Martha, the Totally Awesome Plot Whisperer, asked me to post my map. So here it is! Pretty, huh? On each of those post-its is a "scene" that follows a plot line. The plot is divided into the beginning, middle and end. Plot Whisperer has you do the END FIRST! Then the middle.
The post-it colors are not that systematic. A person with a functioning left brain, might have a color-coded system. The green floating post-its are little things I need to foreshadow, reinforce, etc.
I'm not sure I did it right, but the process helped me incredibly. I've got a road map! Yay!
Let me know what you all think and if you have any cool tips to add, or questions to ask. I strongly suggest you visit Martha's website. (see sidebar. There's a link to her blog and also to the December day by day plot month that lifted me out of the doldrums.
Wow. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cole. I saw someone had one of these on their blog just a few days before I did this and I was convinced my feeble brain could NEVER do this. But I just took it step by step and there it is! Now let's see what kind of book it turns into.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I do think it's smart to start with the end so you know where you're going, but I'm definitely not that organized! I should be. I like to be. I'll just have to try this!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, Nisa. I have never done this. Nestled beside the map is a notebook filled with my ramblings. That was how I plotted. It's filled with "what ifs". What if the mc's mother is demon, etc..and on and on. No one, certainly not me could ever make sense of this! My map is so much better. I guess the notebook is perfect for a first draft. But this map will hopefully save me from my usual SEVEN. (I hope..I'm still taking detours).
ReplyDeleteI'm beyond impressed, I'm queasy! I tried this, I really did. Not The Plot Whisperer's way, but my own way. I tried outlining my book -- and that was AFTER it was already written. I gave up after 2/3 of the way through.
ReplyDeleteI am not an outliner/plotter. Ack!
Very impressive. It'll be interesting to see how closely you stick to it.
ReplyDeleteDave
Dave Wrote This
Elana, if I can do this, anyone can. It takes you by the hand and shows you the way in teensy baby steps. I know, I sound like a plotevangelist, but I ALWAYS was the one with cool plot map envy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dave. We shall see. So far so good.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible! I have GOT to look into this Plot Whisperer blog.
ReplyDeleteSo cool!
Yes, Katie! Do!
ReplyDeleteOhhh! I love it! Thanks for sharing Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn!
ReplyDeleteImpressive! And organized. I'm so jealous!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. But if my husband read this and saw anyone praising my for my organizational skills he'd be rolling on the floor.
ReplyDeleteBut, I am a very visual person, so I just think about the pretty colored post-its and the ups and downs and how my narrative has to connect the dots on the plotline.
Yeesh! Angela! I just realized your my Blogspiration from the Bookshelf Muse! I bow at your feet and thank you for gracing my humble blog. Come again!
ReplyDeletevery colorful! It looks organized! I need to learn how to outline! Hmmmm maybe I will give it a try lol!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kerri C!
ReplyDeleteI really need to take a leaf out of your book. That is most impressive!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteCan I add something corny? I am driven by theme. Even though I write in a genre that is plot driven, I can't do anything unless I have the theme established firmly in my mind as a compass of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI think your work is great, but I also think plotting, character development, and theme are organic and evolve together.
I don't think that's corny, Stewart. I think you've got to start somewhere and let it rip. I did this thing after writing and entire meandering mess of a first and second draft. This helped after I'd painted myself into a corner. Even with this tool, it's still evolving.
ReplyDeletethis map will hopefully save me from my usual SEVEN. (I hope..I'm still taking detours).
ReplyDeleteWork from home India
Good luck with that, Nishant!
ReplyDeleteLIsa - you RAWK!!! I am so glad Plot Whisperer worked for you. I need to plot - nothing rigid...just a map. In fact, I am working on that right now!
ReplyDeleteNo..it is YOU who rocks, Christine. You found the Plot Whisperer! I noticed you finished your revision. I'm almost done with mine. Still wanna swap?
ReplyDeleteThe visual plot thing works for me because it helps me understand the ms as a continuum. I often have difficulty keeping the whole thing in my head.
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see your amazing creation!!
Love that all your scenes are all "above" the line. Means you've got great tension and conflict and suspense going to keep the protagonist off balance and the reader turning the pages. Very well done!
If you don't mind I'd like to link to your site from mine to show more writers your masterpiece.
Glad you're so close to finishing your revision and that the analytical work you did during PlotWriMo may have helped!
fondly,
martha
aka Plot Whisperer
Holy #*@%!!
ReplyDeleteNo WONDER you're a plot master.
:-)
xoxo
Heidi
Hey folks! The Plot Whisperer herself stopped by! Wow!
ReplyDeleteUmmm.. I just made it fit so I could see the line, Martha..don't know if I was that thorough, though I did consider it. I'm not as anal or as organized as everyone seems to think I am! I'm a graphic designer so I make things look pretty. But it still helped me and you are more than welcome to link people here!!! You inspired me so much and I am indebted.
And Heidi, my love, i never, never did this before. It's always been by the seat of my pants. It's always easier to plot someone ELSE'S novel. I'm a master at that.*wink*
What a great idea. I've added you and the Plot whisperer to my list :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow, Niki!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to do this exact thing but the only version I have seen are people's post-it's scattered on a wall. Which at this point I was willing to do despite that it totally clashed with my decorating and every one who came over would be privy to fact that I'm a writer (it's a secret).
ReplyDeleteI'm going over to the plot whisperer now. Did she give specifics and break it down?
Thanks for sharing I am so excited to get started on mine.
Hi "Girl"...thanks for the follow!
ReplyDeleteOh...G..she has a daily breakdown. That's the ONLY way I could have done it. I'm betting I did it wrong and left stuff out, but it got me out of my rut.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful map!!!! I need you to teach me how you did it. Or even better, write an article for my bloggie on it? Lots of people would love to learn this technique!!! I have a "map" wall but it keeps getting hidden behind clutter, clutter, clutter!!!
Hi Birgette! Long time no *see*. You've got to visit her majesty the Plot Whisperer. She'll take you through the steps. I can't claim any credit for this. Seriously!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I blogged about your plot map inspiration on my blog today. Hope you don't mind if I showed your example. I linked everyone to here and Plot Whisperer for more info. Thanks for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Girl! I'm coming to visit. Almost done with the mapped WIP. Wondering if it's any good!
ReplyDeleteOkay that's like nineteen different kinds of fabulous and I need to go make it RIGHT now!
ReplyDeleteHi Jamie! Welcome. Check out the Girl with One Eye's version of this.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I can't wait to try it! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteFrankie