November 03, 2006

OKRWA November 2006 Newsletter


Happy Thanksgiving!!

From the Prez: Deborah Behrens:

What Happened To My Creativity?
It Was There a Minute Ago.


Have any of you ever experienced a dry spell? A week, a month, a year, when your ideas didn’t flow? I’ve recently come out of one that lasted somewhere between a month and a year. It wasn’t totally dry, I did start a new story, but the one I’d been working on totally stalled on me. Here I was one hundred pages into this manuscript and I was stumped. I had no direction, the plot suddenly seemed inadequate, and my characters were using frivolous dialogue.

I tried all of my creative places, the shower, the car, the backyard—absolutely nothin’, not a tingle of creativity was lurking in my brain. I didn’t know what to do. Had this passion of mine come to an abrupt end?

I think, maybe, my life was too crowded. I had so much to do with my job, my kids, and my house that I was forcing myself to write. Not stealing time as I used to. Writing had become a chore, not a pleasure and I didn’t like that one bit. I used to daydream a lot and when I became so busy, I put that on the back-burner with a lot of other things. I needed to find a way to put my mind back into daydream mode.

So what did I do? I let my stalled manuscript sit, collecting dust, while I went back and edited a previous manuscript, one chapter at a time. When I wasn’t doing that, I read everything in sight. You know how we writers collect books, I had one or two hundred that I hadn’t read hanging around the house.

And then my miracle came. One morning I woke up and there it was again. My stalled story was vivid in my mind and I knew where it was going again.

I consider my writing a gift, something I cherish. I’m going to do my best never to put it on the back-burner again.

Deb




November 2006 Program:

O’Henry and his Twist…

In November, the OK RWA Outlaws are pleased to feature one of their own--award winning, best selling historical author Georgina Gentry. She will be speaking on the topic of plotting and specifically, the O’Henry Twist. Ms. Gentry has won numerous honors, including two Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Join us for a little ‘out of the box’ plotting--Georgina style.


Georgina Gentry is a former Ford Foundation elementary school teacher and a charter member of OK-RWA.

Her first book sale in 1985 became the lead title in the launch of the new Zebra Heartfire line in February, 1987. She has published 26 long historical romance novels, plus four novelettes for both Zebra and Topaz. She has two more books to write on her present contract.

Her books have been published in six languages and in hardcover as Doubleday Alternate bookclub selections, large print for Thorndike and hardcover Rhapsody Bookclub. She has made the bestseller lists at: Waldenbooks, B. Dalton's, K-Mart, and Readers' Market.Her awards include gold and silver pens from Affaire de Couer, and six awards from Romantic Times, ,including two Lifetime Achievments and two back to back Best Western Romance of the Year awards.

Trained by Louie L'Amour's mentors, professors Foster Harris and Dwight Swain, Georgina has judged both Rita and Golden Heart contests, spoken at a number of writer's clubs across the country and has conducted workshops at six national RWA conventions.

Location: Penn Square Mall
Time: 1:00 pm





November 2005 Spotlight Article (Greater Vancouver RWA)
Plotting
by Judy Jackson


Everything in my life feels more comfortable if I have a plan. And that includes writing. Pre-planning the plot doesn’t have to feel like a straight-jacket. Some people look at a plot outline as a skeleton on which to hang their story – for me it’s more like a map. Maps don’t tie you down to traveling in only one direction; getting lost leads to many unexpected adventures.

When first writing out your plot, no matter what outline format you use, you’ll have lots of ideas for scenes of character development or story action – use the strongest or the most meaningful or the most emotional for readers.

For me, story ideas start with a character facing trouble or a difficult situation or an unusual setting. I love to brainstorm my plots, either with other writers or alone, focusing on characters or events – or both together.

If I begin with characters I wonder: Who is she? Why is she in trouble or danger? Why is she worried? Who caused the trouble or danger or worry? What will happen if she wins/loses? How will she be changed?

If I begin with events I wonder: Where is it happening? What caused the situation? What’s at risk? What type of person would be in this position or place? Who would be most out of place? The characters and the plot need to fit together; the reader has to believe that these people could possibly end up in that situation.

Then I figure out the goal for one of the two main characters – and why they can’t achieve that goal. I find out why their goal becomes a quest they can’t abandon. I ponder the one person who makes that quest difficult or impossible. Then I figure out the second person’s goal and how it conflicts with the first person’s quest. Their goals should be in opposition: In stronger stories both characters have internal and external goals – and when both goals conflict on both levels you’ll get high tension scenes.

Then I work out scenes where the two protagonists struggle to fulfill both of their goals… or not. I try to have the characters’ good qualities and flaws mirror each other which can cause each of them to act / react…which creates plot.

At this point I start stream of consciousness writing – filling 10 to 30 pages. It’s a jumble of ideas in point form, bits of dialogue, a phrase or two of setting and description. Thoughts pour out, jumbled together in little or no order, and I don’t fret about where or how they’ll fit together. This bit of writing would probably make little or no sense to anyone else.

At this point I start collecting pictures of my story’s people, settings, and totem objects.
Then I start writing another version of my story, expanding the outline and notes into partial scenes, leaving the occasional idea as a notation if I don’t know how to flesh it out or I’m not sure where, or if, it belongs. At this point my synopsis can be 50 to 60 pages long. Occasionally it’s longer.

Then I start digging deep into my characters’ goals and motivations. I search for the emotions that are driving their quests - the secret, often subconscious, reasons their heart and mind won’t allow this quest to be abandoned or ignored. I search for the real instigator – the one event or factor that set them on this path. This helps me create plot events that put them at the most emotional risk. I try to ensure that every scene, especially the story opening, shows (or hints at) their personality and purpose.

There are many different methods for digging into character motivation. I don’t use the same method for every book or even every character in one book. But I dig until I feel that spark that brings the hero and heroine alive for me.

Joan Kilby says: “Individuals behave in certain ways because of who they are. The choices they make under pressure and the consequences of their actions determine the plot. Without conflict there is no plot.”

Build every scene around an irrevocable event that changes the plot. Try to ensure that every scene advances external or internal plot, increases tension, reveals character growth or shows new aspects of character. A scene should do more than one of those. The most powerful scenes do them all.

Scenes of high and low tension determine pacing. A series of high tension scenes could be boring if they’re not mingled with slower moments where the readers and the characters can catch their breath. When plotting the scene content, consider which POV gives each scene more punch. Figure out which character has more at stake in the scene’s outcome and make them the POV character.

Alicia Rasley says: “Protagonist’s actions and reactions are the driving force of the plot, and this causes events which change him/her in some way. What are they willing to do for their goal? What are they unwilling to do?”

Each plot needs 2 - 4 major turning points. A turning point is a major event that changes the course of the plot and the protagonists must act or react. Each turning point should re-direct a character’s goals or the story action or increase a character’s risk or the scene tension

Use cause and effect in plotting. Your main character(s) should save their world or devastate it. In classic storytelling the characters’ flaws can cause their own destruction and they must learn to control that character flaw or change it. Perhaps a character’s strength can lead to their ruin. Static characters are boring; unless they change and grow the plot will be weak.

Find ways to have external events cause internal change. Then make the internal change cause new external events.

I try to create an outline that shows:

• the ‘hook’ or set-up
• their external and internal problems
• turning points• developing subplot(s)
• the rising conflict and increasing stakes
• the crisis or black moment
• the climax
• the resolution

I mention events where the hero and heroine (and villain, if there is one) interact, decide, confront, learn, realize or recognize. Show how each event causes the next event.

And that’s why I have such a hard time writing short synopses.

For me, plot relies on character goal and motivation - and pacing is part of plot and influenced by character.

If I have a map I don’t fret about where the story is going. If I have a plan for the book, I experience more joy in the writing and the words.

Plotting Resources

The following list is not comprehensive by any means. Lots of information is available in books and on the net. Teresa Eckford provided some of the websites listed below.

WEBSITES:

The RWA® website www.rwanational.org has archived many RWR articles at and the following can be found under Members Only / craft / plotting:

Patrice Cassedy and Stuart Voytilla
JOURNEYS OF THE HEART - USING MYTHIC STRUCTURE TOCREATE BETTER ROMANCES

Susan WiggsRIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES: HOW REAL LIFE CAN INFORMYOUR STORY

Irene GoodmanFOURTEEN SURE-FIRE ROMANCE PLOTS

Debra Dixon and Jill Marie LandisTHE HERO’S JOURNEY—A ROAD MAP

Libby SternbergPROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES: LITERARY BOOKENDS

Eloisa JamesPLOTTING IN THE WILD

Alicia Rasley has many excellent writing articles on her website, some on plotting:
CHARACTER <-> PLOT COHERENCE
STARTING SMALL AND BUILDING PLOT
THE THREE ACTS: MAJOR TURNING POINTS
THIRTEEN PRIME PLOT PRINCIPLES
PLOTTING WITHOUT FEARS

Adrianne LeePLOTTING CONFLICT: (includes internal and external conflict plot plan) “Conflict makes story”

Sarah SmithHOW TO PLOT WHEN YOU CAN’T

Carolyn Jewelfor writers / craft / miscellaneous important stuff / plottingPLOT - WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO I GET ONE?

Karleen BradfordOUTLINES: THINK OF A SKELETON, NOT A CAGEPLOTTING THE STORY

Lee MastersonPLOTTING YOUR NOVEL

JoAnn RossEXTERNAL VS INTERNAL CONFLICT

Stella CameronPLOTTING YOUR NOVEL

Tina St JohnPLOT: TURNING IDEAS INTO BOOKS

Lisa GardnerPLOTTING THE NOVEL: OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REAL REASON WRITERS ARE NEUROTIC

Deborah Halewriting tips/archived articles in left columnFORGING PLOT CHAINSPROBLEM/SOLUTION CHAINS: A SOLUTION FOR PLOTTINGPROBLEMS

Karen HarbaughPLOTTING AND CHARACTERIZATION WITH ARCHETYPES AND FAIRY TALES

Joan KilbyTRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY: ADDING DEPTH AND COMPLEXITY TO YOUR STORY THROUGH CHARACTER AND PLOT

BOOKS:

Dwight V. SwainTECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER

Christopher VoglerTHE WRITER’S JOURNEY: MYTHIC STRUCTURE FOR STORYTELLERS AND SCREENWRITERS

Debra DixonGMC: GOAL, MOTIVATION AND CONFLICT

Pam McCutcheon and Michael WaiteTHE WRITER’S BRAINSTORMING KIT: THINKING IN NEW DIRECTIONS

Vanessa GrantWRITING ROMANCESelf Counsel Press

Nancy KressBEGINNINGS, MIDDLES & ENDSWriters Digest Books

Alicia RasleyTHE STORY WITHIN GUIDEBOOKInteractive guidebook to plotting popular fiction

Karen S. WiesnerFIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS

(Judy Jackson is a member of RWA®-Greater Vancouver Chapter.
Articles may be reprinted in RWA® chapter newsletters, attributed to the Spotlight. Non-RWA® newsletters may not reprint articles without the permission of the authors.)

(Editor's note: One or two of the links no longer work, but I decided to go ahead and reprint this article because the majority do and it's a great list. )





New Releases:













Married Under the Mistletoe by Linda Goodnight


MARRIED UNDER THE MISTLETOE tells the story of wild and rugged Daniel Stephens, illegitimate son John Valentine, and tormented American beauty Stephanie Ellison, manager of the Valentines' financially troubled Knightsbridge restaurant. When fate (and family) tosses them together in the same apartment, both Daniel and Stephanie must decide which is more important: continuing to seek refuge behind their painful pasts or taking a chance on the love and healing they both need so badly.

Closer Encounters by Merline Lovelace

To Drew "The Riever" McDowell, this seemed like a fairly straightforward assignment: track down Tracy Brandt and find out her connection to a top secret mission. But when Drew finds her, he realizes Tracy has a mission of her own--solving the sixty-year-old murder of Trixie Halston, a mysterious, mesmerizing singer of the 1940s. In fact, Tracy's obsession with Trixie goes beyond interest--at times she actually seems to become Trixie. She goes from demure but contemporary woman to the brazen big band singer on a dime.

And the scary thing is--Drew is falling hard. For both of them…





Member News:

Linda Goodnight's November release from Harlequin Romance, MARRIED UNDER THE MISTLETOE received 4 1/2 stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times. The review called the book "intense" and "a powerful character study with a lovely romance..".

Sharon Sala 's book NINE LIVES debuted at #90 on the USA Today list and will be #24 on the NYT extended list.




Editor's Note:

I would love to see all member news! Contest finals, wins, contracts, new releases, finished manuscripts,etc... If you have an article to share, it is more than welcome. If you have a new release, forward the blurb along with your website to me. Please email your news or articles to me by the 1st of the month to get it into the newsletter. Thanks! RElliott4@aol.com



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