Weekends 11-14 we will be dipping our toes or whole feet into plotting. What is a plot or plotting? As a writer you should kinda know, but I amazed myself in all the things I did not know about writing while writing my books.
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Plot
noun
a secret plan or scheme to accomplish some purpose, especially a hostile, unlawful, or evil purpose: a plot to overthrow the government.
Also called storyline. the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story.
verb (used with object), plot·ted, plot·ting.
to plan secretly, especially something hostile or evil: to plot mutiny.
to mark on a plan, map, or chart, as the course of a ship or aircraft.
verb (used without object), plot·ted, plot·ting.
to plan or scheme secretly; form a plot; conspire.
to devise or develop a literary or dramatic plot.
to be marked or located by means of measurements or coordinates, as on plotting paper.
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So, a plot is a plan, design, an outline. In your writing, this can be the concept or an actual sketch where you map out the things that will happen. It’s about arranging all the parts to flow into a whole piece. Think of it like a puzzle. You lay out all the pieces and plan your attack. Edges first. Then by color. Maybe you are a section by section person. Either way, you get the idea.
I have been battling the plot for the book, Time Thief, that I have been working on for a while now. It is driving me nuts- which we all know is a very short trip. But I am staying with it and have a timeline I am trying to work with. How about you? Tell us what you are working on. Do you want to do a guest post? Hit me up and we can get something together for you. Use this blog as a practice space, a jumping off point. But until then…
Grab your copy of The Weekend Novelist by Robert J. Ray. I’ll meet you in the kitchen for a fresh cuppa and nibbles. I am having an amazing caramel coffee and an apple. Delicious. I have the reading rug ready for our foray into Plotting.
The Best Plot for You
It’s called a straight line for a reason. Start, middle, finish. There are a ton of different plot shapes. There is the big X, big W, figure 8, a maze- but there is nothing wrong with a clean straight line. The plot builds as the action rises in your tale. The high point hits to release all the pent-up excitement and then a down tick to end the story. This is the classic format for movies. A steady start with a build up to the pinnacle and a decline to the end. Roll credits.
Over the next few posts, we will look closer at plot structure. We will learn about scene-building, key scenes, plot insights, and problem to solution.
Sounds like we have a plan, design, an outline…a plot! We have a plot for our next couple of meetings. See how I did that? Like, I circled it around to like close it off? No? Not impressed? Geesh- tough crowd.
Until next time my friends- stay safe, stay happy, and stay motivated.
Polish your sparkle and keep twirling.
Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
I’m always looking for new friends!
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New Ink. Used Ideas. 
I like the “Polish your sparkle and keep twirling” . I need to do that.
Also, graphs! Yay! 🙂
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(I think it took my original reply? If not here it is again.) Great post! I like the graphs.
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