This is Joseph Heller’s writing plan for Catch 22 (curtesy of Flavorwire.com where you can find other examples) and I admit, I am absolutely in awe!
I’m not really a planner, but I can see the merits in making sure you have an ending.
My retreat yesterday went well, but I only managed 4 of the prompts. I got too carried away with one of them (whoops), but I did enjoy it 🙂
So now I have another 4 short stories, or rather starts of a short story. So yeah, I think I better start thinking about endings. I hate having so many unfinished pieces 😦
A great article on Writability is definitely worth a read 🙂
Sooo, are you a plotter? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?
Yesterday’s daily prompt about memory inspired a story about a guy who’d lost his memory. Tomorrow’s prompt is a lie someone told you which might be difficult lol.
The View Outside 
I wish I was a good plotter! I tend to plan things only in my head, but endings are always the hardest.
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Oh so do I hon 🙂
I think that’s why I like short stories so much, not as much plotting involved 😉
xx
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Short stories almost no plotting unless suddenly inspired with an idea and a need to note it down. Longer stuff, I like to plan around 70-80% with the rest open to see what happens. I think I would waste too much time without the plotting.
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Wow 70-80%!
Do you make a plan? What method do you use?
xx
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I do in-depth back story notes for my protags and a scene outline before I begin writing. The outline consists of two sentences for each scene–what happens and what’s the outcome. This bare bones approach leaves plenty of room for creative surprises from my characters.
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That’s a fantastic idea Joan, 2 sentences, yeah, I think I could manage that.
Thanks hon 🙂
xx
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You’re welcome. I devised the method after writing a total of 150K to end up with 83K after all the revisions. I swear I will never do pantser again.
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I know someone that was told a lie that would make a good story – but it’s probably not for public consumption 😉
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Oooooo, that sounds intriguing Jan….come on, you can tell me 😉
xx
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A little bit of both. For my first novel, I planned everything and drove myself nuts every time I made a change. For my second novel, I planned the basic layout and then fly by the seat of my pants every time I sit down to work on it. 😉
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Sounds like you’ve found a happy medium hon 🙂
xx
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I often try to plot, but mostly I just write and see what happens. Sometimes I just draw a line across a page and put a couple of things onto it and can’t think of anything else, but then another day when I’m just going about my business a scene will play out in my head and I’ll plot it on the line with the other stuff. But mostly things just happen as the characters decide to tell me.
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I like your line idea Becca 🙂
Thanks hon!
xx
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