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There are a couple things that have helped me in situations like this.
First, try to mentally plot backwards. You don’t have to write stuff out or make an outline, unless you think that will help you more. But start at one point, somewhere in the middle or even the end and work backwards. How did they make it here? What did they have to overcome? They’re at point B, but how did point A get them there? There’s actually a KP article about this
Or, another thing you could do, is just write what you know already. You know all the main plot points, so write them. Then fill in the gaps later. Personally, it’s really hard for me to do this since I hate writing out of order XD But it may work for you. 🙂 Plus, as you write, ideas may come to you.
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
@godlyfantasy12 @mineralizedwritings @esther-c
I know this was days ago, but here’s my OTHeR two cents…
Min and Esther are totally right (that article was great, Esther!). So, that.
I can’t say my advice is solid because I’ve never actually finished a book yet – but this is mostly observations I’ve made, and a mix of articles I’ve read. So it’s not even technically my advice 😂 Nevertheless…
Subplots. If you need a refresher, a subplot is a secondary storyline which supports the main plot. It might be romance, family drama, some mysterious magical something slowly revealing itself, etc.
The key thing is to mix them together in fun combinations. You braid all the strands together into something pretty!
I guess I can testify to practicing this “braiding” in the roleplays, and it’s enjoyable! Even if the characters are going place-to-place, from one classroom to another, or even while flying into a fight, you can have them think or act on certain subplots.
If a kid is upset about his relationship with another student, you can play with it to affect how he makes his daily decisions, and even using it as a catalyst towards other plots – like maybe (1) he takes a longer route to a classroom to avoid this student and ends up (2) listening into a suspicious conversation with bullies, but also makes it to class late, which (3) worries his friend, who thinks he isn’t focusing on priorities. And this all contributes to (4) the hero’s emotional state, since he always feels like he isn’t capable enough to take on life.
Four plots in one action, see?
They all borrow from each other and weave around each other, and it’s super cool and I love it!! It’s changed my entire perspective ❤️
So with your story, instead of leaving the different plots separate, make them bump into each other and rub each other the wrong way. That way, it doesn’t feel like your plot is just “go here, then here from there.”
…Does that make sense? 😅
Idk, I feel unqualified to say anything today…
“Everything is a mountain”
Also sorry if I talk too much, I’m passionate about this kind of thing 😅
“Everything is a mountain”
I’m having trouble with my WIP being too cliché. So… in the 5th (?) chapter of the book, Kydon (MC) finds out that his sister, Willow is the heir to Elowenia which is being ruled by an Emporer, who as it turns out is Willow’s childhood friend who she was also betrothed to. Willow gets kidnapped by the Lunam, sort of like a secret guard to the Emporer. So, the book is about Kydon working with his uncles to restore the monarchy and also rescue his sister. Willow, meanwhile finds out they have a BROTHER who is in the Lunam. (Their parents were captured before he was born so nobody knew about him) And so most of her side of the story is the Emporer trying to get her to marry him (sounds creepy but it’s not lol) and she is trying to get him to realize he never wanted the pain and destruction he caused. Because his father made him do it. And this whole time Willow is working through some stuff of her own. Her brother, Emyr, has been lied to his whole life.
I know the lost heirs thing is really cliché but it is central to the entire plot. (Sorry, grcr if you are reading this…. definitely a huge spoiler lol.) It starts out similar to the Wingfeather Saga, I promise I made this before I read that series. But there are parts of it that are not cliché at all in that the villain is actually dead and the bad guy is just doing what his father would have wanted because he watched him die. I don’t know… I would love some feedback on it. Thanks for letting me rant!
It doesn’t seem terribly cliche to me. I would agree that the lost heirs trope is really common. My advice would be to find a way to twist that trope. Changing cliches in interesting ways is one of the best ways to create good plots. I know KP has some articles that address this that you could check out.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
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📚 Appreciator of BooksSo I struggle with making outlines. I have a mentor who strongly encourages me to plot everything, but I’m more of what some call a “pantser”. I think there’s an article on KP about “pantsing” if you guys are curious what that is.
Every time I try to plot, it’s like a mental roadblock! I’ve seen articles about knowing your ending first, but that just doesn’t come naturally to me. I have a mental map of the theme and kind of sort of how I want the story to go, but I can’t make an outline.
Is this normal, or is it just me? Help!
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333I love that idea! sounds so intriguing!
I don’t think it’s that cliche, just like @jonas commented earlier. I love the names of your characters!
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333I usually plot my stories, but I still struggle with it. I haven’t ever tried writing a story without an outline, but I don’t think I would be able to if I tried. My struggle with plotting is filling in between events. Like, I know Event A happens at some point, and Event B happens later, but I don’t know what happens in between. I have a very loose outline of my WIP completed and I need to fill in a ton of details still.
I think it depends on the person. I think it’s best to use whichever method works better for you, although doing it the other way might be a good way to stretch yourself. I kind of wish I could write without an outline, but I just can’t.
That said, I think there are advantages to writing an outline first. If you know basically what happens, your story will probably be more cohesive.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not outlining, so you don’t need to if you just can’t.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksI know that outlining helps make stories better and easier to write, but I just don’t know how to get started. I’ve tried using Milanote and Reedsy (platforms that can help with writing) and other stuff. I’ve even looked for articles on KP and on google, but nothing seems to help!
I wish I could write a story with an outline. Want to swap? lol!
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333KP doesn’t seem to have many articles on outlining, unfortunately. There are a lot on “pantsing,” but hardly any on outlines.
The only advice I can give is this: either outline 100% or pants 100%. If you do some outlining and then try to pants the rest, you’ll likely get stuck, not knowing how to get from one part of your outline to another. I speak from experience here lol. I would try pantsing my WIP, but I can’t really improvise my way between the plot points I already know.
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📚 Appreciator of BooksNo problem! I’m gonna try to come up with a process for outlining. If I make any breakthroughs I’ll let you know.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
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📚 Appreciator of BooksI know this was a while ago, but I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot coincidentally, sooooo… I’m going to talk too 😂
First off, I think plotting vs. pantsing is a spectrum. You can lean one way or the other depending on what you’re writing, and that’s just a matter of personality sometimes.
But you DO have to make a conscious decision to plot. A lot of people assume that because they’re pansters, they don’t have to plot. NOT true. You will have to plot while writing, despite your last-minute tendencies, whether you like it or not. It is a necessary part of writing – otherwise it sounds like AI spewing guts and glitter all over the place.
Understanding story structure is important. Most of us understand it without even knowing, because years of reading has engrained it into our minds. 😂 And you need to maintain that knowledge, and not lose it when you need it the most.
I’m naturally part-pantser, but I’m training myself to plot, because I think doing so is underrated and needs to be taught.
Yes, Jonas, KP needs more outlining articles. I’m honestly surprised there isn’t more info on the subject. They cover character development so close often, but we need to know how to tie that development to outward events, because I myself am often bamboozled 😅
I feel ya, girl ❤
Consume a bunch of books and movies. That’s solid advice… or at least, it helped me. Once you can tell the difference between a well-written show and a pile of soggy trash, that will help you so much 👍😂
You ask yourself, “what’s coming next?” And then eventually, “I know what’s coming next, because the character’s arcs need to go this direction!”
A question: Can you tell me all you know about plot structure so far? Maybe then I’ll know what tips to give. 😊 At least, from the few tips I own, as a baby writer myself!
“Everything is a mountain”
You ask yourself, “what’s coming next?” And then eventually, “I know what’s coming next, because the character’s arcs need to go this direction!”
This sounds doable, but the problem for me is when I have plot points that I already know, because that adds the additional challenge of having to aim towards the known points.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of Books
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