Comments on: Pinch Points and Turning Points, Oh My!

By: YA Indie Carnival : Fiction Pie! Recipes for Plot | Laurasmagicday

YA Indie Carnival : Fiction Pie! Recipes for Plot | Laurasmagicday — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:16:59 +0000

[...] that’s pretty much it. Here’s a great plot analysis of Raiders of the Lost Arc. I use a variation on this to help plot my stories. I’m not really into outlines, so defining [...]

By: Excavation Plot Analysis « Terisa Green

Excavation Plot Analysis « Terisa Green — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:48:14 +0000

[...] plot point, aka the climax of Act 1). Were we to go further, we’d also be looking for pinch point 1, the world-changing midpoint, pinch point 2, doorway 2 (aka the second plot point, aka the [...]

By: Deception Point Analysis – Part 1 « Terisa Green

Deception Point Analysis – Part 1 « Terisa Green — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:16 +0000

[...] first plot point, aka the climax of Act 1). Were we to go further, we’d also be looking for pinch point 1, the world-changing midpoint, pinch point 2, doorway 2 (aka the second plot point, aka the climax [...]

By: Kelly L Stone

Kelly L Stone — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:06:27 +0000

Thanks for such an informative post, CJ. I appreciate you laying out the various points with approximate page numbers. I’m going to print this out and save for future reference as I’m writing. It’s always good to have a guideline to follow.

Best,
Kelly

By: carrie

carrie — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:21:27 +0000

augh! what a horrible day to lose the internet! luckily I’m taking one of CJ’s classes…=)
sorry I missed it, but great article as always!!!

carrie

By: CJ Lyons

CJ Lyons — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:03:59 +0000

I don’t think you can wander too far–your mind takes you there for a reason. Maybe you learn something through the exercise of writing that draft that is essential to the next novel–even if it means setting that first novel aside.

Most published authors have written at least 4-5 novels, half a million words, before becoming published. I doubt any of them would have considered that wasted time–it’s all part of the education of becoming a writer, you don’t expect a brain surgeon to operate their first day of med school, after all

Good luck,
CJ

By: Laurel Kahaner

Laurel Kahaner — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:57:14 +0000

This is my last quest ion. Thanks so much.

Given that I am delectably likely to wander astray, how far can one wander astray and still return. In my first two novels I wandered too far astray to return. I realize this is an extremely subjective question and still I wish to ask you. any thoughts? This truly is my last question.. Thank you so very much!

I look forward to reading your new book.

best

laurel

By: CJ Lyons

CJ Lyons — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:49:26 +0000

Laurel, obviously this is very individual and will vary from novel to novel.

You know as much as you need to know…..and if you go the wrong direction during the first draft, well, then you go back and re-vision your world and story until you get it right.

No rules, just write!
CJ

By: CJ Lyons

CJ Lyons — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:47:56 +0000

Each book is different. As soon as I realized that Lydia’s story would be the classic stranger come to town story, I knew she’s be an “outsider” kind of character and from there it was easy to flesh her out.

I knew her backstory before I began writing, but didn’t know all of the other characters–I discovered them as Lydia did, in many ways

So how much you need to know before you start depends on how much you as a writer need to know–and how hard you’re willing to work on revising things if you wander astray…..

Hope that helps!
CJ

By: Laurel Kahaner

Laurel Kahaner — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:12:37 +0000

HI CJ

I’m still perplexed how as an ‘organic writer’ I can fathom all that is necessary for a cohesive novel where everything mirrors everything. I am lost as to fathoming how much needs to be known before the blessed dive into the infinite writing well, and how much can be discovered along the writing ways. I realize that the more the conscious mind knows about craft, the more the other than conscious mind knows about craft. Though it seems that learning craft is a once upon a time forever learning adventure…?

how much before, how much during; how much in re-write? And does this change with each novel, as you know more, less preparation or more preparation time is required? I did not realize, until now, that preparation and palpitation were so closely related. I will look up the etymology later. My internet connection is more off than on, so I am going to send this before the connection vanishes again .

your sharing with us what you have learned is deeply appreciated.

thank you

laurel