{"id":139,"date":"2017-03-26T18:34:44","date_gmt":"2017-03-26T22:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/dremadeoraich\/?p=139"},"modified":"2017-03-27T07:46:55","modified_gmt":"2017-03-27T11:46:55","slug":"an-education-in-craft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2017\/03\/26\/an-education-in-craft\/","title":{"rendered":"An Education In Craft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Okay, maybe not totally, but at the very least I added plotting into my wayward pantser process.<\/p>\n

Books on the craft of writing marketable fiction seem (in my limited experience) to take one of two positions: a three-act plan or a four-part plan. Vogler takes the first; Brooks takes the second. If you are familiar with the great American mythologist, Joseph Campbell, you\u2019ll understand the concept of the Hero\u2019s Journey. That\u2019s the structure that underlies Vogler\u2019s planning tactics. And it works. I can see it in every book and movie (try watching Star Wars or the Matrix series without seeing the Hero\u2019s story arc). It\u2019s a timeless, classic method of storytelling that really works.<\/p>\n

Brooks\u2019s four-part plan in Physics<\/em> and Engineering<\/em> is essentially the same thing, just broken down differently. He teaches that the writer needs four major plot elements: a hook and three major plot points where everything changes for the protagonist. But he still breaks it down to the hero\u2019s journey: the hero\u2019s world changes, the hero reacts, the hero takes an active role, the hero succeeds, even if success doesn\u2019t look anything like what she expected. Of course I\u2019m oversimplifying here; the point is that there is a \u201cformula\u201d (I know, that\u2019s a dirty word for pantsers) that works. What\u2019s important to remember is that following a formula does not mean the story has to be predictable or boring.<\/p>\n

For me, it\u2019s sort of like using a map to plan a trip\u2014it shows all the routes available to get a traveler from point A (her starting point) to point B (her destination). Once she knows her options, she can then select the route most suitable for her purpose. For a direct trip, perhaps interstates would be best. However, if she wants a scenic journey, the traveler might choose the most roundabout path. Either way, knowing the route ahead of time helps her to plan effectively.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the same with writing a story. From the starting point (Scene 1, my hook, how my book will begin), I decide how I want my story to end. That final scene is my overarching goal, my objective. Knowing this helps me to aim my story\u2019s course with every scene, every action and word from every character pointed in the right direction for maximum impact.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean my characters can\u2019t divert onto side roads, as long as those detours tie in to the main storyline in some meaningful way. Remember: publishing houses have very specific expectations on word count. Too many detours without meaningful connections waste those precious words that might otherwise be used to tighten and embolden the hero\u2019s main journey. They detract from the reader\u2019s focus. How many books have you<\/strong> read where the writer seemed to meander from the main plot without any rhyme or reason? Did you love it or hate it?<\/p>\n

Think of it this way. An archer can\u2019t really be effective without a target. That\u2019s what a beat sheet (one of Brooks\u2019s plotting tools) does: it offers a series of targets at which the writer can aim her scenes.<\/p>\n

I said in a prior post that my old ways of writing left me not knowing from moment to moment what any given character would do, or how, or to whom. Having a beat sheet is, for me, like having a story skeleton, onto which I can then layer the flesh of characterization and scenes and twists. Without the underlying structure, the rest becomes a shapeless blob. I even use it for short stories now.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t say plotting is easy. It ain\u2019t. What I can say with confidence is that Brooks\u2019 method of pre-planning through a \u201cbeat sheet\u201d has been an incredible help for me! (Larry Brooks also has a blog called \u201cStory Fix.\u201d Check it out at http:\/\/storyfix.com\/<\/a> to see more of his instructional writing.)<\/p>\n

There are a ton of books out there on the craft of writing, and just as many on technique. If you\u2019re looking to learn more, shop around. Read the reviews. Then check one out from the library. If you like it, buy it\u2014mostly to support the writer, but also because you\u2019ll want to keep it around for later reference. Just remember that every writer has her own process, her own style. Even if none of the books offers a usable recipe, you will have learned the necessary ingredients to create your own, one that will fit with the publishing industry\u2019s wish list. And for those of us seeking publication through traditional avenues, that\u2019s as good as the recipe for the philosopher\u2019s stone.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"