tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post1193860587667700732..comments2023-10-27T11:41:01.596-05:00Comments on SORMAG's Blog: WORKSHOP: To Plot Or Not To PlotLaShaundahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882241010643308240noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-33009210579557381662007-08-26T17:45:00.000-05:002007-08-26T17:45:00.000-05:00Chicki and Melissa, I'm glad I could help. I hope...Chicki and Melissa, I'm glad I could help. I hope to see everyone at next year's conference. It would be interesting to hear how everyone makes out.<BR/>BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-18199102194024437882007-08-26T17:37:00.000-05:002007-08-26T17:37:00.000-05:00I never know if I'm getting too wrapped up in the...I never know if I'm getting too wrapped up in the character descriptions (as far as really knowing them, doing character sketches and all) but I believe you are correct in saying if you really know your character, you will be able to plot the story easier because you know what he/she will do in any given situation. The middles are a hard way to go for me too so this advice comes in handy. Thank you so much!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678268678369858695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-52089180929196905822007-08-26T17:17:00.000-05:002007-08-26T17:17:00.000-05:00Fantastic workshop! This just the information I ne...Fantastic workshop! This just the information I needed. Thank you so much for giving of your time.Chicki Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866110558880351017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-5658071249353747132007-08-26T13:30:00.000-05:002007-08-26T13:30:00.000-05:00To Rudelle, Latessa, and Angeleque:I'm glad I was ...To Rudelle, Latessa, and Angeleque:<BR/>I'm glad I was able to help. One reason why I find the middle challenging is because it is hard to write from the villain's point of view. I try to keep in mind that even your bad characters have a little bit of good in them. Perhaps the evil alien that I mentioned has a soft spot for children, and he heals a little girl. I have to do a couple of chapters from the villain's point of view myself, and talking about this reminds me of what I need to do to get the job done.<BR/>BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-40002342509203147642007-08-26T11:55:00.000-05:002007-08-26T11:55:00.000-05:00Wow! Excellent! This is really great (and desperat...Wow! Excellent! This is really great (and desperately needed) information Barbara. I am trying my hand at my first fiction novel and I pretty much got stuck after the first few chapters because I was trying to develop my characters as I went along and that doesn't work. lol. This has really helped me immensely. I thought about what you said about really knowing your characters. I can see how your characters can really write much of their own story just as we can pretty much guess what we would do in a situation because we know ourselves. I can't wait to get back to my book after the conference. Thanks so much!<BR/><BR/>Rudelle Thomas<BR/><A HREF="http://divineeloquence.bravehost.com" REL="nofollow">Divine Eloquence Magazine</A>Rudelle Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06701492959565677179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-39070477166642153822007-08-26T11:47:00.000-05:002007-08-26T11:47:00.000-05:00That's for this workshop Barbara, it is definitely...That's for this workshop Barbara, it is definitely right on time. <BR/><BR/>I am currently working on my first novel, which I am finding to be very intimidating in and of itself. I can say that I know my characters quite well, due to some indepth profiling, and I have a rough story outline with a definite begining and ending; but I must admit, the middle is killing me! <BR/><BR/>Thanks again for sharing your wisdom with us. These first two workshops have given me much to think about.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06525415266097062044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-47698304009726672562007-08-26T09:54:00.000-05:002007-08-26T09:54:00.000-05:00I've always been more of a pantser than a plotter ...I've always been more of a pantser than a plotter so thanks for this workshop.<BR/><BR/>As I work on plotting my next book, I am really plotting it first and not just writing and then letting it fall apart and starting a new story. So I'm getting to know my characters and the storyline and discovering whether I have enough conflict to actually carry the story.angelequehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09320651464199686740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-61400687126020152782007-08-26T09:16:00.000-05:002007-08-26T09:16:00.000-05:00Hi Barbara, Great workshop. I'm in the middle of p...Hi Barbara, Great workshop. I'm in the middle of plotting a new book now, and I'm working on character development. I'm finding it exciting. As I build my characters I find specifics about them that influence the plot. So, I'm actually plotting my novel at the same time. Thanks for adding more depth to my character development.Vicki M. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12101858878856516622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-62102442388621399392007-08-26T09:11:00.001-05:002007-08-26T09:11:00.001-05:00Kathy, you're welcome. The plot outline does help...Kathy, you're welcome. The plot outline does help. After getting to know a character, that sort of leads me to a rough sketch of the story and then onto the outline. I like to think as the chapter outline as "spoilers" for the story.<BR/>BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-3789549466963937362007-08-26T09:11:00.000-05:002007-08-26T09:11:00.000-05:00Thanks for doing this workshop, I really enjoyed i...Thanks for doing this workshop, I really enjoyed it. I never really thought about using real pictures of people to find my character. That to me was interesting, I normally just come up with him/her in my mind. Thanks again!Stormihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157799090129414984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-31902686215032724552007-08-26T08:18:00.000-05:002007-08-26T08:18:00.000-05:00Hi Barbara,Your workhop was so informative, especi...Hi Barbara,<BR/><BR/>Your workhop was so informative, especially the part about character flaws. I've had a hard time with this, but your question, What does he do that offends others?" helps a bunch with that.<BR/><BR/>I guess the saggy middle haunts all of us newbies. I find that plot outlines help me with this. But, I'm an anal annie, so no surprise there.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the great workshop!<BR/><BR/>KathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-75177902940454997942007-08-26T08:07:00.000-05:002007-08-26T08:07:00.000-05:00Malvina and Sandra,I'm glad I could help. The mid...Malvina and Sandra,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad I could help. The middle has been my weakest suit, also, but I find a couple of things help:<BR/><BR/>Before I start writing the story, I draw a sketch of the characters, that is, filling in their traits and backgrounds.<BR/><BR/>Also, a well-published writer suggested that I first plow through the first draft, and don't start editing until the 2nd round. In the past, I found myself stuck on the first few chapters, so this technique helps me move on.<BR/><BR/>BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-53711959450625072982007-08-26T02:55:00.000-05:002007-08-26T02:55:00.000-05:00Hi BarbaraThank you so much for your workshop. It ...Hi Barbara<BR/>Thank you so much for your workshop. It helped to make alot of things much clearer to me with my writing. The sagging middle is what I'm struggling with at the moment, so what you have said helps alot.<BR/>Regards<BR/>SandraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15713569.post-7385780338994398802007-08-26T01:24:00.000-05:002007-08-26T01:24:00.000-05:00This is good stuff. I think in particular the sagg...This is good stuff. I think in particular the saggy middle - that's where I always come to grief - I know where to start and where I want to end, but the middle? Yikes! <BR/>MalvinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com