tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post2020978903171391127..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: "How I Plot" by Sharon PageBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-70516713242978672032008-11-16T00:03:00.000-05:002008-11-16T00:03:00.000-05:00Oooh - great post :) Definitely lots to work with ...Oooh - great post :) Definitely lots to work with here. Thanks so much!!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636189059910920978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33823062008311052052008-11-12T19:12:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:12:00.000-05:00I was there for the September conference (thanks a...I was there for the September conference (thanks again, Sharon!) and although I'm late posting here, I have to say I've used a little bit of everything you gave us in your talk. The "last line first" thing is terrific, and has helped me through a bit of 'block'. <BR/>I think it's the first/only plot thing I've used 6 weeks after I learned it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67835310731212249192008-11-11T11:18:00.000-05:002008-11-11T11:18:00.000-05:00I found this post extremely useful and practical. ...I found this post extremely useful and practical. Honestly, sometimes I get a bit bored with author posts, because it's all so subjective. But the information you provided in this is very valuable and intelligent. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-73376390516561392432008-11-10T22:48:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:48:00.000-05:00Hi Francesca,Thank you. These are ones I made up ...Hi Francesca,<BR/>Thank you. These are ones I made up myself, to give me the info I found I needed to know. I'd be happy to email you one. Just email me at sp@sharonpage.com.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-22057536126784846722008-11-10T22:46:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:46:00.000-05:00Hi Briane,"Save the Cat" sounds very interesting. ...Hi Briane,<BR/>"Save the Cat" sounds very interesting. Thanks for mentioning it.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67058656504276555852008-11-10T22:45:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:45:00.000-05:00Hi Green Knight,I'm glad you found it interesting!...Hi Green Knight,<BR/>I'm glad you found it interesting!Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57401423127961437892008-11-10T22:44:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:44:00.000-05:00Plot Whisperer,I relate a lot to your comment abou...Plot Whisperer,<BR/>I relate a lot to your comment about the muse being enhanced by structure. I studied product design in university, and learned there that it is easy to design without constraints, but brilliant design is when you can give the right/beautiful solution with constraints. <BR/><BR/>I find structure takes the "fear" out of the blank page, and actually lets me have more freedom. <BR/><BR/>And as part of my outlining, I write snippets of scenes, which lets the muse flow. I think you've captured well the idea that muse and structure can work together!Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16575369023736567772008-11-10T22:40:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:40:00.000-05:00Hi Crimogenic,I know I was completely blown away b...Hi Crimogenic,<BR/>I know I was completely blown away by the "the last line" idea, when I learned it from Molly O'Keefe. She also does an amazing workshop on putting conflict on every page. <BR/><BR/>I also like the last line idea because, for me, it gives a sense of momentum. Keeps me from getting bogged down!Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4269916528811840862008-11-10T22:38:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:38:00.000-05:00Hi Kate,Thanks. It's true--I am writing with two ...Hi Kate,<BR/>Thanks. It's true--I am writing with two little kids around. That's why I'm late posting. My son had swimming lessons in the a.m., then I wrote, then it was brownies for my daughter (a tour of the firestation, though, so a bonus.)<BR/><BR/>I remember reading that was how Mary Higgins Clark would come up with story ideas. She'd read a news story, and think: "What if" One of my favorite "What ifs": What if you are in the house alone, at night, and the toilet flushes?Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-69974325469867163602008-11-10T22:35:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:35:00.000-05:00Thanks, Lisekimhorton. I am very pleased to hear ...Thanks, Lisekimhorton. I am very pleased to hear you've found the tips useful!Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12119281964398625602008-11-10T22:34:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:34:00.000-05:00Hi anonymous--Interestingly, I do veer from the pl...Hi anonymous--<BR/>Interestingly, I do veer from the plot. The final version of Blood Rose, and the plot outline have some big differences. Sometimes a plot outline seems more like a path you chose, but when you are actually writing, you end up selecting a better path. I think the outlining works a lot like letting an idea percolate. A better direction can come out of the journey of writing. But many authors really like the exploration of the story through the writing.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-4836655106425292962008-11-10T22:32:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:32:00.000-05:00Spyscribbler,Honestly, I've reread my books and th...Spyscribbler,<BR/>Honestly, I've reread my books and thought the same thing: Wow, did I write that? <BR/><BR/>My husband always believed that the first half-dozen books are like an apprenticeship, but I've learned there is still learning to do, and that the way you tackle a book changes. It does keep it interesting.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7564220531512459282008-11-10T22:30:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:30:00.000-05:00Hi Anonymous,Thanks for the compliment on the titl...Hi Anonymous,<BR/>Thanks for the compliment on the title!Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-2228641720267717692008-11-10T22:29:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:29:00.000-05:00Hi Heidi,I think it's very true that each book req...Hi Heidi,<BR/>I think it's very true that each book requires something different. It may come from a different place in our head or heart, or maybe it is just that a particular story needs a different part of our brain (or stimulates a different part). <BR/><BR/>As you say, it does help keep the stories fresh.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-46941247104788825072008-11-10T22:26:00.001-05:002008-11-10T22:26:00.001-05:00Thanks Carrie,Sorry I'm late in posting--I suddenl...Thanks Carrie,<BR/><BR/>Sorry I'm late in posting--I suddenly realized it was the 10th already and I'd checked in too early this morning.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-144085860625765732008-11-10T22:26:00.000-05:002008-11-10T22:26:00.000-05:00Hi Anita,I'm delighted you found it useful. The '...Hi Anita,<BR/>I'm delighted you found it useful. The 'last sentence first' was a big help for me, because, as you say, it keeps me on track. And it makes me think about the 'theme' of the book upfront.Sharon Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15204125452024951988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68879858104137227792008-11-10T13:23:00.000-05:002008-11-10T13:23:00.000-05:00Sharon, Thanks SO much for these plotting tips. ...Sharon,<BR/> Thanks SO much for these plotting tips. I'm going to save these for future reference. With the mystery sheets you mentioned, did you devise these yourself or did you find them somewhere?Francesca Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280521929025352600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-20183283146704275282008-11-10T12:56:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:56:00.000-05:00This was very helpful; I always like to hear how o...This was very helpful; I always like to hear how others write and try to incorporate their tips into mine. Writing the last line first is a great way to keep the focus, I bet.<BR/><BR/>I recently read "Save The Cat!," a screenplay writing book, and I found it very helpful in thinking about how to write ANY story, not just a screenplay.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-57751867726645728412008-11-10T12:38:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:38:00.000-05:00Thanks for sharing this, Sharon.It's a method that...Thanks for sharing this, Sharon.<BR/><BR/>It's a method that is completely and totally alien to me, but it's always interesting to learn how the other half writes.green_knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16499896006012152260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55517800950995363932008-11-10T12:34:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:34:00.000-05:00Great ideas. Many writers and, now, bloggers don't...Great ideas. <BR/>Many writers and, now, bloggers don't truly appreciate how much planning goes into writing a pleasing story. Many seem to fear that the muse is hampered by structure rather understand it is instead enhanced.<BR/>Thanks for sharing your process(es)...Plot Whispererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11184614830165104670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-5206410120273367532008-11-10T12:06:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:06:00.000-05:00Great post, Sharon. I especially like the idea of...Great post, Sharon. I especially like the idea of writing the last line of the novel early on. Brilliant! Also the outlining of the chapters or a brief synopsis are also really good ideas. Thanks for sharing!About Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10011023963327391019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-18687436813866409122008-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00Sharon, love this! I can also tell you're writing ...Sharon, love this! I can also tell you're writing with little kids (note movies: Shrek and Ratatouille) and I wondered how you managed, but obviously you're a lot more organized in thought and action than I'll ever be! Of all the points you give, I think the most important is to ask questions. I always start my stories with "What if...?" And while I'm a definite panster, not a plotter, that one question is the one that keeps me moving from page to page. And for anyone who hasn't read Sharon's books, they're absolutely wonderful stories that will grab you from the very first page. Read Sharon's post and then read one of her books and all of her points will make perfect sense. (Plus, you'll have enjoyed a terrific book!)Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-14286967793248787752008-11-10T11:59:00.000-05:002008-11-10T11:59:00.000-05:00Sharon, this is the most concise and helpful set o...Sharon, this is the most concise and helpful set of instructions that I have ever seen on the subject of plotting. I will be saving your tips for my future efforts because I, too, have discovered that I plot differently for different books - they seem to require it. So your guidance will be invaluable. And your examples were terrific, particularly Ratatouille. Very clearly explains the concept of how the "universal plots" can be adapted to be so individual and unique. Good luck w/ your latest!lisekimhortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072878628169741032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-12013812935468688092008-11-10T11:20:00.000-05:002008-11-10T11:20:00.000-05:00I can appreciate the way Sharon plots out her book...I can appreciate the way Sharon plots out her books. I've never been able to be that formatted. I do know how the book will end. And have also written the 'last line'--or even last chapter. I have a general idea of the plot, etc. But my writing is more organic. I put my characters in motion, set the direction, introduce the McGuffin then take the journey alongside my characters... It works for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68301170799652862212008-11-10T10:48:00.000-05:002008-11-10T10:48:00.000-05:00I love the layers bit! (I also love the scene in t...I love the layers bit! (I also love the scene in the movie. And that movie!)<BR/><BR/>I plot every book differently, too; I enjoy that the process changes. I'm on Book 18 or so, and I'm still puzzled at how my books come together. When I go back and read them, I can't believe I wrote them. In fact, I once wrote a reader and told her she got the wrong author. (In my defense, it was a short story and not a story I'd lived with a long time!)<BR/><BR/>I work really hard, I swear I do, but at the end of the day, it's just surreal.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.com