The Other Approach to Plotting a Story

This week, Marcia Hoehne posted some interesting tips on plotting  (To Plot or Not) based on her reading of James Scott Bell. She discusses how it's important to figure out what works for you.

Now that I've made it to Novel #4, I'm finally starting to get a kind of system for plotting. I've always tried to make some kind of outline or summary first. I think it works for me. But it occurs to me that I've never really tried the other approach - the "fly by the seat of your pants" approach.

I have to confess, the whole idea of trying to sustain a story without any kind of outline scares me a little. But I also wonder if I can do it. Then I realized I kind of already am.

As a "warm up" to get myself in a writing mood, I started with just writing whatever comes into my head. But it's turning out to be another story. I have no plot chart, no character chart, no nothing except whatever pops into my head at the moment. And the ideas I record in my notebook as they bubble up at odd moments. I have no idea if it will develop into another novel, but I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Do you outline or not? Have you ever taken a serious stab at using the other approach? 

Can Five Minutes a Day Lead to a Better Novel?

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to tone up my writing muscles by trying out some writing exercises. I'm sticking to my goal of making time for 5 or 10 minutes of free writing every morning.

I also decided to stop listening to the inane babble of  morning radio announcers on the drive home from taking the kids to school, which I do right before my writing time begins. I wanted to let my own thoughts fill up my mind instead. Sometimes, I even stop outside and just breathe in the fresh air, listening to the sounds around me.

I feel like these simple strategies have really helped to boost my creativity. Now when I'm free writing, I don't want to stop with the timer's bell. Even though what I've written has little to do with my current project, it seems to have helped me generate ideas. I've already come up with a couple of new scenes to stick on my storyboard.

Another exercise I'm trying is to pretend I'm one of my story characters and then just write their thoughts. I've never done this before (except in the context of writing the novel). But just playing around has already helped me to strengthen my character motivations.

If nothing else, these few minutes of thinking each day are building up my enthusiasm for writing/rewriting my story. Now, if only I could make some time and mental space to get started!

Writing Exercises

The title isn't referring to physical fitness, though I think that I could do more of that to improve my writing too. [A recent article in the Globe and Mail reminds me that staying active boosts the brain.]

It's about getting back to basics and well, just writing. A long time ago, I was advised to sit down and write for a few minutes every day, without taking my pen from the paper. About anything. It's been a long time since I've done that. I get caught up in novel editing, fussing with my plot, critiquing other people's writing, or working on blog posts. I forget that what my writing needs is some freedom to meander and go where it takes me. Not following a plot outline. Not fitting in to what I need for my novel. Not worrying about whether I can use it later.

Five minutes a day of writing play can easily fit into my schedule. So, I'm going to start. Today.

How about you. Do you ever just play with words or free write?