Plotting for Dummies

Sleeves
Dark Lord

A Dastardly Fellow

"I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them."

Posts: 230

Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 15:10:33 GMT

Quote

Post by Sleeves on Jun 27, 2014 15:10:33 GMT

Because some of us are actually going to be writing stories.

Some people need to plot. We are plotters.

Some people never need to plot. They are pantsers.

Before you start a novel, you have to do some soul searching. Dig deep and ask yourself: Am I a pantser?

If the answer is yes, get out.

If you are a plotter, then I have some advice for you.

All plotters are different. Some plotters need just a vague outline, while others, like me, need to outline every single fucking detail.

If you are the former, then I suggest just jotting down some major plot points, maybe on index cards.

If you are the latter, then let me introduce you to Freemind.

Freemind is the plotter's best friend. It's free, just google it and download.

Freemind is a giant mind map program. Here is a screen shot of my Archetypes plot from a year and a half ago: www.evernote.com/pub/akkhlys/examples#st=p&n=7c41f975-9533-4ffe-add7-0600df9b1af6

Each one of those nodes branches out into more nodes, which branch out into even more nodes. If I were to unravel the entire thing then your computer might explode.

Freemind is nice because you can reorder your scenes and chapters with just the press of a button. If you don't want to organize by chapters or books, you don't have to.

Alright.

Product plug over.

Happy plotting.

"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was."
-Terry Pratchett

Arctura Dark Lord Pre-Raphaelite We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey Posts: 400	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 15:58:21 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Arctura on Jun 27, 2014 15:58:21 GMT So which program do I join? Freemind or Evernote?
	Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments. - Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Arctura Dark Lord Pre-Raphaelite We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey Posts: 400	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 16:02:33 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Arctura on Jun 27, 2014 16:02:33 GMT Okayyy, so I have an Evernote account now and I've downloaded the app. I don't know what I'm doing. What is technology.
	Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments. - Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Sleeves Dark Lord A Dastardly Fellow "I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them." Posts: 230	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 16:27:55 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sleeves on Jun 27, 2014 16:27:55 GMT freemind
	"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was." -Terry Pratchett

Sleeves Dark Lord A Dastardly Fellow "I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them." Posts: 230	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 16:28:25 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sleeves on Jun 27, 2014 16:28:25 GMT why would you download evernote jfc man
	"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was." -Terry Pratchett

Arctura Dark Lord Pre-Raphaelite We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey Posts: 400	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 16:43:21 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Arctura on Jun 27, 2014 16:43:21 GMT I DON'T KNOW
	Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments. - Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Arctura Dark Lord Pre-Raphaelite We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey Posts: 400	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 16:43:57 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Arctura on Jun 27, 2014 16:43:57 GMT BECAUSE THAT'S THE LINK WAS - IT TOOK ME TO YOUR SHARED EVERNOTE PAGE
	Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments. - Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Sleeves Dark Lord A Dastardly Fellow "I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them." Posts: 230	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 17:23:22 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sleeves on Jun 27, 2014 17:23:22 GMT WELL YEAH MAN HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO SHARE SCREEN SHOTS WITH YOU
	"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was." -Terry Pratchett

Sleeves Dark Lord A Dastardly Fellow "I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them." Posts: 230	Plotting for Dummies Jun 27, 2014 17:23:58 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sleeves on Jun 27, 2014 17:23:58 GMT this is why you should take com sci 2 with me
	"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was." -Terry Pratchett

Arctura
Dark Lord

Pre-Raphaelite

We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey

Posts: 400

Plotting for Dummies Jun 28, 2014 2:19:07 GMT

Quote

Post by Arctura on Jun 28, 2014 2:19:07 GMT

XD You are right, but it doesn't appeal to me. I will forever be inept.

Anyway, I deleted Evernote and I'm actually not going to go through the hassle of getting the latest Java to get Freemind. Certainly not without having purchased the update for my antivirus program (I have a high-maintenance PC).

Plus, I was really asking for a nice, old-fashioned plot diagram. Um, so, I just got one of those of the interwebs.

Thanks, though. I'm glad you have something that works for you.

Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass,
Stains the white radiance of Eternity,
Until Death tramples it to fragments.

- Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Sleeves Dark Lord A Dastardly Fellow "I have no interest in understanding sheep--only eating them." Posts: 230	Plotting for Dummies Jun 28, 2014 10:34:57 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sleeves on Jun 28, 2014 10:34:57 GMT Do you mind giving me a link to the plot diagram you're using? I just want to make sure it's not too structured. It's good to have a way to organize, but you don't want to put yourself in a box. It can limit your ideas.
	"We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was." -Terry Pratchett

Arctura Dark Lord Pre-Raphaelite We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. - Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Grey Posts: 400	Plotting for Dummies Jun 28, 2014 18:55:29 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Arctura on Jun 28, 2014 18:55:29 GMT timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/ and www.necessarywriters.com/?p=518
	Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments. - Adonaïs, Percy Bysshe Shelley