Plotting: Day 1
Yesterday I plunged into the Pre-NaNo Outline Marathon at Forward Motion. I’ll be doing that all this week, while writing associated blogbits for light relief and reading Holly Lisle’s Scenes Clinic for inspiration.
My rough calculation for number of scenes I need is:
50,000 words @300 words (1 page) per average scene = 170 scenes required
Before I started plotting scenes, though, I needed to simplify a complicated POV situation. Not because the storyline is ridiculously complicated, but purely for my own benefit while I’m plotting.
I have five POV characters, although the main story thread will have one of them (the narrator) channeling two of the others into his POV via telepathy. The fourth and fifth POVs will form the alternating storyline, which I plan to write when the main storyline is finished.
So I’ll outline each of the main storyline’s three POV characters one at a time this week, then mix their scenes in together before I start first-drafting during NaNo.
Yesterday, I did 27 scenes for the narrator.
Shelley (aka Soulcreates) said,
October 20, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I think I would confuse myself keeping track of 2 points of view, let alone 5. Sounds quite involved.
David Bridger said,
October 20, 2008 at 4:54 pm
It’s exciting!
anniegirl1138 said,
October 20, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Thanks for sharing.
jamiemollart said,
October 20, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I’m jealous, I wish I could be doing this, but work and planning a wedding, and training for a marathon and my WIP just means I can’t. Harrumph. I shall do it by proxy by following your progress!
David Bridger said,
October 20, 2008 at 9:30 pm
You’re welcome, Annie. Thanks for commenting.
David Bridger said,
October 20, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hey, Jamie. Sometimes life just fills our days.
jamiemollart said,
October 20, 2008 at 10:02 pm
What a wicked way of putting it!
Alex Moore said,
October 21, 2008 at 1:31 am
wow! this is impressive…i’m looking forward to following your progress
Becster said,
October 21, 2008 at 3:43 am
Only 300 words per scene? How does that then figure into a chapter? As you can tell, I’m not a schooled writer, just someone who enjoys it.
David Bridger said,
October 21, 2008 at 9:03 am
Thanks, Alex.
David Bridger said,
October 21, 2008 at 9:09 am
Hi Becster.
One of my friends suggested 300 words is more a “phase” than a “scene”, and I suspect she may be correct. I’m not absolutely sure what a phase is. My definition of a scene, at this stage, is a brief version of an event that has the potential to develop into a complete scene in the 2nd Draft. My aim at this stage is to write a quick ‘n’ dirty pageturner for my 1st Draft.