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ALL ABOUT PLOTTING, PART 2

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:37:00 +0000

Good morning - it's officially the first day of spring, and the first sunshiney day for, it seems, aeons. The sky is virgin blue, the clouds mere whisps of cotton wool and it's time to look into more Plotting

If like many people, you think that for 'real' writers, the business of plotting comes effortlessly, forget it. The majority of writers have to study the elements of plot and pay serious attention to constructing the narrative and viewpoint most appropriate for their story.

Your main character, the protagonist, must encounter a conflict - with another character, society, nature him or herself or come conbination of these things - and undergo a change as a result. Conflict, also known as 'the major dramatic question' is the basis of plot.

Elements of Plot:

The Introduction: presents the central conflict as well as the characters and the setting. In modern fiction, it is necessary for the writer to involve the protagonist in conflict as early as possible.

Rising Action or Development: Is where the character faces various impediments to his or her goal. Learn to build dramatic tension; to keep readers interested with twists and turns which will lead to:

The Climax which is the turning point in the story, the pivot on which your story hinges. Climax is the resolution of conflict, the point of no return beyond which the protagonist's fate - be it good or bad - is secured.

In the Denoument, the author ties up the loose ends.

Plotting all sounds so simple, doesn't it? In some ways it is and in other ways it's not.

A helpful tip is to identify the basic elements in your reading, to question why the writer decided to tell the story the way he or she did. The important thing for you, the writer, to remember, is that something has to happen. It may seem elementary but it can be quite complicated. By all means experiment, but spend time on the basics, too.

Good plotting, and in the meantime if you want to make contact the address is: patricia@patriciaoreilly.net

All About Plotting, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:15:00 +0000

A recent comment from one of the top British literary agents stressed the importance of a well plotted story.
Plot concerns the organisation of the main events of a work of fiction. Plot is concerned with how:
(1) events are related
(2) events are structured
(3) events enact change in the major characters

Most plots trace a process of change in which characters are caught up in a conflict that is eventually resolved. Plots may be fully integrated, tightly knit or episodic in nature.

Conflict is the basis of Plot. Without conflict there is no story because there is no change or growth. A tip is to think of conflict as a question your story sets out to answer.

As a writer, a questions to ask yourself is: What is the central question of my story?
Your conflict or question may be only half-formed when you write your first draft but before embarking on a revision, it's essential that you define the conflict of your story. Once you've done that, it's much easier to know which parts of your story to cut and which to expand.

It may sound simplistic but for many emerging writers, plot is one of the hardest elements to grasp. Make sure your story contains a central conflict. Someting must happen to turn your main character's life upside down, and through this experience, a change must take place within your character. If your idea does not include a conflict, you're probably not ready to start editing your first draft. Indeed, you may not even be ready to begin writing that particular story.

Enthusiastic as we may be to begin writing when we get an idea, a little time spent on preliminary plotting saves time, energy and ensures a more professional story.

Good plotting and next month we'll continue on the PLOTTING theme.

10 Commandments of 10 Minute Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Another year, another decade. Here's wishing you all wonderful WRITING.

I’m constantly told by people who say they want to write that they don’t have the time!!! So here are some ways which I call THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF 10 MINUTE PRODUCTIVITY. I utilise this method to give me the two-hour block of time that I favour for writing.

Usually over the course of a day, I'll have several ten-minute bursts of spare time. I've got into the habit of using these minutes productively by developing a list of ten things to do with ten minutes. When I've time to spare, I run down this list.

1. Make a Phone Call
Most of us usually have someone we should call. Ten minutes allows you to follow up on something, make a plan, or just catch up with a friend. Earmark the longer time you might have spent chatting to WRITE.

2. Cook
If you've a few minutes, make yourself some food, either for now or for later. WRITERS must take care of their health.

3. Nap
I'm a huge proponent of cat-naps, and they work. The simple act of closing your eyes, clearing your head and relaxing is hugely beneficial. You'll be rejuvenated, in a better place to WRITE.

4. Read Something
Keep a reading list accessible of things you want to read or watch, and plow through a few of them in spare moments. Grist to the mill of your WRITING.

5. Write Emails
This is much the same as phone calls. In ten minutes you can write several emails. Makes other people happy, and makes you feel more productive. Win-win - putting you in a good mood for WRITING.

6. Strike Up a Conversation
You might meet someone fascinating that you can use in your WRITING.

7. Clean Up
The single most productive thing I do during these times is organize. In ten minutes, it's ridiculous how much filing can be done; email purging and sorting; desk-clearing. Ten minutes is plenty of time to make a dent in even the biggest piles of junk. Tidy surroundings maximise WRITING.

8. Brainstorm
Brainstorming and mind mapping are great. Just start writing - what do you have to do? What ideas do you have? Only having ten minutes makes WRITING ideas fly out.

9. Stumble
www.stumbleupon.com is an intelligent browsing tool, a mecca of ideas. ‘Stumbling’ is a great way to expose yourself to interesting Web tidbits, as aids to WRITING

10. Journal
Keep a journal of the high- and low-lights of the day – jotting down the first things that come to your mind, an invaluable source of WRITING information

If you've any queries contact me on patricia@patriciaoreilly.net

Powerful Locations

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Hello,

Over the past months we've discussed the basics of fiction, paying special attention to creating tight plots and memorable characters. Now we're going to look at the importance of choosing relevant locations and where to set your stories for best effect.

Readers have become used to modern fiction being set in real places which has created the need to identify. People like things that feel real. One of the advantages of setting your story in a specific location, say New York, Paris or London, is that the reader fills in the details.

Place a reader in a nebulous, unfamiliar environment and they can feel lost unless you describe the place fully - which may in turn hinder your ability to pace the action and develop the characters. If you present a fictional town, some readers will baulk and cry: well, if that's not real, how can I begin to believe anything else this author tells me! They may feel cheated that you, as the author, are playing God and consequently can shape the 'rules' in your world. This may hinder their willing suspension of disbelief.

That said, there are advantages to creating a make-believe setting - whether it be a room, a house, a street, a town or even a whole country. First of all the writer's imagination can have full rein, secondly it saves time on research - it can take a lot of time to check out how real places look, feel and operate, and thirdly no-one can say you've got sometning wrong - because it can't be wrong. With make-believe too, you needn't worry about things like train and bus schedules, what time the sun sets, what kinds of flowers bloom and where etc., you've also got free rein on architecture, streets, shops, even type of housing estates.

All that said, I favour real locations - for both Time & Destiny and A Type of Beauty, which are historical, I walked London, Paris and Agra, and enjoyed chosing specific settings. I also used the architecture of the era, furnishings, colour schemes etc. For my contemporary works, Once Upon a Summer and Felicity's Wedding, I paid attention to office, home and pub settings, as well as clothes and food. I find the choice of locations and all that goes with them not only fascinating but by trial and error I've also discovered they provide an immediate authenticity. I hope you will too.

Good writing. We all have plenty of extra down-time over Christmas!

On-Line Writing Courses

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:02:00 +0000

Hello again,

I'm still on the subject of writing courses. This time it's on-line courses. Those of you who read this blog regularly will know that I've been running a tutoring and editing service on-line for some time. One of my greatest pleasures is meeting writers through their writing.

A natural progression is an on-line writing course. Because I'm fascinated with historical fiction and its potential, and because an eminent agent believes it is 'the next big thing in publishing', in conjunction with InkWell, I've set up InkWellHistoricalFiction.

I'm qualified to tutor this - and for anyone thinking of signing up to any course, be it on-line or off-line, qualification is important. My latest novel, 'A Type of Beauty, the story of Kathleen Newton (1854-1882)' is in the historical fiction genre. My research has carried me from the National Archives in Kew, London to Paris and India and back to Ireland. I've learned about applying history to fiction, living in Victorian times, the social niceties, mode of dress, etc. and applying all to make a modern novel.

I'm contacted by men and women who would like to do a writing course but who for a variety of reasons cannot travel; others wish to write but aren't sure how to go about starting. and there are those who are, perhaps, stuck at say, research or finding the voice of their story.

For people who would like the benefit of professional assistance, on-line courses are the answer. And the best thing is that you'll have individual attention from course tutor, specifically tailored to meet your needs whether it be structuring your work and dividing on voice of your story, or characters, plotline, locations, style and technique.

Look into http://www.inkwellwriters.ie/ - there are several on-line courses on offer and most importatly all are given by professional writers who excell in their particular genre.

Keep writing...
Patricia :
patricia@patriciaoreilly.net

Using Writing Courses to Best Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:33:00 +0000

It's the season for learning and the autumnal writing courses are in full swing. While it's generally thought that writers should be writing not attending courses, benefits can be achieved from well-run, well constructed writing courses, convened by a writer of proven ability.

The first thing the best of writing courses do is to help participants to both recognise and realise their writing dream. To achieve this it's necessary to instil in participants a sense of regular writing. This business of actually getting down to writing can frequently be a huge hurdle for beginners.

So how can it be resolved? Time is precious and there is always work to be done - dishes to be washed, dogs to be walked, children to be bathed.

I've been writing for years and while I love what I do and feel privileged, yet on many occasions I'd prefer to count the gravel in the driveway than settle down to write. Note I haven't said either sit at my desk or go to my office! Writing can be done almost anywhere. And you don't need a computer - it can be done on scraps of paper, notepads, anything as long as you're getting down your thoughts.

My golden rule for myself and for those attending my courses is to write for either two hours a day - more about that in a minute, or to write a certain amount of words each day, say 1000. The two hours a day concept is interesting: research has shown that our brainpower reduces after two hours of intense concentration. And concentration is required for writing. The thinking behind this two hours philosophy is that it takes about 15 minutes to wind into writing and peak. At around an hour and 50 minutes our attention and ability begin to flag and we begin to wind down.

Writing is like any other skill. It takes practice.

Even if you haven't yet come up with your big story, you can still write. Look out your window and write what you see. Think of a neighbourhood character and describe him or her. Do a 'what if' on an incident.

With practice you will become skilled in the creative act of writing. Attending a writing course each week is a great impetus and an ideal way to hone your skills, as well as learning and enjoying reacting with a group of like-minded people.

Enjoy and remember: 'Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book.' Ralph Waldo Emerson said that - and, of course, women are included!!

The Benefits of Writing Courses

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:25:00 +0000

September is the month when many people turn a dream to a reality by following through on their resolution to write. It is also the start-up month for many writing courses.

I've been involved in running writing courses for several years. I have seen at first hand the benefits of facilitation by a published writer who knows the highs and lows of the business. It allows for group sharing, learning to own your work and find your writing voice. While writers have to write - and usually alone - the process can be an introvertic and lonely occupation and as humans we thrive when we've contact with like minded people. So writing courses can be beneficial when, as well as being used for information, they also act as motivation to get down and write.

The majority of writers who approach me are interested in writing fiction - mainly short stories and novels. The aspect that most amazes me is how talented they are, the freshness of their ideas, the characters they've come up with and their settings.

The problem occurs when they run out of steam, confidence and time. They wonder why it's taking so long to finish their story. They read the papers, browse the book shops, and see writers interviewed who are writing a book a year.

Most are popular writers - ie writers whose books are widely translated and sell in the millions. They can usually command large advances and have high profile marketing packages to ensure sales. They are rare. But their publishers know a novel with their name on the cover will sell well. Because they are proven successes, they are provided with the best of editorial back-up, and do not necessarily need to polish or proof their manuscript before submission. An aside here: we are writers, not editors. Good editors are worth their weight in gold.

New writers hoping to break into the current market place have a better chance of publication if they present as perfect a manuscript as possible. Like everything else, the publishing business is hit by the recession and publishers and editors are overworked and understaffed.

My advice to someone embarking on the heady and exciting task of writing fiction is two-fold:

Like any other skill, the more you write, the better your writing will become. Writing regularly, persevering through those times of creative emptiness pays dividends.
Take your time, realise from the beginning that you may need to carry out several re-writes. Do not leave your story out of your hands until it is as good as you can make it.

Good luck and good writing

My Writing Courses

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:57:00 +0000

Hi again,

This time we're going to look at the various courses I'm offering. Loads of other writers run courses too but I can best talk about my own and what I hope the writers attending will achieve. With this in constant mind, I wrote 'Writing for Success' which is a how-to book for writers covering the Irish market.

Each course I convene is geared:

to recognise the talent of every writer attending
to nurture that talent
to help that writer to realise thier writing potential.

Writers are as individual as their fingerprints. And writing is a skill that can be acquired by those who want it enough to persevere., to have patience and to enjoy working and re-working words.

Some people have a natural bent towards short stories - frequently students say they can't write more than, say, 2000 words but dream of writing a novel. I feel I have succeeded in my mission when they break that 2000 barrier!

Others are dubious about how to create and develop characters throughout their work, perhaps, they have no trouble with physical attributes but baulk at emotional landscaping; more writers have difficulty with plotting; then there are those who need tips on how to come up with the best locations for their action. They can and they do break through these barriers.

And that's only the fiction end of writing which covers short stories, all genres of novels and plays. We also look at writing non-fiction which through less favoured with beginner writers can be easier to get published.

My Courses are:

'The Nuts & Bolts of Writing'
Venue: UCD Carysfort Campus, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Dates: Wednesday mornings 30September - 2 December (www/ucd.ie/adulted)

'Writing Non-Fiction & Getting it Published' (Writing for Success)
Venue: Fingal Blanchardstown Library
Date: Saturday 26 September 2009

'Writing Fiction'
Venue: Seanachai Centre, Listowel
Dates: Friday 16, Saturday 17, Sunday 18 October 2009

'The Plot Thickens'
Venue: UCD Carysfort Campus, Blackrock, co Dublin
Dates: Wednesday mornings 27 January 2010 - 31 March 2010

'The Business of Writing'
Venue: UCD Belfield Campus, Dublin 4
Date: Saturday 27 February 2010

I hope to see you at some of these courses. In the meantime, please feel free to make contact if you've any queries.

Ways of Getting Started

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:49:00 +0000

Hello again,

For writers there as many ways of writing as there are fish in the sea.

Today we're going to look at two of the most usual:

Frequently a story starts with an idea that won't go away. That rush of creativity is wonderful. Capture it. Nothing beats it. For some lucky writers that rush translates into flowing writing that continues until they can write 'end' knowing they have a job well done.

If you can't sit down to write when inspiration strikes, use bullet points, key words, anything that will help you remember when you come to write. It's amazing the number of times I've had such a great idea that I know I couldn't possibly lose it. But I have. Too often when I've come to write it, to capture it, is nothing more than an absent flitter. A most important point - never be without a notebook and pen.

For the majority of beginning writers, it's easy to falter and lose heart after the intial wonderful rush of creativity. It happens to experienced writers too. This is where it helps to 'storyboard' or to plan the content of your writing.

I subscribe to a combination of both methods.

Let me explain. To get started on a new project I need that creative rush, that belief that I've the best and most original story, the one the world is waiting for.

So when I'm beginning a new project, I make a folder called BIP - yes, you've guessed it - Book In Progress - add the month and year, so this would be BIPJuly09. I don't linger over the empty yellowness of what has to be filled with words!

Even if my story - and here I'm talking about narrative fiction - is fact based, I'm inclined to begin by writing in stream of consciousness fashion using only my instincts, taking gratefully the characters who present themselves, using the locations they chose and giving them the life they suggest.

That frequently works well for about 10,000 words, i.e., about three chapters. Then I have to rein in the exuberance of my fictional characters, put my writerly brain into action and be quite ruthless as to what is working and what is not working - that comes with experience.

I cut out what I consider is not working for the story by making a file within that yellow folder which I title SPARES and into that goes words/ideas/thoughts/mood pieces.

My reasoning for this is that I've agonised as anxiously over the words I'm jettisoning as those I've kept. I hate wastage! - I may use them in something else or I may need them later in story.

More later. Keep writing and et me know how you're getting on either by comment here or email: patricia@patriciaoreilly.net.

How to Create Memorable Characters

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:33:00 +0000

This week we're looking at the importance of creating vital, vibrant fictional characters. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create a profile sheet for each of your main characters. Knowing the following information before you begin writing or in the early stages of writing helps to keep characters acting within character throughout your writing. Fill in some or all of the following; add anything else you consider beneficial and you'll be amazed at the result.

Name Age Born Living

Occupation Marital Status Spouse Name

Children Names & Ages

Education Speech/Accent Hobbies/Interests

Physical Description:
Face
Hair
Body Size
Physical demeanour
Clothes

Personality:
Mild
Manic
Easy-going
Neurotic
Ordinary
Angry

Perfect:
Night Out
Saturday Afternoon
Sunday Morning

Hates/Loves/Passions/Obsessions

Favourites:
Food
Music
Film
Book
Colour:

What Newspapers What magazines

Ways of Plotting

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Hello again,

Now we're looking at PLOT which can be defined as "a causal sequence of events", the "why" for the things that happen in a story. The plot draws the reader into the characters' lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. A plot's structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged. There are many ways of plotting but the most efficient usage of wrtiting time is to advance plan your story:

Storyboarding: ideally using a large whiteboard draw a circle: designate one half of the circle to plotlines. In no particular order set out possibles, eg. hero has row with heroine, death of dog, presentation goes wrong.
Lateral: Work out in advance the sequence of what's going to happen in your story and list in order (whiteboard works well for this too)
Cameo writing: This is where, say, you know there's going to be a murder/a wedding and you write as the humour takes you. Obviously all your 'cameos' have to be joined up, but it is a method that can help relatively inexperienced writers or those 'stuck' on a particular scene.

Next we're going to look at CHARACTERS, the emperors of fiction

The Basics of Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Hi and welcome Writers and would-be-writers,
We're going to look at writing fiction. Before we start we're going to de-mystify as much as possible the writing process. Fiction is composed of:

Plot or storyline
Characters
Locations

Your plot or storyline is what your short story, novel or play is about. You should be able to condense your plot/storyline in no more than 25 words.

Characters are the emperor of fiction writing. Chose carefully; know intimately and empathise with both their strengths and weaknesses.

Locations are the sites where you set your action. They may be as exotic or as mundane as you chose but ideally look to balance location to action - the right location can be a great enhancer.

Your exercise is to:

decide on story
create at least 3 characters
chose locations

PLOTTING:

Storyboarding
Lateral
Cameo Writing

My Website

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia O'Reilly) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:10:00 +0000

You will find my website on http://www.patriciaoreilly.net/