tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post2721242242124892478..comments2023-06-08T01:49:56.431-07:00Comments on Dan Pollock's Thrillerblog : TO PLOT OR NOTDan Pollockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993529540179848119noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post-61044091867121715232013-10-22T20:07:16.285-07:002013-10-22T20:07:16.285-07:00Some interesting observations about Dickens on thi...Some interesting observations about Dickens on this blog, including how he plotted. Those sketched plot notes, with names of characters and their relations, are called her "spider diagrams." http://www.martinturner.org.uk/martins-notes/reader-requests/how-to-write-novels-like-dickens%E2%80%A6/Dan Pollockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16993529540179848119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post-14740091144139669212013-10-21T11:21:15.652-07:002013-10-21T11:21:15.652-07:00Thanks, Ev, I hope to post more on this essential ...Thanks, Ev, I hope to post more on this essential topic.Dan Pollockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16993529540179848119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post-38882675152335061082013-10-20T10:36:12.681-07:002013-10-20T10:36:12.681-07:00I fly by the seat of my pants plot-wise through th...I fly by the seat of my pants plot-wise through the first 2/3 of a novel, then hit a wall, think I'll never finish the story, whine, moan, etc. However, somewhere along the line, I learned that if I do a very, very light plan, outlining where characters started out, where they are so far, and what needs to happen to resolve their woes, meet their quest, what-have-you . . . It's almost like a magic cure all. The rest of the story writes itself. <br /><br />Thought provoking post--and I love the quotes you shared, thanks!Ev Bishophttp://www.evbishop.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post-66419014417553939692013-10-13T21:39:16.086-07:002013-10-13T21:39:16.086-07:00J.D., Agreed. The idea comes first, then the chara...J.D., Agreed. The idea comes first, then the characters and the conflict in which they are embroiled and by which they are defined. Dan Pollockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16993529540179848119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5408527144593754357.post-72245451600179991582013-10-13T11:15:23.282-07:002013-10-13T11:15:23.282-07:00An idea, then characters grow plots for me, but I...An idea, then characters grow plots for me, but I appreciate tight plotting producing characters, as long as it doesn't become formulaic. Good post, thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com