takes me about three months for a first draft, another three months to get a workable final draft. This does not account for the prelude to writing - research, interviews, collecting visuals, and some tearing out of my hair!

MP: How many revisions do you normally do?

MHC:There are probably 100 ways to say the same thing. I keep making minor tweaks to the last minute trying for that one last, best way to bring the reader into the story. I find rewriting valuable beyond grammar checks and choice of words -- the story and my purpose for telling it becomes more clear. I learn more about myself as well as the subject as I go along. The book means more to me at the end than at the beginning.

MP: What is the most difficult thing about writing non fiction?

MHC: I suppose the most difficult part about writing nonfiction isn't finding the truth to tell - but in bringing that truth alive for the reader through the characters, setting, and conflicts of the time. I want the reader to "be there." Creative nonfiction ploys allow the writer to use more dialogue, explore inner feelings of the characters, and provide a very realistic setting for the book. Another difficult part of writing nonfiction is finding the arc for the story when you have to deal with facts as they happened. This takes some skill.

MP: What are your top three reference books for writing non ficiton?

MHC: I have a bookcase full of how-to writing books that I've been absorbing for years. However, I found no books for writing history per se on the American market. So, I wrote Write History Right as the user-friendly guide for anyone planning on writing a history of their town, region, family, church, school, and so forth. I found two books invaluable in setting up my publishing company:
Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, Para Publishing, 2007
The Well-Fed Self-Publisher by Peter Bowerman, Fanove Publishing, 20077

MP: How do you feel about critique groups?

MHC: Belonging to a writer's group is very important to me and to my work. My advice is to join the right group for you. My group, Northwest Arkansas Writer's Guild is for published writers. Just as other specialty groups are for romance, mystery, sci-fi writers, and so forth - the level and purpose of our critiques are tailored to our needs as a group. Our group is excellent because: a) members are all published and provide critiques toward that end, b) our size is small - 12 to 16 members, c) we share mutual trust and support, d) are flexible to help each other on current projects, and e) we have fun and there is no jealousy.

MP: What's your best piece of advice for a new writer?

MHC: Many wise words have been directed to writers over the years. After all those are said and read, I offer this: I have a very inquisitive mind - I'm interested in almost everything and see a good story around every corner. And I want to write it all! This can be not only overwhelming, but can keep me running in so many directions I don't accomplish as much as I could if more focused. I like writing magazine articles at the same time I'm writing a book (or maybe two). They add variety and supply constant deadlines. Not everyone likes to juggle multiple plates over their head at once, but I do. So, my advice is know your own personality and find ways to make your quirks and skills work for, not against, you.

Learn more about Marilyn Harris Collins non fiction books at http://www.writehistoryright.com/

5 Tips for Finding Time to Write

When you're working from home it's easy to let the laundry, lunch dates and the Lifetime channel cut into your time. If you're intent on writing a salable novel it's even tempting to scrub shower grout. It's not that you don't want to write it. It's just that you're scared. Scared that you'll either fail miserably or have an off the chart success on your hands. Get over it! It's time to bite the bullet and write your novel, short story, family Christmas letter or whatever you're working on.

If you want to find time to write try these tips.

• Before you can find time to write you need to get real with yourself about how you're spending your time now. And it doesn't even require a stint on the Dr. Phil show. There's a great tracker at mindtools.com. Yeah, it's a pain but if you'll fill it out for a few days, I guarantee you'll find time you didn't know you had.

• A friend of mine has great success with an egg timer. When she begins a task, whether it's writing or house cleaning it helps to have a deadline. If you know you only have to devote ten minutes to folding laundry it'll fly by.

• Make a weekly menu. HUH?! You heard me. How much time is wasted at your house deciding what you'll have for dinner, making extra trips to the store during the week for forgotten items or going out to eat. You'll not only save hours every week, you'll save a lot of money too.

• Set goals. Okay you've heard this one before. Me too. But, you can't just say, "I'm going to write a novel next year." Create a timeline. When will you have it plotted, how many pages a day will you write, how long will you give yourself for rewrites? Hold yourself accountable.

• If you can't write at home go to the coffee shop, library or park. I wrote one of my best pieces in the waiting room of a tire shop. If you suspect you'll be waiting somewhere for awhile take along your laptop or a good old yellow pad and a #2 pencil. Or you could spend your time looking at outdated issues of Field & Stream.

If you've got any timesaving tips for writers let us know about them. We need all the help we can get!!

Author Interview: Evan Marshall

Like many of us Evan Marshall has more than a full time day job and still manages to find time to write. He's also president of the Evan Marshall Agency and a software designer. Wondering what his creative process is? Read on:

MP: How long does it take you to plot a new novel?

EM: It takes me a solid month to plot a mystery, with all the twists, turns, and surprises to my satisfaction.

MP: After it's plotted how long does it take to write it? Do you find that it's easier/faster to plot/write subsequent novels?

EM: Writing the novel takes me approximately four months. Unfortunately, plotting never gets easier, because like many writers I’m always trying to top myself, come up with something fresh and different my readers will like. One thing that does help is the novel-writing system I devised some time ago—The Marshall Plan®—which I have presented in The Marshall Plan® for Novel Writing and several other books, and which I have just released in software form. The program is called The Marshall Plan® for Novel Writing Template Generator. It does the heavy plotting/structuring work for you, so that you’re free to be really creative in your story.

MP: Do you talk about your novel while it's in process or keep it close? If you share it, let us know who the lucky person is.

EM: I keep it very close. I find that no matter how much a story element might excite me, I can never quite convey it to other people, and their odd looks or well-meaning discouragement takes the wind right out of my sails. So when friends and family ask me what my book is about, I smile and say, “I don’t want to spoil it for you.”

MP: Do you have a group of first readers or a critique group you share the edited manuscript with? If not, how do you feel about critique groups in general?

EM: No, I have never worked with first readers or critique groups. The first person to see my manuscript is always my editor. I think critique groups can be quite effective if members are truly knowledgeable about each other’s chosen genre; otherwise, they can do more harm than good.

MP: How many revisions do you generally do before you're satisfied with the finished product?

EM: Once my manuscript is all down, I finally allow myself to print it out, and this is when the heavy editing starts. I do one extremely rigorous edit—changing things, moving things around, reinforcing elements, making everything consistent, planting additional clues—and key in all of these changes. Then I print out again and do what I call my medium edit; this most closely resembles the traditional manuscript edit. I key these changes in, print out again, and do what I call my cosmetic edit. Here is where I look for repeated words, overuse of adjectives or adverbs, and scenes that run too long. I keep editing and printing out until I literally can find nothing I want to change.

MP: What sort of marketing do you do for your books after they are published?

EM: Most of my marketing is done via my email lists and website. I find that the Internet is the perfect way to reach mystery readers.

MP: Other than The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing and it's attending Template Generator, what are the top three writing books on your shelf?

EM: It’s hard to pick favorites, but three that were very helpful to me early on were Structuring Your Novel: From Basic Idea to Finished Manuscript by Robert C. Meredith and John D. Fitzgerald; Guide to Fiction Writing by Phyllis A. Whitney; and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Davd King.

MP: What's your next project?

EM: My next project is the third book in my new series, the Hidden Manhattan mysteries. The first book, Death is Disposable, is already out and I’m proud to say it has received wonderful reviews. The second book, Evil Justice, will be out in December. The series features Anna Winthrop, a New York City Sanitation garage supervisor with an eye for solving murders. But that’s all I can tell you now. I don’t want to spoil it for you. ; )

evan marshall

Plotting: It Ain't For Wienies

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If you've decided to write a novel then you'll be needing a plot outline. Don't like outlining you say? It stifles creativity, you say. Well perhaps you're a little like me and the thought of plotting a novel scares the daylights out of you. Well, get over it. If you'll take the time to plot your novel you'll have a much richer book and it won't stifle your creativity as much as it will focus it.

These are the first steps I went through after I had an idea what my novel would be about. I hope you find them helpful and please share any plotting tips the you have in the comments. We need all the help we can get.

• In order to plot a novel you really do have to take the time to decide on a genre and read several books from that genre. I chose romantic suspense and I've got to say my favorite romantic suspense author is Brenda Novak. The woman can plot like nobody's business. I know you're ready to write the darn book now while your Muse is calling. Tell her to go out for a spa day and pay attention.


• Notice who the publisher is, what the book length is and if possible look up their submission requirements. Google Rules!! Then break down one or two novels by scene. No need to create a spreadsheet. Pen and paper will do. How many per scenes per chapter and per viewpoint character? At what point do we see the major complications come into play? Brenda appears to be a Marshall Plan kind of girl.


• Okay, so that will give you a book length and genre. I used The Marshall Plan to help me determine the number of scenes needed, number of viewpoint characters and where to insert major complications. I'll admit that I've had the book for awhile and it scared me to death the first time I read through it. It seemed like it was too detailed so I did the NaNoWriMo thing which was a great experience but not very structured.
  
  

The Marshall Plan isn't the only book I studied. Yes, studying. You know, like you did in school. Because, contrary to what you may think writers aren't some cosmically gifted group who plop down in front of the computer and start spitting out perfectly worded, perfectly plotted masterpieces. They've studied and sweated and learned their craft.

I'll put up some reviews of the plotting books I've studied and what I've gotten from them. In the meantime, gird your loins and wade in. Figure out your genre, target publisher/agent, and target page length.

See, I told you this isn't for wienies!

So You Want to Write a Novel

Okay, so my first question is, ARE YOU NUTS??!! The correct answer is yeah, maybe a little. Writing a novel is akin to painting the exterior of your house with your kid's watercolor brush. It's going to take a long time, you're to going miss spots and you've gotta have a plan or you'll never finish it.

That being said, I'm nuts too because I'm about to start a novel and it's not the first time. My friend and I decided to do the NaNoWriMo thing a couple of years ago. We wrote furiously and at the end of thirty days had each produced a novel length work. Note that I said novel length. I say this because it wasn't actually a novel.

Come to find out No Plot is a problem. But, that being said, I'm glad I did it. The experience taught me that I could write that many words about one thing and not all of those words were bad. It also taught me that outlining is my friend. Possibly my best friend.

I'll be posting about my foray into plotting/outlining a novel over the next few weeks. Feel free to share your plotting tips here in comments. We'd all like to hear about them.