A Wicked Plot

Flipping raccoons, friends!

Sure, you may be hearing about them in the news a lot, but that isn't what I'm here to talk about!

No, I am talking about plotting right now. It is a venomous beast, with long legs and a deep freeze full of moose hamburger! Now, I will preface this by saying that I used to be of the mind that you didn't have to do a whole lot of plotting, you just needed to know your characters, and they would live in your mind world and sort of live out the adventure, and dictate to you exactly what to write. I still believe this is doable for some people in some situations, but for me, I have discovered the magic power of plotting out my books.

Sure... it sorta seems like a no brainer. Duh! Of course you should plot your flipping book! It isn't a funhouse mirror show, after all! Not that I know what that means...

Anyway... I can't remember what we are talking about now. The mirror thing got me off track. Let me read back...

...

Right! Plotting!

I wont make some weird statement about how you need to plot to write a good book, or to write fast or what have you. I wont, because for everyone who is gonna write at some point in their lives, it might not be true. I mean, I am sure there are hosts of writers who have written brilliant books with no idea what they were doing. I like to think that Gone with the Wind is such a book. Well... that's not true. Or maybe it is.

The point is, lost on me, so let me start again...

I think everyone should consider plotting their book to some depth. It has had a great effect on my story telling. I thought, at the outset, that such a thing would be limiting to me. I thought it would take away the magic of seeing my characters come to life in a way only writers understand. Where they surprise you, by doing things that you had not anticipated. I think that is one of the reasons that many great writers want to fly by the seat of their pants, as it were. It is exciting, and you get to see your characters living...

But does plotting really take this magic away from you? In my experience, I have to say it doesn't. In fact, as I am finishing up a project, now... I tend to think it helps me experience these events more frequently. Again, this may be just me. But that is how it worked out. I know it has made me a better writer, and I don't intend to go back to the seat of my pants for ideas. Honestly, he stank... Get it?

Okay, that was immature, I will give you that. I am also pretty sure I am rambling at this point. But then again, isn't that what we writers do? I like to think so. Or is that statement a lie?

 

Honestly, I am way more lost than you right now. If you could point me in the direction of my purpose for writing this, I would be grateful...

 

You don't wanna? That's cool, too.

 

But I suppose that's all I have to say.

 

Or is it?

 

Yeah... probably.