Friday, June 18, 2021

Plot Challenges

Rhobin has come up with another thought-provoking topic. In your writing how do you recognize and overcome plot problems or failures?

Recognizing plot problems is usually fairly easy. You write yourself into a corner, or you hit writer’s block.

You sit and stare at the screen and try to force one, or more, of your characters to do something that goes against their philosophy or goal, and they refuse. The story doesn’t move forward. You decide you shouldn’t be a writer. 

Overcoming plot problems can be a challenge. One of the first things I do when I realize I’ve hit a wall and don’t know how to get over it, is take a break. Going for a walk sometimes works. It clears the mind. Listening to music. Brainstorm with a writing friend. One thing that often works for me is before I go to sleep, I think about my problem. What’s wrong with the plot? What can I do about it? Sometime before I wake up in the morning my mind will often solve the problem and when I wake up I have at least one idea on how to solve the problem. I may even have more than one possibility.

Worst case scenario is the plot isn’t working, because that’s not the way the story is meant to go. It’s not the story the characters want to tell. So, you delete, and cut, and go back to the beginning and start over.

I’m looking forward to reading how other authors handle their plot challenges.

Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2lz

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

7 comments:

  1. I love the fact you are so call about your plot problem. No fuss; no drama. I may appear call to others, but internally, it's like the end o my world--for about twenty minutes.

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  2. I love the fact you are so calm about your plot problem. No fuss; no drama. I may appear calm to others, but internally, it's like the end o my world--for about twenty minutes.

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  3. I find it interesting how characters can become so entrenched in our minds they tell us what they will or won't do! And here I thought I wrote the story! Enjoyed your post.

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  4. I'm with you. Living near the beach is a blessing for many reasons but just going for a walk to work things out in my head is one of them. And there is something very conducive to seeing new possibilities while I've got my feet splashing along in the edge of the ocean.

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  5. The first half of your post sounds so familiar! And I like your fixes.

    Re thinking over plot problem at bedtime. I've tried this but my brain then keeps me awake working on the solution. ;) How do you manage to go to sleep?

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  6. Oh, yes, I delete portion or rework others. This usually works. Sometimes, it takes more than one deletion/revision to get it right, but it’s always worth the effort.

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  7. Yes, it's important to ensure the people in the story are the bosses, and you merely the scribe.

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