Blog of Gracie O'Neil Author Paranormal Romantic Suspense

25 March, 2010

Losing the Plot...in a good way

Nothing much has happened--in terms of writing--during the last week or so as we've been on vacation, spending several wonderful, relaxing days with my critique partners in Wellington while we tidied synopses and submissions. We also talked books, bought books, read books, dissected books, and celebrated my birthday.

Finn apparently decided he could have a few days off himself too, although he did drop in a couple of times to look over my shoulder and offer suggestions. But not for my work, bless his turncoat little heart.

We arrived back home last night far later than we had intended after encountering several problems with our vehicle map software. And, the icing on the cake? We found ourselves eight minutes from home and hit a detour on the main road. This little redirection added a further twenty or so minutes to a trip that had already taken almost three hours longer than we had anticipated.

However, one of the great things about being a writer is that you know sooner or later everything will end up in a story.

Somewhere.

For example, that strange guy who barged into the Ladies Room at the garage singing "Flick the Little Fire Engine" might be exactly what I need one day. Not to mention the black and white cow grazing contentedly in a paddock--with a red bulls-eye painted on her rear end.

And maybe aliens really will make a world-wide sweep and take over the navigation software in every vehicle in the civilized world, and program us all up one-way streets.

Oh yeah. Life might be a plotter's nightmare, but it's a never-ending banquet for the imaginative pantser in all of us.

8 March, 2010

Ferreting out the Plot

I've been having so much fun with the plot of my new book that the last few weeks have slipped by on greased wheels. What's made it fun? Well, discovering my Muse is, in fact, a ferret has been a major. And yes, I know I sound as cracked as a dozen eggs dropped from a cruising Skyhawk, but it's true.

The whole process of sitting down at my desk to work has shifted from what I've been used to ("Okay, time to get serious now") to "Woo hoo! Ferret playtime!"

The second thing that's made it fun has been my discovery (thank you, Margie Lawson!!) of Alicia Rasley's book "The Story Within Guidebook".

Having begun life as a certified "plotter"--before making a few bowel-loosening forays into the dark abyss of the "pantser" underworld--I've decided I'm less of a pure breed and more the mongrel "plot-ser".

This is a tremendous relief to all who know me as it means I only have to be neurotic for fifty percent of the time. But, on the upside, not only can I choose which fifty percent, I can also change choices when I feel like it.

Seriously, though. Alicia and Finn have opened up a whole new world when it comes to plotting. Whenever Alicia tosses questions, thoughts, and preconceptions into the air, Finn goes crazy. I can't control him.

I can't control me, either, if it comes to that. I've almost filled an A4 exercise book with what I've learned--plus its application to my current plot--and I'm only up to page 46 in the Guidebook! What will it be like by the time I get to page 163?

More next time...