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WTYates: Welcome to the Christian Writer's Workshop! WTYates: We will be under protocol tonight... WTYates: Type a ? to ask a question... WTYates: Type a ! to make a comment (does not requires a response)... WTYates: Please type / or ga when you are done... WTYates: I will call on you in turn. WTYates: The Christian Writer's Workshop meets 10 PM ET Tuesdays in the #workshop chat room at iUniverse.com and 9 PM ET Thursdays in the Writers Workshop chat room on AOL (Keyword=wcchat). The CWW web site is at http:/www.billyates.com/cww/. If you would like the weekly email CWW newsletter, send an email to billyates@billyates.com. WTYates: Our guest tonight is Eva Marie Everson. Her topic is Plot Development: Keeping It Strong From Beginning to End. WTYates: Marie returns with another great topic. Here's her bio... Eva Marie Everson is the author of Shadow of Dreams (a novel), True Love; Engaging Stories of Real-Life Proposals, and Pinches of Salt, Prisms of Light. Her follow-up book to True Love, entitled One True Vow, will be released in Fall, 2001. She is currently writing the sequel to the novel and has been contracted to write a third. Eva Marie is a contributing author to a number of publications, including: Stories from the Extreme Teen's Heart, Seasons of a Woman's Heart, God's Abundance for Women, More God's Abundance, Since Life is Not a Game, Here are God's Rules, Teatime Stories for Moms, God Is Still in the Healing Business, A Letter is a Gift Forever, What's in the Bible for Couples, and Stricken: Stories Behind the Hidden Epidemic. She recently edited a devotional book for Northland, A Church Distributed. http://www.EvaMarieEverson.com WTYates: So...Away we go! WTYates: First, a brief prayer... WTYates: Father, we pray for Eva Marie's granddaughter, that she may be quickly healed and returned home. Give the doctors wisdom and calm her fears. In the Name of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. WTYates: Amen! MBananas: Amen! eva_marie:amen! sally: Amen! WTYates: Eva, would you like to make some comments before we open up for questions? eva_marie:We all know what I'm talking about tonight, right? WTYates: Plot development... eva_marie:yeah! eva_marie:So, should I talk a little about it and then open the floor, or would you eva_marie:like to begin with quesitons? eva_marie:up to you sally: I'm listening carefully! WTYates: Talk a little first, it may answer some questions./ eva_marie:ok eva_marie:Let me begin by asking a question wordgrl43: hi eva_marie:Think of some areas where one "comes up with a plot" What would you say? ga MBananas: (Welcome wordgr, Eva Marie is discussing plot development.. WTYates: Hi, wordgrl... we just got started. Eva Marie Evrson is discussing plot developemnt. wordgrl43: thanks..i'm just listening in if yall don't mind :) eva_marie:okay, I'll ask the question again WTYates: As in mystery, maybe? eva_marie:Where does a writer come up with plot ideas? MBananas: contemplating writing a story?' eva_marie:mystery, whatever... sally: a news event? eva_marie:Good! That's one, Sally wordgrl43: personal experiences eva_marie:What about another one? MBananas: newspaper, life WTYates: Imagination, fueled by news, people, etc./ wordgrl43: a desire to accomplish something unattainable eva_marie:Good eva_marie:Very good eva_marie:For me... eva_marie:Ideas have come from a variety of sources such as Random thoughts, Magazine Ads, Photographs...especially old ones..., Magazine articles, News Items, TV-Magazine shows such as 20/20. (I'd never want to use the exact story, tho) but sometimes you can hear several stories and think: WOW! Those stories are uniquely connected and suddenly you begin to fill in the gaps and you have a plot! Also (and Here's a really good one!) Overheard Conversations! LOL Listen to this: Years ago, a songwriter was coming out of a movie theater when he heard this young woman saying to a young man: "You are in big trouble! You've been talking about me to everybody! But, guess what! My boyfriend's back! And he's gonna deck you!" Ah-ha! Guess what this songwriter went home and wrote? wordgrl43: :) eva_marie:ga WTYates: "My Boyfriend's Back" eva_marie:you got it! wordgrl43: my boyfriend's back and you are.. WTYates: The Raylettes? eva_marie:And he made a fortune! So, keep your ears open! sally: Brilliant Bill! eva_marie:Any questions so far? WTYates: Nope... eva_marie:I am often asked how I came up with the plot to Shadow of Dreams, my recently released novel Believe it or not...it began with a walk one spring morning. I could smell the jasmine... and it reminded me of home where I haven't lived for over 25 years and I began to ask myself, "What would drive a young woman from her home for 25 years?'?" and voila! I had a story...now I needed a plot! Here's what plots have to have: 1. Questions 2. Complications 3. Obstacles Obstacles and Complications should be set as as to move weakest to strongest throughout the novel in this way, the tension builds Next ask yourself: WHAT causes conflict? What would you say? ga WTYates: Different goals for different characters./ sally: differences of opinions MBananas: difference of opinions eva_marie:good eva_marie:good wordgrl43: family eva_marie:good WTYates: Physical obstacles. wordgrl43: geographic eva_marie:Look into emotional problems, too. Things like jealousy, lust, greed, money, etc. wordgrl43: intelligence MBananas: death eva_marie:good one sally: love eva_marie:Aristotle said, "All plots must have a beginning, a middle, and an end." The problem is: typically writers begin with a STRONG beginning then end up with a weak middle and a rushed ending. Ever read a book like that? You feel cheated! In fact, I'm reading one like that right now wordgrl43: yes you do eva_marie:I enjoyed the beginning so much, but once the middle came along, I felt as though I was no longer a part of the story. I have been struggling to finish it... As for the ending... I know that as a writer...it is EASY to want to rush to the end... We get excited about it! but this is not good! As a writer, we must take our time, kind of like opening a gift on Christmas morning. Don't you think it's more fun to open it slowly to suspend the suspense for just a few minutes longer Also, you want to assure that all the questions from the beginning and middle are answered. Okay, I have a nother question for you: name your favorite novel MBananas: that's a hard one! eva_marie:try sally: for me too eva_marie:at least one wordgrl43: gesh..which one do i choose WTYates: Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury, Hobbit/Lord of the Rings - Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes stories - Doyle. wordgrl43: mystery in maggody..by hess eva_marie:Well, my favorite novel of all time was written in about 1970 and was titled Mr and Mrs Bo Jo Jones, anyone remember that one? sally: Okay, any of Clancy's novels...I like technostuff WTYates: Never heard of it! wordgrl43: :( sorry. I related to it in a funny way eva_marie:Now think: What was the beginning of your favorite novel like? What about it hooked you? sally: Action WTYates: Immediate immersion into the world of the story. eva_marie:Not too long ago, I read a book called See Jane Run. It began like this: Jane Whitaker went to the grocery store to buy eggs and milk and forgot who she was. WELL! I was hooked! WHO was Jane? WHY did she forget who she was? WHAT kind of cake??? LOL. By the middle of the book, the suspense was so tight, I could hardly sleep then end was fantastically paced. wordgrl43: I love that eva_marie:It was a reader's dream. That's what we must do as writers, too. Now...think about this book: The Bible. (remember that one??? LOL) wordgrl43: lol true eva_marie:How does it begin? sally: In the beginning...God...Wow eva_marie:ga eva_marie:yeah... WTYates: In a baseball game... "In the big inning..." eva_marie:IN THE BEGINNING eva_marie:and suddenly the entire world is being created wordgrl43: even includes a hint of what was to come eva_marie:now... sally: never have been able to put that Book down eva_marie:what about the middle? WTYates: It gets complicated. wordgrl43: love sex romance betrayal rejection WTYates: And some poetry... Marcia:lol sally: and admonitions wordgrl43: :) eva_marie:and? WTYates: death WTYates: and life eva_marie:yeah... wordgrl43: dreams eva_marie:right in the middle (basically) we have the exile eva_marie:and the return wordgrl43: glimpses into the future sally: and a rescue eva_marie:and, then just after that eva_marie:BOOM eva_marie:Jesus is born eva_marie:now! eva_marie:what about the END? sally: A new beginning WTYates: It hasn't happened yet... :) eva_marie:John's Revelation eva_marie:WOW eva_marie:What an ending! eva_marie:Okay...so, do you get the picture? WTYates: The BIG picture eva_marie:ready to move on? WTYates: yep! :) eva_marie:The beginning of every novel should be an open door to the remainder of the book. By the end of the novel, the reader knows the answer to the question or questions raised in the first chapter. Let me give you an example again from my work In Shadow of Dreams, my main character wakes up in Hell's Kitchen New York she has obviously run away from home she's lamented over her life but the reader doesn't know WHY! she's in such despair by the end of the book, of course, the whole story is told In Rear View...which hasn't been releassed yet Two little girls are playing in the park and one disappears Where did the child go? By the end of the book, you find out. Once a question is raise, the writer must add a complication For Katie (in Shadow) it was feeling that she couldn't go home... sinking into a world of drugs... etc. In Rear View, the surviving child grew up and was suddenly dealing with depression, Alzheimer's, miscarriage, a new move, when BOOM! suddenly she begins to believe that the child who was lost is actually alive and trying to contact her There CAN BE more than one complication...and the more the merrier, but you don't want so many the reader can't keep up with it either. Any questions so far? libby: ? wordgrl43: great points..:) WTYates: libby... sally: very helpful eva_marie:ready to keep going? sally: yes libby: Can you give me a very brief synopsis of the discussion here. (Hi bill, it's eliza63) WTYates: I will be posting the chat log on the CWW web site by this weekend. libby: ty wordgrl43: yup eva_marie:The middle should be the high point of action, rather than the sagging center. Many writers get stumped right here! Many a novel has been written ONLY to this point and stopped because the writer gets stumped So, here are some ideas 1. Kill somebody!!! LOL wordgrl43: lol WTYates: Works for me! :) 2. Reveal something bone-chilling 3. Introduce the villain or a villain 4. Have the bad guy move in for the kill...but then draw back 5. Introduce a new BUT IMPORTANT character 6. Throw in a red herring! 7. Place the protagonist in some form of danger 8. Have a confrontation 9. Have a fear become a reality 10. Add an additional link in the plot's chain which only adds to the drama. Make certain that you don't RESCUE the main character too quickly, this is where many middles become ends. Remember, too, that the middle must harmonize with the beginning and the end. When the reader looks back, it must all make sense. Any questions so far? WTYates: ? WTYates: WTYates... WTYates: If you wait until the middle to introduce the villain, shouldn't he have been at least foreshadowed by then? eva_marie:Certainly, but the middle is an opportunity to really get to know him sally: ? WTYates: sally... wordgrl43: great points...:) sally: I have to leave. Thanks and blessings, EvaMarie eva_marie:thank you, Sally! WTYates: Night, sally! Come again... eva_marie:ready to continue? WTYates: Yep... eva_marie:okay...The End libby: ? WTYates: libby... libby: If you start with a teaser at the beginning...like something really bad, but you don't totally explain it....when is a good time to start panning the explanation out? eva_marie:depends, but gradually throughout the story... depends on the feel you wish to convey libby: ok. ga. eva_marie:In Shadow of Dreams, the answers begin coming right away but they don't make sense completely until the very end. In Rear View, it's a good while before I give it away but RV is much faster paced make sense? libby: yep. eva_marie:ok eva_marie:ready? eva_marie:The end eva_marie:Typically: in the end, everything is clear, eva_marie:There are no questions eva_marie:No surprises eva_marie:unless you are writing like Hitchcock, which I've been known to do eva_marie:LOL libby: ? WTYates: libby... eva_marie:But there are rules here to make it work libby: What if it's a good surprise? libby: like a comfort after all the bad things. eva_marie:If it makes sense to the rest of the plot, then yes! eva_marie:like...SHE tells him she's pregnant libby: lol eva_marie:HE tells her he won the trip to Paris That's a good surprise typically, you don't want a cliffhanger again...unless you are writing like Hitchcock In Shadow of Dreams, my ending is a cliffhanger like hitch and everyone loves it because they know there will be a sequel! But typically you want to wrap it all up libby: ? eva_marie:yes, libby ga eva_marie:LOL Total rule here: No acts of God! No Deus ex machina There should be no rains to put out the fire The heroine should find the extinguisher! LOL libby: ?why? eva_marie:because it's not realistic libby: k eva_marie:okay? See, rain from God doesn't allow the character to move on her own ability it's just a let down but if she has to crawl her way thru a burning house to find the fire extinguisher she had spotted a few days before ah-ha! then we have action! WTYates: Dial 911... :) eva_marie:LOL libby: lol eva_marie:Then there's always the final paragraph. That wonderful paragraph we struggle with we want it to be GOOD, we want it to have a BANG, we want readers to go, "WOW". Sometimes we end with a quote sometimes a line that makes you go, "AHHHH". Sometimes the main characters are looking toward brighter days and sometimes!!! A CLIFFHANGER! (teehee) WTYates: 2-minute warning... eva_marie:Oh, no! WTYates: :( eva_marie:Any questions? Marcia:(But some of us are willing to stay, Eva Marie...lol) eva_marie:Well, that's about HALF of what I had to say! eva_marie:I would love to come back and finish another time! WTYates: Well, come back, then! :) eva_marie:So, let me open the floor to questions WTYates: We'll schedule it. Just let me know when... eva_marie:sure! WTYates: Thanks, Eva Marie. This has been great stuff! eva_marie:yw WTYates: You make it seem so simple! :) libby: yes. ty. eva_marie:well, I hadn't gotten to the hard part yet! eva_marie:LOL WTYates: :) eva_marie:no questions? libby: ? eva_marie:libby? libby: What's the hard part? eva_marie:LOL libby: ;) Marcia:lol. read my mind eva_marie:hmmmmm WTYates: Doing it! :) eva_marie:between that beginning, middle, and end... you have to have PLOT LOL I just gave you the bones now you have to have muscle and tissue and organs and stuff Marcia:do you ever teach a class on it? eva_marie:Yes eva_marie:I'm teaching at Mid-Atlantic Writer's Conference in June Marcia:would you send bill more info? eva_marie:I've taught it to several writer's groups eva_marie:on the conference? eva_marie:i think he has it Marcia:ok, thanks. WTYates: I may. I get so much stuff! :) WTYates: Thanks to all for participatng tonight!! eva_marie:if any of you have the opportunity to read Shadow of Dreams, I'd love to \ eva_marie:know what you think of the ending! eva_marie:You had posted it before eva_marie:Marcia, email me WTYates: OK. eva_marie:I'll tell you more eva_marie:PenNhnd@aol.com Marcia:ok, thank yu. WTYates: Time for you East coasters to hit the sack! :) Marcia:you. eva_marie:amen! eva_marie:yawn! Marcia:make that 2 of us! Marcia:goodnight all. WTYates: Meanwhile, I'll go eat supper! :) WTYates: Night, all! libby: I can't see that site! eva_marie:ha! libby: nite... eva_marie:Good night! Log file closed at: 5/22/01 20:05:10 |
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