Plot Point Ponderings
Developing plausible links and reasons to scenarios for characters is proving interesting. While the major plot points have already been established across the entire trilogy, the tricky part is now linking these points together in a way which is logical and believable. The story loses credibility as a "realistic" event if the reader is unable to believe the characters and the decisions they make to get from one point to another. I must keep this in mind as I write.
Often, whenever I have a character performing an action or making a choice, I first think to myself, "what would I do in that situation". Mind you, what I would want to do, and would do are sometimes completely different in reality. In those instances I must think, not only what I would do, but what would I do if I were a particular character?
Another troublesome aspect of the linking process between plot points is to make sure no holes develop along the way. Plot holes annoy the crap out of me, and I'd hate it if an incredibly obvious plot hole were discovered in any of my books. The main trouble of plot holes occurs when certain events that can compliment, contradict or completely negate other events occur over a space of "story time". In my books in particular, sometimes plot points are introduced very early on in the piece and then fade away for the remainder of the story's timeframe, only to come back later. For example, one plot point comes into action at the very beginning of Book 1, never to be spoken about again until the very end of Book 3. A few hidden tid-bits of reminders may be included throughout the text of the three books as a whole, but nothing significant.
I have also discovered that it is imperative not to add a new piece of information which negates or contradicts something that has previously happened - or will happen in the future - without the new information being pre-planned and scutinized carefully. Every time a new plot point is developed, I ask questions like: 'What are the repercussions of a certain act?' 'What other choices could a character make once the new event has been completed?' And, if adding a new event between two already-existing events, 'what choices must a character make to get from "Pre-Existing Event A" to "New Event" and back to "Pre-Existing Event B"?
I have documented many (if not all) of the characters actions in easy-to-understand timelines, which inturn assist me with knowing what each person did/thought/said, when they did it, where they were, and how they resolved the action. It is tough at times because one action has several plausible repercussions, with each repercussion having several more plausible choices resulting from it. Although the documentation has proven to be extremely beneficial, it's proving to be a very interesting task keeping track of everything and maintaining a believable progression for each of the characters.
I shall continue on, however, fighting the battles of writer's block, tricky character navigation and plausible plot ploints. Until next time...
Often, whenever I have a character performing an action or making a choice, I first think to myself, "what would I do in that situation". Mind you, what I would want to do, and would do are sometimes completely different in reality. In those instances I must think, not only what I would do, but what would I do if I were a particular character?
Another troublesome aspect of the linking process between plot points is to make sure no holes develop along the way. Plot holes annoy the crap out of me, and I'd hate it if an incredibly obvious plot hole were discovered in any of my books. The main trouble of plot holes occurs when certain events that can compliment, contradict or completely negate other events occur over a space of "story time". In my books in particular, sometimes plot points are introduced very early on in the piece and then fade away for the remainder of the story's timeframe, only to come back later. For example, one plot point comes into action at the very beginning of Book 1, never to be spoken about again until the very end of Book 3. A few hidden tid-bits of reminders may be included throughout the text of the three books as a whole, but nothing significant.
I have also discovered that it is imperative not to add a new piece of information which negates or contradicts something that has previously happened - or will happen in the future - without the new information being pre-planned and scutinized carefully. Every time a new plot point is developed, I ask questions like: 'What are the repercussions of a certain act?' 'What other choices could a character make once the new event has been completed?' And, if adding a new event between two already-existing events, 'what choices must a character make to get from "Pre-Existing Event A" to "New Event" and back to "Pre-Existing Event B"?
I have documented many (if not all) of the characters actions in easy-to-understand timelines, which inturn assist me with knowing what each person did/thought/said, when they did it, where they were, and how they resolved the action. It is tough at times because one action has several plausible repercussions, with each repercussion having several more plausible choices resulting from it. Although the documentation has proven to be extremely beneficial, it's proving to be a very interesting task keeping track of everything and maintaining a believable progression for each of the characters.
I shall continue on, however, fighting the battles of writer's block, tricky character navigation and plausible plot ploints. Until next time...
posted by Tony D. Graham at 11:39 am
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