Day 174 of the 365 Days of Blogging

The author, Dane F. Baylis

OH THE KNEE BONE CONNECTED TO THE SHIN BONE, THE SHIN BONE CONNECTED TO THE ANKLE BONE.

OR

Even Human Beings Started Out As Pond Slugs.

 

Everything is built one step at a time. Everything evolves (don't go fundamentalist on me, we're talking fiction here). Your stories start out as two dimensional ideas and we dress them in flesh, blood, emotions, and desires. This is what brings them alive and makes them worth the time invested by your readers. But, like the architectural references I made yesterday, if we have a drawing of some kind, the job of erecting either castle or hovel is much easier.

 

I know, we've already asked more questions than you've ever considered in this process of writing before. NO whining, writers only whine about reviews and late payments, a lot.This is going to be an easy one.

 

By creating a diagram you are providing yourself with a road map. A clear representation of the place where your story begins, where it eventually ends up, and the route in between. In this way, when you start actually writing and working through the myriad details you have listed up to now, you will have a clear idea of where you're going and how to get there.

 

The simplest diagram you can concoct is the "V". To begin, identify the three most important points in your story's beginning, middle and end and write them into a "V" something like this;

 

      Little Johnny starts for the store                           He turns into the hulk and pulverizes the punk.

      in a crime soaked neighborhood.                          Recovers the money and joins the Avengers.    

                             *                                                                                           *

                                 *                                                                                    *

                                      *                                                                           *

                                           *                                                                  *

                                                *                                                          *

                                                 He is jumped by a punk who steals the

                                                  the milk money Johnny's carrying.

 

Granted, this is a very simple story (I'm not trying for the Carver this year), but it's just an illustration, so please, let's not bust my chops over it. What, you don't think I'm going to post all my best stuff out here for you to borrow?

 

As the story evolves in your lists and imagination you can add more detail. You can put in the conflict that leads to the central problem. You can include the obstacles that your MC must overcome to reach the climax or resolution. If you are introducing subplot or minor characters with pivotal roles, you can add these as branches that return to the diagram at the key point. This is a great way of saving yourself from suddenly remembering, just before you type, "THE END", that Little Tony was supposed to warn Maggy that The Boss was looking for her and his rival One Eye about four thousand words earlier.

 

Anyway you use them, they won't hurt. And if you're thinking that this takes away from the process of "discovering" the story that your seat of the pants style is all about, I say it only clears the way for some really concentrated construction. The kind that has made the likes of Hammett and Oates world famous.

 

 

Meanwhile...live, love, write.

 

 

Want to follow or subscribe to this blog? There are gadgets for that on the right side of the page. You can leave comments in the form below. I can be reached directly at dbaylis805@gmail.com . You can also find links to some of the sites I visit from time to time on the right. I'm also looking for submissions to the Your Work/Your Love page. Authors retain all rights.

 

 

Tomorrow,

 

Dane F. Baylis

Author.