by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
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| MorgueFile–The Success |
I’m one of those neighbors that would be
the perfect witness in a murder mystery.
Because, if I’m not driving my kids and their friends around, I’m
staring blankly out the windows as I write.
the perfect witness in a murder mystery.
Because, if I’m not driving my kids and their friends around, I’m
staring blankly out the windows as I write.
One morning I saw our middle school
neighbor from across the street leave the house to walk to the school bus
stop. His folks had put out a large
television for a charity to pick up and the remote sat on the top of the TV by
the street. He walked past the
television, looking at it. Then he abruptly turned around, reached for the
remote, and pointed it at the television.
You could just see what was going through his head: what if the
television suddenly turned on?
neighbor from across the street leave the house to walk to the school bus
stop. His folks had put out a large
television for a charity to pick up and the remote sat on the top of the TV by
the street. He walked past the
television, looking at it. Then he abruptly turned around, reached for the
remote, and pointed it at the television.
You could just see what was going through his head: what if the
television suddenly turned on?
You can brainstorm this way. You can even outline this way. You can get yourself out of plot holes this
way.
way.
So I’m starting a new mystery. Since I had such a disastrous pantster
experience for the last book, I’ve decided to put some time and thought into
planning this new book before I write. I
don’t ordinarily like writing that way, but I will admit that out of the four
novels I’ve outlined, I’ve never had a major rewrite.
experience for the last book, I’ve decided to put some time and thought into
planning this new book before I write. I
don’t ordinarily like writing that way, but I will admit that out of the four
novels I’ve outlined, I’ve never had a major rewrite.
This is Outlining Light. So my process is something like this (and I
give myself permission to change it as I go along.)
give myself permission to change it as I go along.)
I start out with my victim…because she
determines everything in a mystery. Who
wants to kill her? This is how suspects
are developed. What if she’s the kind of person who rubs everyone the wrong
way? What if she is responsible for breaking up someone’s marriage? What if her neighbor was engaged in a
property dispute with her? What if she has a grown daughter living with her who
likes to cause trouble?
determines everything in a mystery. Who
wants to kill her? This is how suspects
are developed. What if she’s the kind of person who rubs everyone the wrong
way? What if she is responsible for breaking up someone’s marriage? What if her neighbor was engaged in a
property dispute with her? What if she has a grown daughter living with her who
likes to cause trouble?
The rest of the story develops in much
the same way. What if Suspect 1 claims
she was somewhere else the night of the murder but Suspect 2 spotted her
arriving at the victim’s house when she was leaving it? What if Suspect 3 has a
secret that she’s desperate to protect…which has nothing to do with the murder?
the same way. What if Suspect 1 claims
she was somewhere else the night of the murder but Suspect 2 spotted her
arriving at the victim’s house when she was leaving it? What if Suspect 3 has a
secret that she’s desperate to protect…which has nothing to do with the murder?
This rambling what-if process can lead to
many different ideas. I take all the
ideas. I’ll take outlandish ones,
mediocre ones, great ones. I list them
all on a separate document and look for the strongest ideas…the ones with the
most possibilities to develop. Even
better if some of the ideas could intersect with each other in some way
(surprising connections between suspects, surprising facts about the victim
connected to one of the suspects.)
many different ideas. I take all the
ideas. I’ll take outlandish ones,
mediocre ones, great ones. I list them
all on a separate document and look for the strongest ideas…the ones with the
most possibilities to develop. Even
better if some of the ideas could intersect with each other in some way
(surprising connections between suspects, surprising facts about the victim
connected to one of the suspects.)
When I run into problems, I can
brainstorm my way out of it in the same way.
In one of my recently finished books, I thought featuring two different
married couples was confusing…especially with similar motives involved. Plus, there really wasn’t enough
conflict. What if one of the couples
weren’t married? What if one member of
the couple was in love and the other member just wanted out? It made the story
more complex and interesting and it was only a small tweak.
brainstorm my way out of it in the same way.
In one of my recently finished books, I thought featuring two different
married couples was confusing…especially with similar motives involved. Plus, there really wasn’t enough
conflict. What if one of the couples
weren’t married? What if one member of
the couple was in love and the other member just wanted out? It made the story
more complex and interesting and it was only a small tweak.
How do you brainstorm and plot?
And…I’m trying a new jump break (read more) feature for my blog to make it easier to scroll through posts (since some posts are pretty long.) Hoping this will make it easier for a visitor to my blog’s homepage to scan blog titles. Please let me know how it works for you. Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth – I can quite see the thought process of the boy and the remote, and your take on it – fun.
Interesting to see how you’re planning this novel, and the ideas that can be changed up or down ..
But the blog break bit – I don’t understand?! Thank you .. I’ll check back tomorrow – Hilary
Elizabeth – You’re plotting now in exactly the way I do! I start with the victim. As you say, everything revolves around the victim. Then I ask myself who was involved with that person and how/why that involvement would end up in murder. And so it goes from there. I brainstorm most often when I hit a snag in the planning process. For instance if my victim killed because of something he knew, I have to figure out how that victim would have known that secret. What if he worked for the suspect? What if the suspect got drunk and said something? You get the idea…
Love this. I don’t always start with the vic, but that is (if I think about it) the best way.
I mean, what if….
I’ve noticed several of the blogs I read are doing the “jump break” thing. One I know got professional advice from a designer to change hers because it’s easier to glance through and see what readers wants to know more about. I actually kind of like the jump break thing. Esp for the long posts. And esp if you stop right at a good place so I will click on that Read More!
Also, fun to read your What Ifs. Thanks for this post.
All authors stare, don’t we? Amazing how many people don’t notice :-)
My latest WIP isn’t a mystery, but there is a character who is similar to a victim- the action revolves around him, but he isn’t the main character. Thank you for the reminder that everything else in the story emanates from that.
I learn so much from reading your thoughts, Elizabeth. As writers we may know quite a bit, but it’s all floating in the knowledge banks. Blogs like yours helps one to pull the relevant info to the top.
I like your idea of a page of what ifs. Then analyzing them for the strongest conflict scenarios. If you get stuck, what ifs are also great with problem solving.
I’ve lost something here. Jump Break?
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
This is a very interesting way to write a story! I’ll definitely try to plan in this fashion.
http://www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
You got me thinking with this one, Elizabeth! I’m a total pantser but my last book wrote easily. I think it was because even though I still pantsed it -I kept it simple. It isn’t a mystery but it still has to have a plot. I just didn’t allow the several bejillion sub-plots to enter in. The one mystery that I’ve written all the way through (have another in serious revision mode) didn’t start as a mystery- or at least not a murder one – I thought I was just writing a regular novel (whatever they’re called!) but then a live baby was found on the rocks at Peggy’s Cove and then it turned into a mystery. The mother is found the next day in a motel room. Definitely though – in terms of the plot – I had to think victim and I did in the other one I’ve mostly finished. The first one is more like a person in the wrong place but the second is a complex issue as to why the victim has been killed and also the long list of suspects. So much fun. I’d like to try one with an outline – esp. outline light as you say – not sure if I could do it.
thanks for making me think!
Hilary–He probably would have been horrified that anyone was watching! Most of the time, I’m just looking at the birds at the feeders, but sometimes I see interesting stuff. :)
Ha! Well, I didn’t explain it well…I’ve revised the question at the end…thanks! My fault for using a techie term.
Augusta–Thanks for the feedback! That was the idea. And my Twitterific post is especially long…makes it hard to scroll past it to other posts.
Margot–Good point! Yes, it’s great for brainstorming connections…because connections between suspects and suspects-victim are so vital in mysteries.
Deb–I’m hoping that someone will tell me if and when my staring gets to be too much! (Am sure my children will…ha!)
It’s funny how important the victim is in a mystery…especially since, many times, the reader doesn’t even “meet” the victim except through suspect interviews (victim is already dead at start of book, for example.)
Teresa–It’s probably the *easiest* way. Especially if we already have a sleuth/if we’re writing a series.
Sia–Thanks! And I learn so much from all of y’all–especially when everyone has different approaches. I love having options!
I love using them for plot problems–listing as many solutions as I can come up with.
Oh, it’s just me being mysterious. :) I revised the question at the end of the post to make more sense. Jump breaks are the “read mores” we see on blogs sometimes so that it’s easier for a visitor to scroll down and pick which post they’d like to read.
Gina–Thanks so much for coming by!
Jan–I think it would be fun to see where a book leads you like that–especially cool that your novel turned into a mystery! Hope this method will work for you!
If I continue writing, the story I have in mind is a rather straightforward space opera – it will need a lot of what ifs to make it unique.
And sounds like you are an official outliner now!
I can’t look at a rolled-up carpet without wondering “what if.”
It’s spring – I love to see the neighbors digging holes. Maybe it isn’t just a rose garden.
Alex–I know you can do it!
Official outliner…that sent chills down my spine… :)
Someone turned me onto the jump break a year ago, and it was the best thing ever. As you said, it makes the homepage so much easier to scroll. Yes: What if? There was a whole panel devoted to What if? at ThrillerFest a couple of years ago. So important!
Great suggestions. I play what-if sometimes. Probably not enough, so I need to work on that.
I don’t use a jump break because it’s an extra step for the reader. But my posts are usually not that long, either.
J–Ha! A little “Rear Window” stuff there. Yes, if my neighbors are digging holes, I wonder the same thing, too. They’re probably wanting to bury their nosy neighbor who stares out her window too much. :)
Dina–I’d love to make it to ThrillerFest one day.
So far I’m getting good feedback on the jump break…..glad it helps! Scrolling my blog has got to be a pain with the longer posts.
HA! It is one of the advantages kids have, eh? Less logic to interfere with those ‘what if’ thoughts.
I love reading about process. When you can break down what you’re doing the way you have here, it allows you to repeat the *process* and aim for different *outcomes* which can make writing oh so much easier. And funner. More funner.
I prefer to have a very vague idea of the story. Very vague. I usually start with an ending scene in mind (I write romance so the end is kind of a gimme). Then I meet my MCs and start writing :)
Hart–It comes naturally to kids–and we non-kids have to work at it. :)
Joel–Thanks! It definitely helps me to put my process into words. Gives it more structure, somehow.
Carol–Thanks for coming by!
Ah…extra step. Sounds like it may work out better for some than others. Thanks for the feedback!
Jemi–The end first? That would be cool!