Theme: Quotes from Authors and Bookish People about Writing
Third week into the AZ challenge and I’m cruising along on auto-pilot– so many blogs, such little time! I really need to make time to visit back and comment on everyone who has stopped by both my blogs. *No pressure, whew!*
Today on Amlokiblogs we’re talking Plot (I may have lost my plot, life-wise, but that’s no reason to stop plotting fiction now, is it?)
Plot is a literary term defined as the events that make up a
story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a
sequence, through cause and effect, how the reader views the story, or
simply by coincidence.~Wikipedia
I let my characters dictate my plot in my short stories and that has landed me in hot water with my novel WIP. I can’t help it– I get stuck if I start thinking of plot and character separately– let’s hope I can bring myself out of the corner I’ve painted myself into.
Here are some stalwarts of fiction talking about Plot:
“Introduce your main characters and themes in the first third of your
novel. If you are writing a plot-driven genre novel make sure all your
major themes/plot elements are introduced in the first third, which you
can call the introduction. Develop your themes and characters in your
second third, the development. Resolve your themes, mysteries and so on
in the final third, the resolution.” — Michael Moorcock
“All fiction is about people, unless it’s about rabbits pretending to be people. It’s all essentially characters in action, which means characters moving through time and changes taking place, and that’s what we call ‘the plot’.” –Margaret Atwood
“Once a novel gets going and I know it is viable, I don’t
then worry about plot or themes. These things will come in almost
automatically because the characters are now pulling the story.” — Chinua Achebe
“Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible.
To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding
of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story
themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.“– Kurt Vonnegut
~~~~~~~~
Do you worry about the plot of your novel? While reading a novel, do you ever wonder about its plot?
fiction is about people, unless it’s about rabbits pretending to be
people. It’s all essentially characters in action, which means
characters moving through time and changes taking place, and that’s what
we call ‘the plot’.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/plot.html#j9Rv8QFKpUUawgWx.99
Margaret Atwood! Lol. That's a dollop of truth, right there.
Lovely quotes… I loved it totally!!!
~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
The quotes are great. Thanks for the pointers and for being a host of A-Z.
Love the quotes.. I missed the earlier ones, but going through all of them.. Thanks for this..
Nice quotes…
About my plots. I know how the story ends; my characters know the way to get me there. A marriage made in heaven… 🙂
Excellent one!
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Earlier readers of my work told me that I needed to introduce the problem sooner, so I've been doing that. A chapter-by-chapter outline really helps me with plot.
I can't help being a panster. Anyway that baby looks a little alien-like.
I love that picture! Now my plot; no, I don't worry about it. As I mentioned in my previous comment, once underway I only have to be concerned about the number of diversions that are created. I do tend to squeeze in several, just to keep the reader on their toes.
I can think of plot but don't have the talent or the patience to write so I'm always in awe of most writers. Letting characters dictate what's going to happen next must be the best way to go sometimes, though you'd need at least a basic idea at the beginning.
Margaret Atwood never fails to please me with her words. Thanks for all the quotes again, but thanks especially for hers.
Some good quotes. Moorcock is pretty generous giving the whole first third of the novel for introducing the main themes. I try to get all the major stuff in by the first fifth.
It's amazing that the quotes in your theme makes such good sense. I have not objected to one, and doubt I will. Each offers a wealth of helpful information in their few words. I'd like to have all quotes so I can return to read when I need reassurance. Thank you so much for writing this theme.
Should cockroaches eat the pages – hilarious!
Love the quotes! Very helpful.
I'm a pantser, and I think that naturally (at least for me) means character-driven. I certainly don't have an outline driving me 😉
And yes, I've read novels where I wonder about the plot…as in, "I wonder why I'm still reading this drivel."…(most recently 50 Shades, but my sister insisted. She shouldn't make writers read that book…)
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014