by Guest Blogger Deb Baker
Thanks to my friends at Writer’s Plot for hosting me. I’m on a blog tour to promote the launch of my latest novel, Ding Dong Dead, which hit the shelves on Tuesday of this week. I’m also here today to try to clear up the mystery surrounding the proper technique for plotting your novel. We always like to know how everyone else does it. We especially want to know how the big names plot their mega stories, as if something in their secret methods will somehow rub off on us and we’ll score big, too.
However, if you listen to the rock stars, you’ll soon realize that every single one of them does it differently. Some are methodical in outlining, with little left to write when they’re through. Some of us (this is my group) have a sentence or a glimmer of an idea with no defined path when we start out on the journey.
For my first book, I dove into the air headfirst and discovered the plot right along with my protagonist, Gertie Johnson. But when the offer came to write a proposal for the Gretchen Birch series, I was required to write my first outline. It wasn’t easy then and it still isn’t easy for me.
Here’s how to know which way to go:
You are an outliner if:
· You’ve done it before and liked it (this is a no-brainer). Forget what everyone else is doing.
· Your agent or editor wants a proposal – three chapters and an outline. No matter how hard, do it if you can!
· Your protagonist works with you on the front end. Lucky you.
· You don’t like unexpected surprises in your story and hate to have to redirect the action.
You are a free faller if:
· As above, you’ve done it before and it worked.
· You have the proposal offer but can’t do the outline. Write the entire first draft quickly, then write the outline.
· Your protagonist has a mind of her (his) own and wants to boss you through the entire story. Let her.
· You don’t panic when you write yourself into a corner and you can get your protagonist out of the mess you’ve made without ripping apart your entire story.
Either way, you’ll go through an interesting creative process. It’s only a matter of where you use most of your imagination. And the end result is all that matter.
To celebrate the release of Ding Dong Dead, I’m running a contest for a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore of your choice! Here’s how to win. Get a copy of Ding Dong Dead, read it, go to my website (http://www.debbakerbooks.com) before January 15th. Correctly answer three easy questions pertaining to the book. You will be entered into the drawing, which will take place at noon on January 15th. Winner will be notified through email and announced on my homepage Good luck!
======================= Not only does Deb Baker write the Dolls to Die for mysteries, she also writes the Gertie Johnson Yooper mystery series--the third book, Murder Talks Turkey, is now available. For more information on Deb's books--check out her website: www.DebBakerBooks.com
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