The Plot Book

I recently read an article through the Twitter feed Advice to Writers about the plot book vs. the writer's notebook. All this time, I thought I kept things in a notebook when it turned out, I've been keeping a plot book since 2005. I found out I am a fairly organized person, a real 'a place for everything and everything in its place' kinda guy...well, in writing at least.

Can't say the same for my closet. Haha.

I know some people who can just hit the keyboard and spew forth chapter after chapter. And I can honestly say, I can't do that. I can't blindly charge into a story.

I look at writing like I'm an architect. I'm setting out to build something. A story, with characters that need to be cared for, with dialogue reserved just for them and a setting that is as carefully crafted as a Michelangelo sculpture. As an architect, I'm really trying to strive for beauty as well as near perfection...but most importantly, as an architect, I need my work to stand on its own.

Therefore, I live by the plot book. I'm currently on my third one. And it's been a real trial and error process, as my first plot book, despite having so many ideas, was just all over the place...I wrote notes within other notes, and I would now need several hours to sift through the garbage to get to the gold.

Now, as I work on my third, I've gone to the trouble of splitting it into sections and numbering each page. I've got a section for plot ideas, a section for names I would consider for characters, places, things, I've got a section for notes and a section for miscellaneous items like title ideas. And it is a nice small size, something I can throw into my pack and go.

So, using a plot book, I intend on keeping all my ideas on paper, with possible chapter-by-chapter steps and guidelines. It will also record my thought process as well.

Years ago, as an art student, an instructor tried the same method with drawing and painting and I remember groaning, going how much I just wanted to immerse myself into a project and not think. Now, I see why he devised that plan. And the same has applied to my writing.

If you can dive headfirst into writing a story, more power to you. But if you're struggling to get through, then I highly recommend the plot book. Just a few dollars at any Target!