Plot – Words & Deeds

December 23, 2021

When the Plot Doesn’t Matter

What? Is that ever true? Yes, actually. There are times when the plot doesn’t matter because it isn’t the main reason for reading or watching. Shows & Books Where the Plot Isn’t Important Ok, yes, they all have plots; however, the plots are very predictable, very simple, or “a series of unfortunate events.” In fact in some of these examples,...

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 0

June 10, 2021

3 Rainy Day Writing Prompts

Is it raining where you are? Well, if it isn’t, it will be sometime. 😛 When it is, and you have a moment to write, why not try a rainy day writing prompt? Or 3. 3 Ways to Use Rain in Writing Feel the Rain Rain is sensuous – it’s something you experience with all the senses. That makes it...

Creativity Builders/Literary Device Exercises/Plotting Exercises Comments: 0

June 11, 2016

A Writing Prompt for Dreams

I don’t mean the goals kind of dream. This writing prompt is meant for those weird, hazy, wtf dreams that happen in your sleep and fade within hours (if not minutes) of waking. Most of the time, they make no sense – talk about the art of the unexpected! That’s actually one of the best reasons to apply dreams to...

Literary Device Exercises/Worldbuilding Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

February 17, 2016

Plot Uniqueness: The Macro vs. Micro Problem

For all that people say that there are only 2-3 stories, no one wants to be the author who makes people grimace and say that he (or she) writes the same plot over and over again. At the same time, a plot that jumps around completely out of left field can leave the story feeling disconnected and jarring (or just plain bad)....

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 2

February 16, 2016

Plotting & Progress Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

I tend to forget how much I like plotting. The adrenaline rush of figuring out the twists and turns, the superior feeling that comes from tying up loose ends, the thrill of realizing the perfect spot to sneak in a red herring: that’s all forgotten about 2 chapters in. See, once I get into writing the story, plotting starts to...

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Creative Process Comments: 0

February 6, 2016

5 Ways to Improve Your Writing with Improv Exercises

Have you ever done an improv exercise as part of a camp or icebreaker? If you did, you probably thought it was either 1. hilarious, energizing, and fun OR 2. ridiculously hard, stressful, and embarrassing. Well, that’s improv for you. As a rule, improvisation training involves intense scenarios, fast-paced responses, and a lot of strained brain cells – which is...

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January 12, 2016

The Art of the Unlikely Coincidence: Serendipity & Synchronicity in Writing

One of the biggest challenges of writing novels well is tying everything together in a believable way. Part of the difficulty comes from how heavily plots rely on coincidences: little details that seem insignificant at first glance but somehow tie into the resolution. Like life, some coincidence is necessary; however, finding the right amount can be problematic. Too much reliance, and it...

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December 22, 2015

Worldbuilding Without Traditions Feels Fake

December is one month where many different cultural holidays overlap. Even those without strong religious beliefs often have certain activities they associate with the holiday season. That makes it a particularly appropriate time to talk about traditions and worldbuilding. As far as I know, every single culture in existence has traditions that it relies on (they are generally different from culture...

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 0

November 18, 2015

The Art of the Unexpected

If you want to spend an entertaining and informative afternoon, look up your favorite comic strips and standup comedians. Then, analyze them. You can still watch and laugh, but actually pay attention to how they’re making you laugh. Both mediums have the same goal (to make you laugh), and neither one has a lot of time to do it in....

Creative Process Comments: 2

November 8, 2015

Find Time To Read

Whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or any other writing project, you’re probably doing your best to write every day. Maybe, you’re aiming for 1,000 words a day. Maybe, you’re working on several different projects. Or maybe, you spend most of your day writing. All of those options are great. If you’re doing any of them, congratulations! Just don’t forget to take...

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Tag: Plot