I’m a huge list maker.
This has a lot to do with my need to outsource my horrible memory.
It also helps me sleep better at night, knowing that I’ve thought of all the things I need to do the next day…and I haven’t dropped the ball anywhere.
So it’s only natural that making lists would help me write my book, too.
Somehow, it’s easier for me to come up with lots of different ideas if I make them into bullet points and put them in list form. I can focus my list and have it be:
My protagonist’s catch-phrases.
My protagonist’s features. Different physical traits of my protagonist.
My protagonist’s facial expressions.
If you do this with plotting, it can be useful, too. The idea is to come up with as many different resolutions for the scene you’re writing or for the next scene as you can…no matter how outlandish they might be. Some ideas will be completely ridiculous, but some might end up being useful.
5 possible endings for this book.
5 twists.
5 possible subplots.
5 ways the subplots could tie into the main plot.
Or you could do it for character growth:
5 ways the character could grow.
5 surprising things that we could learn about a character.
Top 10 list of things that bother the protagonist (then 10 things that would drive the character crazy that I could write into the book.)
10 things this character loves more than anything.
You could find other uses for lists, too:
5 ways to add some unexpected elements to the book (humor, suspense, sadness, fear.)
5 ways to describe the setting.
I love making lists because sometimes I’m looking for a way to squeeze in just a little more writing—but I only have ten minutes. That amount of time is perfect for list-making, and I’ve found the exercise can really help me brainstorm more ideas.
Sometimes I’ll just add list titles in my notebook and keep it in my car or laptop bag for when I end up with a little dead time. That way I don’t even have to figure out what list I want to start…I can just jump right in.
Do you use lists to brainstorm? Mind maps? What works for you?
Elizabeth – I make lists, too! I find if there are more than two items (maybe three) that I need at the store, then I must have a list or I’m likely to come home without at least one thing. Oddly enough, for writing, I don’t usually use lists, since I find mini character and event sketches more useful. But I’m about to use lists, because I’m going to be changing the names of several characters in my WIP to make it easier to remember them. So I’m going to be listing each character with “Name A” and “Name B” so I can remember which new name matches which old one.
I make out lists for everything. To me that’s one way to help keep me on track of what needs to be done when and where.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I’m not organized enough to make recognizable lists, but I do jot down ideas and anything else that comes to me. I think I need to try to be more regimented for my newest project, though. List making sounds like a good way to do it, especially since I’ll be on the road again soon.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
I’m a list maker, too. These are great ideas. I’m stealing most of them and giving them a try. Thanks.
Lists just rock. And really, I’m not sure how people who don’t make them survive. And I love reading other people’s lists – sort of an innocent version of voyeurism, maybe?
Kaye
http://meanderingsandmuses.blogspot.com/
I’ve never made lists like you suggested, but I like the idea. I have done story-beats, which is similar, but has more to do with plotting than anything else. I really want to try your suggestion for listing things about a character.
I have always made lists to help me keep organized and on top of things. I haven’t tried it for writing, though. Great ideas here, Elizabeth. Thanks.
Karen
I jot down other ideas – extra twists I can add.
I use lists in various forms. Most recent is a list of possible resolutions to a couple of scenes I’m working on. I often find the the fourth or fifth idea is way better than the first couple that pop into my mind.
Idea generation lists rock.
One thing I learned, though, if you sit down to a brainstorming session, don’t set a small goal. If you set a goal that is a lot higher than necessary, it really forces you to dig deep.
Instead of five, try twenty. Or fifty. Or 100. Seriously.
What happens is that you have to dig into the ideas you might normally reject. The stupid ideas, the cliches. You have to pull them out and then push way past them – and you start finding new twists you never would have come up with.
I’m a big to-do list maker but haven’t tried using lists this way in my writing. Thanks for the idea.
Great tip for adding a little extra, especially when you have only a few min. to generate ideas. I will definitely use this! Thanks!
I do a bit of both. I tend to mind map before I begin writing, then during the writing, I make lists and notes.
I love being organized, so lists are a necessity! Mind Maps work really well for me, too.
Elizabeth – Me again :-) Just wanted you to know there is an award for you on my blog.
I have a note book I jot things down in when they pop into my head. Great idea to do little lists-like for working on the plot. I’m currently dealing with some plot issues of my own. Will be trying this out later! Thanks so much for the idea!
I love lists, but you make me think I am not being NEARLY proactive enough about it! I keep lists of the things to work back in on the edit, things to come for pieces I haven’t yet plotted… For my characters info I keep a spreadsheet, because there is physical stuff, personality stuff, relationship stuff, and then in a complex story, keeping track of each in the TIMELINE.
Speaking of LISTS… one of my things on my list I just ran across last night is ‘go to Elizabeth’s blog and copy off the one on Southernisms”… So here I go.
Margot–Changing character names is one of those things that seems to take me a LOT of time. I don’t know why naming is like that…sometimes I feel like I’m trying to name a new baby or something.
Alex–I love twists!
Mason–That’s the best way to see what we should jump on next, isn’t it?
Linda–Hope it helps!
Terry–Lately, I’ve had to make my writing a lot more regimented than usual–and it seems to be working out pretty well so far.
Carol–Good luck!
Kaye–I read about a book recently that someone had written about other people’s lists! She was fascinated by them…all the peeks into people’s subconscious minds by their scraps of lists. She collected old grocery lists from shopping carts, etc. It was really interesting.
Mary–Good luck with it!
Maryann–Sometimes, for me, it makes that part go quicker and easier…that’s mostly because I’m not great at description.
Karen–Good luck with it!
Helen–I’ve tried mind maps before and somehow couldn’t really get the hang of it, myself…but they really seem to help a lot of people.
Laura–I have to fight to STAY organized! I couldn’t live without my lists. :)
Paul–Isn’t that funny? I’ve found that to be the case with my writing, too. The first idea that comes into my head is usually not the best one.
The Daring Novelist –You’re absolutely right. I usually do make mine more…depending on how much time I have. The deeper you can go with it, the better. I was scared to put that many on my post because it could scare people off of doing it, but you’re very right. The more you can come up with the better. That’s when you get the cool twists and the unusual resolutions.
Rayvenne–It’s just such a quick way to help generate ideas and manageable even in the smallest chunks of time.
Hart–I’ve tried using Excel before, but because it’s formula-based, it freaks me out somehow. I do keep up with their traits in a Word file–I have to have my cheat sheets! Good luck with the Southernisms. :)
I find I usually ignore or forget my lists so I seldom bother making them anymore. However, I do make lists of character traits and plot ideas. I like your idea of using lists for various brainstorming sessions – I’ll have to try that.
I love making lists. As well as the various types you’ve described, I also make lists of the worries that are nagging me when I’m in a WIP. They’re things I know I need to sort out, and I find if I write them down to do later, they stop bothering me and I can get on with being creative. When I’m ready, I look at my ‘naff list’ and get to work.
Great post.
I like to use timelines. I think in a very linear way when it comes to writing (what comes first, what comes next, what comes after that) so making notes on a conflict/plot timeline works best for me. As scenes pop into my head, I just make a note in the general area of where I think it should go and then (usually) by the time I get there, I don’t have to think about what comes next!
I thought I could remember everything, but now I have lists for:
Place names (I write dark fantasy, and even though I keep the names simple, I still have a hard time recalling what name I assigned what city). I have another list for characters first and last names, and their job titles or functions.
I believe I’ve seen it called a series sheet somewhere. I didn’t think my novel was so detailed that I needed one, but since I’ve started another book, I find myself referring to it time and time again. Lists are good.
I like the idea of writing down character traits and I think I’ll use that one.
Jane–Losing lists! That’s definitely another of my problems. I’ve got tons of index cards with my lists on them even as I write…I’m actually covered in them. I’m trying to keep my lists downstairs and nowhere else. Otherwise…I can’t find them!
dirtywhitecandy–Yes! That keeps us moving through the manuscript, doesn’t it? I do the same, but I mark it in the margins of the Word doc with Track Changes.
Mallory–It’s always better to think it through even a little bit, isn’t it? Makes the writing go so much faster the next day with just a little prep work.
Margot–Thanks so much!
Teresa–Oh, I’m with you…I can’t remember names, either! Fictional or real…I’m just awful at it. You can also make a full bible for your book, with the basic plot and characters, etc.
Great stuff as usual Elizabeth!!
Thanks so much, LeeO!
I use mindmaps. I find lists stop me while mindmaps keep me going. And my first mystery, The Rock Walker, has a mindmap artist in it who helps with the solving of the crime with her mindmaps. that was fun!
You know, I’m actually not a big list maker but you’ve inspired me! I’m going to try this, especially with things about my protagonist and antagonist!