Tag: plotting

Posted in backstory, Story, writing inspiration, Writing tips

Story Boarding

Posted on by Sherri

As a pantser I’m always looking for new ways to write my stories and keep my ideas fresh but on track. I think I like storyboarding. It gives me a chance to plan my story without over doing it. How do you write? Do you plot, plan, pants your way through? I usually fast draft which works a lot like an outline but it’s also my first draft. I go back through it and add, move, fill in until the story is what I want it to be. But even as a self-proclaimed pantser, I have learned the importance of making a few plans. With my holiday story, I decided instead of writing out all the details I’d try something different. I’ve done some of this before but this is my first complete view of my story in this form. What do you think?

Maddie doesn’t have time for men, especially not one named Cole Harrell. Men are what got her in this trouble to start with. Between her cheating ex, her conniving cameraman and Cole’s brother, Trent…she’d had her fill of men and so has her sister. Even if he does look good in a beard and a tool belt, she is not interested in any one with last name Harrell.

Getting to know my main characters, what makes them tick, how they think. It’s not just about how they look but who they are, their pasts, their families, all their baggage.

The immediate conflict: damage to the inn caused by the hurricane. Immediate affect: until the inn is repaired Maddie’s aunt is homeless and without income. It also affects the economy of the community of Teach’s Island.

The hurricane is devastating and overwhelming. The islanders are a tough lot but they just need someone to guide them, get them started. Maddie tries but they associate her with the child she once was and the woman on the YouTube video whose boyfriend was getting his jollies with the realtor while she was trying to show off their renovation via live video.

Cole’s encouragement is what sparked 3Ms. Maddie’s All-Female Construction Crew. He is also the one who suggested they video their reconstruction of the inn. Slowly Maddie begins to get her courage and confidence back.

Trent finds out about Cole’s work on the island and stirs up trouble. Maddie thinks Cole told his brother about the renovation and tells him she no longer needs him. The town turns against Maddie believing Cole was the brains behind the rebuild, she blames him for that also. She and her sisters go back to finish the inn to prove the town wrong.

Cole returns to find the island all dressed up for the holidays. Maddie did it, she got the inn ready in time for the Christmas season and saved the island. They’re not quite done, she needs his help to finish the project.

They celebrate the first of the holidays with guests and neighbor with a “Giving Tuesday” neighborhood feast?

December Daily Holidays and Observances

  • December 1: Rosa Parks Day, World AIDS Day, Eat a Red Apple Day, National Pie Day, Giving Tuesday* (Tuesday after Thanksgiving)
  • December 2: Special Education Day, National Mutt Day
  • December 3: Make a Gift Day, National Roof Over Your Head Day, Let’s Hug Day, National Apple Pie Day
  • December 4: Santa’s List Day, National Cookie Day, Wildlife Conservation Day
  • December 5: Repeal Day, International Volunteer Day, National Communicate With Your Kids Day
  • December 6: Mitten Tree Day, National Microwave Oven Day, Coats & Toys for Kids Day* (first Saturday), National Gazpacho Day
  • December 7: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Letter Writing Day, International Civil Aviation Day, National Cotton Candy Day, Walt Disney Day* (first Monday)
  • December 8: Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, National Brownie Day, National Christmas Tree Day
  • December 9: Christmas Card Day, National Pastry Day
  • December 10: Human Rights Day, Nobel Prize Day, First Night of Hanukkah* (varies, sometimes in November), Dewey Decimal System Day, National Lager Day
  • December 11: First Day of Hanukkah* (varies, sometimes in November), National App Day
  • December 12: National Poinsettia Day, Gingerbread House Day, National Ding-a-Ling Day
  • December 13: National Violin Day, Ice Cream Day, International Children’s Day* (second Sunday), National Horse Day, World Choral Day* (second Sunday), National Cocoa Day
  • December 14: Roast Chestnuts Day
  • December 15: Bill of Rights Day, National Cupcake Day, International Tea Day
  • December 16: Boston Tea Party Day, National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
  • December 17: Wright Brothers’ First Flight Anniversary, National Maple Syrup Day
  • December 18: Bake Cookies Day, National Twin Day, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day* (third Friday)
  • December 19: Look for an Evergreen Day, National Oatmeal Muffin Day, Holly Day
  • December 20: Go Caroling Day, Games Day, National Sangria Day, National Wreaths Across America Day* (third Saturday)
  • December 21: First Day of Winter/Winter Solstice* (date varies), Crossword Puzzle Day, Humbug Day, Look on the Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day, National Hamburger Day, Forefathers’ Day, Don’t Make Your Bed Day* (first day of Winter), National Short Story Day* (first day of Winter)
  • December 22: National Date Nut Bread Day
  • December 23: Festivus, National Roots Day, National Pfeffernüsse Day
  • December 24: Christmas Eve, National Egg Nog Day, National Chocolate Candy Day
  • December 25: Christmas Day, National Pumpkin Pie Day
  • December 26: National Whiners Day, Boxing Day, National Candy Cane Day
  • December 27: National Fruitcake Day, Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
  • December 28: National Card Playing Day
  • December 29: Tick Tock Day
  • December 30: Bacon Day
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve, Make Up Your Mind Day

from The Spruce

Holidays and Observances

Posted in Thoughts, Writing tips

What Happens When a Pantser Plots?

Posted on by Sherri
Calendar in my NaNo Book

For years I have suffered a debilitating disease of UNABLE to Plot. I’ve taken classes and courses, bought books and listened to other authors, but when it comes down to plotting and outlining, I freeze up. This year for NaNoWriMo, after listening to several YouTube videos and webinars, I decided to give it another try.

In the past when I thought of outlining my story I’d break out in hives. I might get as far a A.2.b.3. before completely freaking out because nothing was adding up or equaling out. It was inevitable. I couldn’t stand that it wasn’t the way I’d always been taught it had to be. English teachers y’all have destroyed my mojo. It is impossible to get the exact same number of bullet points per letter for each topic, plot point, story beat. I CAN’T do it! It makes me nuts. I know, some of you know I’m already nuts but this just adds to it.

I’d start to feel like I didn’t know what to do and wanted to scream!

I did it! I outlined my story for NaNoWriMo!

Oh-my-gosh, really? But I’m a pantser.

What am I doing plotting? Why am I even trying? What is this madness? It’s called NaNoWriMo, shhh.

Because I’m doing NaNo (National Novel Writing Month Challenge) and I know in order to write faster, fifty thousand words in one month, am I crazy, yes, I need to pull out all the tricks. I’ve worked on character sheets, sticky note ideas and reminders, and I just finished outlining my story.

Am I really outlining and planning my story? Huh, that’s not how I write, is it?

Well, in truth, as a pantser, I usually just sit down at the computer and write. The ideas just come to me as I’m writing, well sometimes, and other times, I have to put in a place holder like “Something needs to happen here,” or “make the character do X or Y.”

I’ve wrote scenes with complete details and felt I had them just right and then the next scene might be “why would he do this?” While outlining my story I’ve used a few of my “placeholder” tricks. It’s not a real outline. It’s a barebones rough draft with a list of a few things I want included in the story. I also have a few questions and challenges. My outline looks nothing like what my English teacher told me an outline should be, but I think it gives me an idea of where I want to go in the story without fencing me in.

One of the biggest differences between pansters and plotters is y’all know where you want to go with the story and all the steps for how to get there. Pantsers might know where we’re hoping to end up, but we have no idea how we’re going to get there, and we may change our minds halfway through the story. For us, writing the story is the journey, if we know too much it ruins the fun.

With writing a series I’ve come to know my characters, the storyline and how I want the overall series to end but I still come up with new characters and new ideas that I want to incorporate into it. Some of the ideas make it into the story, or I save for future books, others get edited out or don’t even get written. I think of writing like a puzzle, I know one of my main characters really well but one of them is still a mystery. I have a few facts but I’m still getting to know him or her. I know my antagonists and my antihero but am I going to allow him a point of view? While some of you may know your character’s birth sign, color of underwear and if they like jazz, rock or country. I’m lucky to remember their hair and eye color and if they have any physical tells.

NaNo is about writing a rough draft and writing it quickly. While I’ll write my outline and try to follow it as closely as I can, I also know that as a panster I have to allow myself the freedom to spread my wings and fly. Just as long as I fly in the right direction, it’s all good.  

So those of you who are pantsers and want to try writing an outline, why not just write what you want to happen in each chapter. A one- or two-line synopsis of what happens or a question you need to answer. It doesn’t have to be difficult. Use what works for you. Good luck and I’ll see you later.

If you’re NaNoing, I’m Pamlico Writer, I could use a buddy to help me through and I’d be happy to do the same for you.

My working cover
Posted in inspiration, Thoughts, writing inspiration

Preparing for NaNoWriMo As a Pantser

Posted on by Sherri

I have searched the web for programs, YouTube videos, blog posts, and webinars to help me get ready for NaNoWriMo. The one thing I’ve noticed is they are not geared to pantsers. I know, I know, if I’m a pantser how can I “get ready” for NaNo? Well, when I was preparing for my very first NaNoWriMo in 2015 I knew I had to have some information at my fingertips, or I’d waste precious writing time trying to figure things out.

Over the years, before publishing my first novel, I took several online classes, attended several programs and presentations and even bought books to learn how to write better, faster, how to plot, outline, use a graph, or a chart or a Ouiji board. Okay, I didn’t use the Ouiji board but I’ve tried several different methods of planning my novels in advance and I find it difficult and disheartening that I cannot do it. I often do not know what my characters will do until I’m in the middle of the action. Sometimes I add a character in the middle of the story and have to go back to the beginning and show that he was there all along. So how can someone like me prepare for NaNoWriMo?

There is no one way to write a novel. In fact, there are probably as many ways to write a novel as there are people who write them. For me, I found that by combining different techniques and ideas, I could develop my own plan. I don’t plot but I plan my novel. So, here’s what I know before I start to write.

Genre: suspense thriller with strong romantic elements, I have to have a love interest.

Main Characters:

Hero: the main male character, in this particular story he is the main POV character.

Heroine: the main female character, love interest and second POV character.

Villain or anti-hero: this is the 3rd POV character and he is sort of the bad guy but thinks he’s the hero.

Cast of secondary characters:

This is a series so some of my past characters will be in this novel. How many, and who is still undetermined, but I can assume that the hero’s sister, the owner of the café where they all hang out, the Police Chief, and the SBI agent, and more than likely, the hero’s father will all have scenes. I’m also assuming the heroine’s sister will make an appearance as she has had brief parts in prior stories and will be the heroine in the next book. I may also introduce some of her other family members. All of these are easily referenced in my Series Bible. But for easy access during NaNoWriMo I’ll be implementing another plan. If you are interested stay tuned for the second part of this story.

Major Plot Details:

I know a few major plot details, for example I know why the fires are being set, I know who is setting them. I don’t yet know what I’m planning to burn or blow up, but I’ve got a couple of ideas.

I know the love interest, I’m not sure how they’re going to get from being antagonists to being in bed together, but half the fun is figuring it out.

I know one person who is going to die. I really enjoy planning my murders, sometimes I scare myself. I just never knew I had this inside of me. I blame it on the children. After six sons you stop thinking about romance and start considering murder.

Scenes:

I don’t have a lot of scenes planned but a couple are already in my head. Some are vague and others are quite vibrant. As I am planning my novel for NaNoWriMo, I write down these scenes, but I may or may not use them.

For now, all the planning is in my head but in order to get things straight and be prepared for NaNo, I’ll need to do something with this information. The question is, what way is best for you? If you haven’t checked out some of the YouTube NaNo Prep videos, check out #HeartBreathings, #WritersLifeWednesdays, Alexa Donne’s NaNoWriMo Tips for Newbies.