Sunday, May 1, 2022

What We're Writing: Jenn's Idea Machine

 



Jenn: Okay, I am in full plotting mode, and I really wish I had an idea machine. Some big metal contraption with ominous looking buttons and levers, where I could just drop in miscellaneous junk like odd lengths of thread, a random thumbtack, child sized scissors that are too small but I can't manage to throw them out, business cards of people I don't remember meeting, you know...stuff. I'd like to drop it into the machine, hit a button or pull a lever, and have it whistle and hum, clank a bit, and then belch and chug, emit a loud bang with a plume of purple smoke and then spit out the plot to my next novel in a neatly typed document, bullet points optional.

That's what I would like. What I have is a stack of notebooks, one for each title that I am attempting to plot. I have two cupcake bakery mysteries, a women's fiction, and two more library lover mysteries, and an idea that I'm noodling with just because.

I use a pencil when I plot because I do A LOT of erasing, crossing out, and occasional stabbing :) I will admit that I find it very therapeutic to rip out a sheet, mutter some curse words, and crumple that paper and throw it on the floor. It also entertains the cats, so that's nice.



This is the one time in the writing process that I envy the seat of the pants writers. They don't torture themselves like this. They just sit down and away they go. Me? I need a map, a plan, a general idea of where the plot is going otherwise it's rewrite city and I hate rewriting.

So, that is what I am doing for the next month. Any tips and wisdom from you, Reds and Readers? What materials do you use to get the ideas flowing? White board? Post-Its? New file on the computer? How do you get your plot machine started? 


42 comments:

  1. I’ve found that it’s usually a temporary thing when the idea/answer just won’t come. So, I put it aside and go do something completely unrelated to whatever it is I’m trying to figure out. Take a walk, sit in the sunroom with a cup of coffee . . . anything to focus on something else. Given a bit of time, that usually works for me . . . .
    [But I have to admit, tearing out the paper, crumpling it up, and tossing it on the floor sounds pretty good, too.]

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  2. I am one of those pantser-types, Jenn, but I need a bit of an idea before I start. As I'm writing, I plot out two or three scenes ahead as I go. My plotting walks, striding around the neighborhood talking out loud to myself, are hugely helpful for that, as is brainstorming with notebook and pen in the rocking chair in my office.

    In "Adam," one of the comic strips I read every day, the dad is a freelance writer. Lately he's had a little writing-prompts robot sitting on his desk. When it started to spout rants about AI taking over the world, he had to turn pop out the batteries. I don't recommend that robot, LOL! But you know those ideas will rise up - they always do, right?

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    1. That is hilarious, Edith!!!

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    2. Oh, and it’s me, Jenn!

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  3. Hi Jenn! Have you been watching Willy Wonka? Your idea machine sounds a lot like the Everlasting Gobstopper machine.

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  4. I'm good at coming up with ideas... it's the "and then what?" question that stumps me. And what I come up with often isn't as good as what I END up with when I get to the actual writing.

    What blows me away, Jenn, is that you can work on several plots at the same time. For me it would be like trying to carry a tray with too many teacups. SUCH a mess trying to keep them straight. Do you write that way, too? Multiple manuscripts at a time. Cue me running screaming from the room.

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    1. Me too, Hallie! One book at a time.

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    2. This is exactly what I was going to say, Hallie! I am in awe of all those books in your brain at once, Jenn. I do like the idea of a notebook for each big book idea. I would probably lose them though...

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    3. No, just one book at a time or I’d be sooooo lost!

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  5. JENN: Your plotting plan with maps sound great! When I was a young child in school, we had lots of vocabulary words to learn. We also had words to learn for spelling tests. I remember words like Pen - in - sula. For vocabulary words, I would try to create a sentence with the new vocabulary word.

    Years ago when I had a IRL writing class, our teacher asked us to look at the photos and create a story about the photo. I remember picking a photo and looking at the hairstyle, clothes and the facial expression on the person and writing a short story. In this photo, it looked like a lady was about 18 years old wearing a corset and she came of age around 1890?

    I love the idea of a plotting machine. It reminded me of the gadgets in movies from my childhood. Willy Wonka is an example.

    Diana

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    1. I love that writing prompt! I just really want someone to do the hard part for me. lols.

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  6. Sorry, Jenn, can't help ya--when I'm trying to flesh out an idea, it's paper and pencil and a wastebasket for me. On the other hand, when I'm really stuck, a walk, a dip in the pool (when I had one), or some hard physical chore (pruning the apple trees) could help clear my head. When I came back to my paper and pencil, I can either move ahead or make some really interesting doodles....

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    1. I find if if I choose a chore that’s worse than plotting - cleaning - the words come more easily!

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  7. I live in Ohio. The first of two primaries is Tuesday. In an effort to explain Ohio to the rest of the world, the NYT published a photo of the Ten Commandments billboard on I-71 north, between Cincinnati and Columbus, but they neglected to show the reverse side: Hell is Real. If you died today, where would you spend eternity?

    Plenty of plot material and the emotions to accompany it.

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  8. JENN: I thought you already had a plot machine since you write multiple books each year! Like others, a walk helps me when I'm stuck.
    BTW, has anyone else had problems posting on Blogger today? I had to switch to my phone since the JRW banner was blocking the comments field on my laptop. The Blogger weirdness continues!

    Off on a long Sunday group walk, avoiding the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally & other protesters in downtown Ottawa. Will be back this afternoon.

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    1. Yes, Blogger is being a weirdo! I have to keep retyping my name - le sigh! A walk sounds lovely right now.

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  9. You're asking me for advice? That would be like Peyton Manning asking me how to throw a football.

    I stand in awe of your talent, Jenn, even without that mythical machine. How could it possibly improve on what you already do?

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  10. You are amazing Jenn. I couldn’t handle more than one book at once!
    My books usually start with a place, then a person, and a theme. And an idea what might go wrong. Then it’s panzer all the way. But I use white board and post it notes for things we need to know and ideas that come as I’m writing. But I like to be surprised as I work!

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    1. This was Rhys. Google has decided I’m anonymous whatever I do!

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    2. As are you, Anonymous Rhys!!!

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  11. Wait...this is different. What happened?
    I hope I can post without too much stress...
    (And it didn't even WANT me to choose Google)

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    1. Blogger is being a weirdo today!

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  12. Okay, that worked, but now I have to start from scratch to actually make my valid comment, which is...
    I don't have trouble getting my plot machine started. My trouble is keeping it going, and keeping from being distracted by other plots..."Ooo, shiny!"

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  13. When the muse is AWOL, I resort to mechanics: write the component parts on slips of paper or post-it notes and move them around in all manner of configurations. Something may gel as a story/plot or the process may spark something unrelated...but at least it's movement!

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  15. How many books do you write at one time! Frustrating though it may be, whatever you do is working - don't fix what ain't broke.

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  16. Good questions, Jenn, but why are you asking us? Go and do something different for a little while and it will come. Or start writing some dialogue between 2 unknown characters. Let the ideas flow. You know they will come. Eventually.

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  17. First things first: 1) Google or blogger thinks I'm me. :). No banners blocking me from responding but instead of the familiar box that I typed in, there is just a blue line, but so far all is good. Of course I've probably jinx everything so I'll apologize now.

    I have no suggestions, Jenn, since I'm not a writer. I will say your ripping and tossing of pages reminds me of my frogging while crocheting since I used to make scarves and baby blankets without patterns just an idea and books of stitches.... Yup, jinxed it. That little blue line is not scrolling very well. I can't always see what I'm typing. :( Happy Sunday to one and all.

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  18. If. Only. It makes me wish the jokey answer I've heard to the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" was true: Walmart.

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  19. On the road so just a quick note today. I love the idea machine, but I thought you already had one! You are amazing, Jenn!

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  20. Jenn, I love the separate notebooks! But I'd start with the book you have to write first, and once you're working on that one, you'll generate little bits of ideas for the other ones that you can stick in the appropriate notebooks. I do "story lines", columns with the main ideas, character arcs, etc. Put where the story line begins at the top of the column, where you want it to end at the bottom, then fill out what has to happen to get from the beginning to the end. Of course that usually degenerates into a big mess, but at least it gets the brain rolling! You are amazing.

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    1. This is a great idea! I really need to have separate notebooks instead of separate digital documents on my computer. It's good to have a visual. P.S. New Duncan & Gemma sounds wonderful.

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  21. Jenn, I thought you were the plot machine. You amaze me with all the different plots and characters and settings you can juggle at one time. I can't even read two books at a time, unless one is a non-fiction that goes with the theme of the fiction book. I'm fairly certain that if I wrote fiction, I'd have to first have a plan.

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  22. Oh, I wanted to add that Hallie wins the prize (well, there should be a prize for it) for the most adorable first of month rabbit/bunny picture today. If you haven't seen it, go to FB and look. Adorable!

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  23. Hello from the Newark Airport! After a crazy fun couple of days, I’m headed back to Phoenix! I’ll try and catch up to the comments when I get home. Adore you all. ❤️

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  24. Best of luck! I'm sure you'll get it figured out. (I'm just happy to know that more in both series are coming.)

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