Comments on: Latest Plot Board

By: Outlining v winging it » Justine Larbalestier

Outlining v winging it » Justine Larbalestier — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:53:01 +0000

[...] not exactly sure what Diana’s planning and outlining looks like, though she has posted pictures of her plot board. It seems crazy detailed. I’m not even sure how I’d go about doing that. Though [...]

By: Kwana

Kwana — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:49:00 +0000

Oh it beautiful!!! I just love plot boards.

By: Erica Ridley

Erica Ridley — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:21:00 +0000

Since I am a storyboard addict, I am wholly jealous of the heart-shaped stickies and must hie off to Staples immediately to procure some of my own. (b/c, yanno, the eight million stickies I currently own are just so *square*)

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:41:00 +0000

I can’t look at that plot board and not think, that would make for a cool spread sheet. Then I could calculate things, like how many words each character said.

By: marie

marie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:26:00 +0000

Diana, to answer your question, I could break down a movie scene the way you describe, but I don’t ever do that. Actually, it wouldn’t occur to me to bother :–))

That said, it would be impossible for me to describe how my mind works as I plot by the seat of my pants and thoroughly edit as I go so I come out with a complete first draft that doesn’t undergo many revisions (other than line edits). When I was first writing, I tried doing color-coded index cards for various characters but found I never looked at them when I was writing. For the series I’m working on now, I have a notebook full of character traits that I wanted to be sure to carry forward. 25,000 words into the second book, I’ve barely glanced at that notebook I spent days putting together (while wondering if I would use it–question answered) but my characters don’t seem to be suffering as I seem to remember all their foibles. I just keep everything in my head and visuals don’t work for me at all. This is also true for my day job (which is an ass-kicker of deadlines on top of more deadlines)–I hardly write anything down, don’t make lists, and when I do, I find I rarely look at them. Since I still have a day job (and kids) on top of the writing job, I expect the head to explode at any moment! I admire your board. I don’t want you to misinterpret my comments from yesterday. Sometimes I think we pantsers feel inadequate next to the elaborate plotting and outlining that goes on around us. We feel like we’re doing something wrong because we don’t employ those tactics. That’s all I meant by the hives comment! Whatever works is the best thing for all of us! :–))

By: ocannie

ocannie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:00:00 +0000

I’m dying to know what the orange plot is!!! It’s all suspenseful seeing it there at the beginning, one brief appearance halfway through, then there at the end.

Who am I kidding? I’m in suspense over the whole dang thing!

By: Diana Peterfreund

Diana Peterfreund — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Wendy, are you teasing me? I can’t tell.

People, the book has been WRITTEN. It’s done. It’s sitting in a huge stack on my coffee table. I’m doing revisions!

By: Wendy Roberts

Wendy Roberts — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Oh Diana, Diana *sigh* when will you just join the rest of us pantzers and write willy nilly without plot boards? LOL!

By: Susan Adrian

Susan Adrian — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:23:00 +0000

Yay, I’m on this stage too. Though I call it a Chapter Chart.

By: Bill Clark

Bill Clark — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:13:00 +0000

Very pretty!

I notice you took the picture from far enough away so there’d be no spoilers…