Martin Luther King day was a school holiday for my children. The evening before, I got an email from my friend. “Could we set the girls up with a playdate at our house tomorrow? How about early afternoon? I have a doctor’s appointment at 3:00.”
I wrote back, typing quickly. “Sure. We’ll pop by around 12:30. Thanks!”
I continued working on some other emails, a blog post, and part of my book. Then I suddenly stopped. Wait. My friend has a doctor’s appointment. On a day when there’s no school. Oh. It would be better if the playdate were at our house and during her appointment! I called her the next morning and she was so delighted not to have to take her daughter to the appointment.
Sometimes I’m really slow.
This is why, when I’m trying out a new idea, a new plotline, or a new character, I take a minute to consider all the angles.
Maybe the protagonist has a friend who was this interesting, street-preaching card shark with a fine art collection…he could make an interesting informant and this quirky sideline character. (I’m just making this up as I go along, y’all—I know you’re thinking, “This doesn’t sound like a Myrtle Clover or a Memphis BBQ book to me!”)
Or maybe it would be better if the murder victim were this person. Then the suspects could be drawn from different worlds—from the gamblers, from the art lovers, from the impassioned evangelists.
Could the murderer be this oddball character? It might be a good cover. The person seems so innocuous and fun—but they’re really deadly.
Or maybe the protagonist could be the preaching, art-collecting gambler? And his good friend who bridges two of the three worlds is murdered—which could provide a believable reason for him to do some sleuthing.
You can go through this same process with things besides characterization. Try it with setting. Maybe you have two characters who need to discuss something. You’ve got them going to a diner—wait. You always have them in a diner. Let’s make it someplace really different this time: Chuck E. Cheese. A perfect place to meet with an informant or to have a drug deal because all the mommies there are way too distracted to be suspicious of underhanded activity.
Or maybe you’re sick of characters meeting over food, period. Your protagonist decides to question the underworld informant at his office—which just happens to be a well-respected CPA firm.
This is easy to do with plot, too. You could take a tired scene—the heroine going down into the spooky, allegedly deserted basement. The reader is probably pretty sick of that approach, you decide. So what if she turns the handle of the basement door…just to make sure it’s locked. But it’s not and some depraved creature slams against the other side of the door, forcing itself into her sunny, happy kitchen with the rooster wall clock and polka-dotted dishtowels.
The more I take an idea and twist it, the more interesting it usually gets. And I’ve usually given the scene, character, or setting more depth and freshness.
How do you improve on your original plan or idea?
Elizabeth – It’s funny that you would bring up this topic. I had an idea for the plot of my WIP. I got started on it and after two chapters it flat. I mean, writhing pitifully. So I thought about what was wrong, and all of a sudden, a better idea came to me. So I started over. The starting over part – not fun. The better-idea part? I’m glad about that, because the book will be better.
I’m currently trying out a few ideas (in my head) for the ending for my current ms. This is a good strategy :)
The unexpected is always better. I can’t get away from my characters eating (especially at the ‘getting to know each other’ phase, because isn’t that what people do?) but I’ve gotten better about moving them around. Maybe it’s my own inherent love of food creeping in!
I find that I now ask myself “why” when I’m writing a scene. Why here? Why now? Why this character?
That’s a great idea taking the ordinary and putting the sinister in the midst of an innocent setting.
And it is a great idea to set aside your scenes and wait for the logical part of your brain to say wait…that doesn’t make sense.
Interesting post. It’s definitely good to look at something (characters, plot, etc) for various view points.
I think I need to start thinking more about everything, especially after reading this post, Elizabeth.
karen
Great post. I do this a lot. Sometimes I follow the standard path, but more times than not, I go with unexpected. I’ll toss out the first couple of things that come and do a later one. In fact, that happened just yesterday.
I’m in the process of doing this right now–examining my characters, and where and how things are happening. I think it’s a vital activity for writing fiction but it’s easy to forget once you get immersed in a story.
Thanks!
Ha! I just got an image of harried mothers running around Chuck-E-Cheese’s, looking crosswise at the two men in the corner wearing trench-coats and fedoras. Maybe sunglasses too. Nice!
I love your analogies. I have learned so much about *writing* from you!!!
I try to look at my original idea from every angle. What’s the most interesting? The strangest? The one with the biggest opportunity for giggles? Most of these I usually throw away, but there’s always one or two gems that stay.
Elspeth
I’m always changing and improving on my idea. When I get a critique, I think seriously about what the reader wants and if I think it’s warranted, change.
ann
I get those “Hmm – what if?” ideas a lot to put a new twist into a scene or plot element that seems a bit tired or overused. Good ideas here – appreciated your approach and input.
Marvin D Wilson
Soem great advice. The only problem is if you take this too far you find a new way to procrastinate and not write as you reposition the characters and ideas forever. Or maybe that is just me.
Great ideas. If you re-read your work and it seems to be slumping, play the What If? game. They say publishers are always looking for new ideas and themes….
Helen
Straight From Hel
Yes, you’re right. Sometimes the first thing we think of isn’t the best thing. Lots of stewage and changing and not being afraid to move/cut/rewrite is how I attempt to make my plot/story the best it can be.
I love how much you think about everything… toss things in, shake a little, come up with something fresh. I’m not sure I could integrate this into my writing–that seems to flow better if I let go of the thinking thing, but I LOVE it as part of the rewriting.
I guess that’s why I don’t write mystery! LOL
I love the opening to this post. That’s so something I would do. I make my ideas better by playing what-if games, which helps me to see things from another perspective. I’m not sure I always cover every angle, but that’s okay. It leaves ideas for other stories. :]
I had a scene toward the end of my book that I approached from several angles before I was satisfied. A lot of that had to do with plausibility. I felt if the reader asked “Well, why?” then that wasn’t good!
I like this – turning things upside down, what iffing them into delight or …?
This is so helpful! For the first time on a writing group, I’m doing a series or sequel story. It’s not over in one day. This will be helpful , because of the the hard things for me is to pick up the thread of the storyline. To me, this is a good way to writing the book, building on the story. Thanks!
Margot–Been there, done that! Good thing you realized it so quickly and you started over. I bet it’s so much stronger now.
Simon–I was always just trying to make sure my kids didn’t get up on the stage with “Chuck E.” :) Or get trounced by a big kid in the ball pit. Or get lost in the tunnels. Or… :)
Jemi–Thanks! Hope it helps.
Terry–And most readers like to eat, so they’re probably happy to come along to the restaurant, too!
Teresa–Sometimes I just have to digest what I’ve written and what I’m trying to write. But I do this outside of my “official” writing time. So I might be mulling it over while I’m cooking dinner, showering, doing errands, etc.
Crystal–Thanks so much! :)
Ann–I’m with you. Usually we can take something good even out of a negative critique. And there are so many ways to change a manuscript…if it’s warranted.
Mason–Thanks so much!
Marvin–Thanks! Hope it helps.
Karen–The only problem is when you’re thinking about all the possibilities and you’re supposed to be focusing on something completely different. I zone out like that, sometimes. :)
Helen–I like the idea of fresh takes on an old plot. I bet with all the reading they do, that editors are really on the lookout for something different.
Carol–I love the unexpected, too!
Paul–I think sometimes we get so close to the story that it’s hard to step back and take a look at it from a fresh angle.
Elspeth–And then, depending on the kind of book you want to write and the genre you’re shooting for (humorous mystery/cozy/thriller), you can choose what fits best? That’s a great plan.
Elana–Ha! I thought you wrote “sewage” when I first read your comment. And that’s true, too! I’ve got a first draft right now that can use some rethinking…to get rid of the sewer spots.
Hart–It would work well during revision, absolutely. It works when you’re writing the first draft, but you do have to really keep an eye on the clock. I try to think about the possibilities when I’m out at the grocery store or other errands.
Diane–Smart lady! Although with YA you could go in a ton of directions, too…
Cassandra–You could really take it to the extreme, couldn’t you? If you think about it, you could take each different idea and write a similar, but still different, book. And that would take way too much time. I try to think about it when I’m AWAY from my WIP…like if I’m doing housework, doing errands, etc. That’s probably why I seem like such a space cadet when I’m walking around in public. :)
Alex–You’re so right! I’ve read books before and thought, “This character wouldn’t have done this!”
Jan–Well, and that’s the other part of it. Sometimes the idea doesn’t work out so well! Some of mine have gone rotten as I’ve written. So I just change it midstream and flag the spot where I changed it.
You’ve stimulated my imagination. All sorts of plot and setting acrobatics going on in my head right now. Thanks for the post!
Tara–And that’s the great thing…you’ve laid the groundwork for another book!