Today Dorothy Ann Skarles writes about how she comes up with ideas for plotting her novels. She then shares the bare bones of a story called Silent Deceptions that’s fermenting in her head. Welcome Dorothy.
Plotting a Novel
When I first start plotting a novel, I only write an idea for a beginning and then think of two or three endings that might work.
After I begin to actually write my story, both the beginning and endings may not stay the same. It all depends on what my characters do.
The Christmas theme for my story came from an editor who said they acquire Christmas stories because they don’t get many.
I’m hoping this is true.
I thought of a beginning for Silent Deceptions because I know two people who are deaf. But then I wondered where to go next.
Thankfully, “Rosi” wrote a blog comment to my last post, Silent Deceptions/Ideas for a Novel, saying that the word ‘kill’ wasn’t enough for her got the juices flowing.
So I added:
Spencer stopped talking when a waiter came by with a bottle of her father’s favorite French champagne to fill both men’s glasses. Her husband taped the rim of the other man’s glass in a toast. “To Tif on her twenty-eighth birthday. A sad and happy occasion.”
Tiffany startled as she continued to watch Spencer’s lips.
“Trust me, my wife is the one person we don’t have to worry about. She came down with encephalitis last year, and went deaf. She stays by herself and stares out into space most of the time. The only reason she came to this party is to pay respects for her old man’s Christmas party, as arranged in his will.”
Tiffany watched the man wearing Santa’s beard nod and give what seemed like a hardy laugh. The Christmas wake decorations with black garlands glittered across the huge living room from one end to the other.
For help in getting writing ideas on characters and scenes, I read a lot of nonfiction. Not only newspapers and books, but all kinds of magazines—Forbes, Marie Claire, Men’s Vogue, Smithsonian, and Beauty Insider, to name just a few.
I plan to give Tiffany a rebel aunt named Vanessa, who wears black lip gloss on her eye lids, and who studied art, which she claims gives her an understanding of color and texture in both makeup and dress.
The scene may go something like this:
Someone touched Tiffany’s shoulder.
“Darling, look at me, Read my lips.” Vanessa waved to a guest, then gave Tiffany a hug. “Have you told Spencer yet that you’re taking a lip reading class?”
Tiffany noticed the black gloss on her aunt’s eye lids and lips and shook her head
“Heavens! Why not?” Vanessa said. “Are you still keeping it as a surprise?”
“Auntie, I..I have to talk to you.”
“Oh look, Tiffany.” Vanessa smiled and pointed. “There’s William Harcourt Freemont. Your father would have been so happy he came. I must go and say hello. We’ll talk later.” She waved to someone else and then floated off, wearing a Santa’s elf costume designed in exotic Ostrich skin, dyed green, and a black tribal-beaded-cross around her neck.
My question for readers: Are you still interested in the story?
My question for writers: How do you plot?
daskarles©2011
Sounds like Dorothy might have a good thing going here. What do you think?
As always, thanks for stopping by,
I make bubble charts for everything… I can't write a chapter if I don't have a bubble chart.
Yes, I'd keep reading. Your plan of attack on how you go through the steps of creating your novel give me hope that maybe I can follow suit and write one too.
Thanks Dorothy, and by all means – keep on writing. It looks like you've got a really good idea here.
Regarding how do I plot? I don't know how yet, but with your tips and continued support, maybe someday I'll just be forced into learning the craft. bernadine
Right now I'm using story boards to plot. I have a lot going on in my story and need to keep track of everything. Usually I go by the seat of my pants, but not this time.
Hi, Margaret!
It's been a long time.
Came from TTQ.
Yes, my pagan roots 😉 led me naturally to my center where I slip in and out to find my balance. My catholic faith keeps me anchored on love.
As to writing plots, let me share a secret: I "ghost write" for people and orgs because my mind is on a constant motion so I try to unload and share as often as I could. 😉
Hi Austin, I am not sure what you mean by bubble charts. Hope you come back to explain it to me. Sounds interesting.
La, I have used a story board to write where my characters are and who they are with and in what chapter they are in as they move around. It is a big help. Thanks for writing.
Bernadine keep reading, everyone has good suggestions to follow and you will soon get ideas to follow that will work for you. I am wondering if Austin's bubble chart is like La's story board?
Ghost writing Lui is great! Now thats a job, I would think is hard work to write. More power to you.
Plotting is absolutely integral to me when writing. I write a general synopsis first, then make chapter-wise plots, with detailed physical descriptions and behaviors for characters. When I have complex characters I write a lot of scenes (random stuff) which I might never put in the actual book but which helps me identify with them and understand how each one would react to a particular situation.
This post is really great by the way! Fun all around!
I love this. It leads me right into the story and my mind can wonder a mile a minute. He could have a dry sense of humor and may just be kidding or perhaps he is planning something sinister and does not know she can lip read. Maybe she is so new at lip reading she is reading something incorrectly? Oh the possibilities… Will her aunt make her more vulnerable and less able to get more information?
sounds like an interesting plot…I don't write (except the blog) but I plot my paintings out in much the same way. And they usually change from what I originally envisioned after I get into it. Which is ok. Sometimes the end result is better than I would have imagined had I stuck with the original idea.
Good post!
~cath
Varsha, I think it is great that you can do a synopsis. I don't seem to be able to do that. A friend showed me how by writing a synopsis for me. I am still trying to do what she did. My scenes come from reading something thats different that I feel would make a good scene. Then I try to work my characters around that scene. Sometimes it works and sometimes not, but I do get to know them. Thanks for giving me a hint on your plotting.
Hi Judy sheldon=Walker, you gave me an idea from your post to go with Varsha's post. The in-put from you both is what I needed to get my own brain to work. Thanks for writing.
Cath, I have one sister-in-law that paints and since her husband pasted away is trying to get back into showing her work. She is also a wonderful reader for my stories, and helps me a lot, trying to get me back into writing. Doing this blog with the different comments also helps me. So keep on plotting your painting ideas And thanks for writing.