tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post8072897273977714302..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: House of PlotsJosh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-55708925009926980062020-01-20T18:14:18.439-08:002020-01-20T18:14:18.439-08:00Thank you, Liz. I think the three-legged stool ana...Thank you, Liz. I think the three-legged stool analogy is a good one. And the three elements you name, plot, character and writing are good legs of the stool. Also, a puzzle is great but, as you say, without a character you’re interested in or care about, what’s the point really? As for characters bursing full-blown from your head, more power to you. I think sometimes things can get way to pedantic in writing classes/workshops.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-85221000083428379712020-01-20T07:34:46.027-08:002020-01-20T07:34:46.027-08:00Excellent distinction between plot and story, Paul...Excellent distinction between plot and story, Paul. I'll have to remember that one—and keep 'em straight. ;) I agree about needing all the elements. I like to think of a three-legged stool that the story (ie short story or novel) rests on: plot, character, and writing (or language). I'm a sucker for character. For me, the most clever puzzle in the world is deadly dull if I don't care about the characters. But I don't think of each of my characters primarily as "someone who..." though I could probably describe them that way. And I've always been puzzled by the concept of "building a character" that they seem to teach in writing workshops. What does it say about me if I admit that my characters burst full-blown from my head like Athena from Zeus's forehead? Hmm...Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-34234512202780227882020-01-17T15:21:13.073-08:002020-01-17T15:21:13.073-08:00Thanks, Lisa. I think you’re right, “story” is mor...Thanks, Lisa. I think you’re right, “story” is more intangible than plot. And Hemingway’s theory is a good way to look at it.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-15484478132964646902020-01-17T15:20:56.684-08:002020-01-17T15:20:56.684-08:00Thanks, Susan. Yeah, the cockeyed house is the sym...Thanks, Susan. Yeah, the cockeyed house is the symbol of both a house or a story without a good foundation :-) .Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-83041167821039816572020-01-17T15:20:39.195-08:002020-01-17T15:20:39.195-08:00Thanks for your comment, Mark. I agree. The early ...Thanks for your comment, Mark. I agree. The early drafts are fairly easy cause they just flow. The real key comes in the editing and that can take forever. And because I’m a pantster I go through a lot of drafts. But everyone has to find what works for them.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-89131449832288678032020-01-17T15:20:20.558-08:002020-01-17T15:20:20.558-08:00Thanks for your comment, Gayle. Yes, Aristotle sai...Thanks for your comment, Gayle. Yes, Aristotle said it pretty well a long time ago. Wish I had thought of using that. But the kay is really having all the elements work together symbotically.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-67172808207869071142020-01-17T15:20:01.687-08:002020-01-17T15:20:01.687-08:00Thank you, Diann. And it really is interesting how...Thank you, Diann. And it really is interesting how everyone approaches their work in their own way. I always enjoy hearing how others go about it. And I think your way of using themes and having things grow from there is a really interesting way to do it.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-65996334111088103622020-01-17T15:19:41.966-08:002020-01-17T15:19:41.966-08:00Thanks, Dietrich.Thanks, Dietrich.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-49363491922474916002020-01-17T15:19:23.922-08:002020-01-17T15:19:23.922-08:00Thank you, Jacqueline. As you say about Death Prom...Thank you, Jacqueline. As you say about Death Promise, lots of action, but the main focus is on the characters. I think sometimes people lose sight of that.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-4299351608307782072020-01-17T14:13:11.435-08:002020-01-17T14:13:11.435-08:00Another terrific topic Paul!
Plot seems like you c...Another terrific topic Paul!<br />Plot seems like you can draw it, from A to Z, on a whiteboard. The outline, if you will, of the story itself. <br />Story on the other hand, seems more like an intangible. Something you can feel, smell and almost taste, but not draw in sequence. The "iceberg" submerged underneath the dialogue...(like Hemingway told us.)<br /><br />Thanks much for this thoughtful column!Lisa Ciarfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11400993023093819050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-64546013417113216712020-01-17T13:23:02.991-08:002020-01-17T13:23:02.991-08:00That photo of the cockeyed house says it all. Good...That photo of the cockeyed house says it all. Good post.Susan C Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18225627756540127032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-85548794051586155432020-01-17T13:16:02.736-08:002020-01-17T13:16:02.736-08:00By the time I sit down to write, I have spent coun...By the time I sit down to write, I have spent countless hours thinking about the story while conducting research. From there it's a matter of letting my subconscious write the story, and I don't stop until it's finished. The editing is where I seek discrepancies by taking notes and reading everything aloud. To put things in perspective, I can write a novel in two months, but it takes another six to ten months to produce a finished product. This process doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-3331037251502041502020-01-17T10:26:47.859-08:002020-01-17T10:26:47.859-08:00I took a class on Aristotle in college. In his boo...I took a class on Aristotle in college. In his book, The Poetics, he said there were five basic elements in writing: plot, character, dialogue, setting, and the meaning of the piece. He thought plot was the most important because without a plot you have no foundation, just like you have said in your post. But all the elements had to work together. My book, The Anatomy of a Short Story, uses that premise to teach just those points. And as you point out, your stories have followed that plan marvelously. It's simple... But still takes skill and planning to make all those pieces fit so the story doesn't collapse. Thanks for your post.GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-14424055127732601772020-01-17T10:02:10.674-08:002020-01-17T10:02:10.674-08:00I always enjoy your blogs, Paul.
I use selected t...I always enjoy your blogs, Paul. <br />I use selected themes, major, to create both my story and plot. The core need of each of the characters is derived from those themes, thus creating the minor themes. Isn’t it interesting how we all approach storytelling in different ways? 😯<br />Congrats on the new book. I look forward to reading it.<br /><br />DjDj Adamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142457149659532479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-72016635327035919872020-01-17T09:04:08.960-08:002020-01-17T09:04:08.960-08:00You're right, Paul. You need all the elements ...You're right, Paul. You need all the elements working together.Dietrich Kalteishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06403361738445161528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-11439560986202387862020-01-17T07:46:16.614-08:002020-01-17T07:46:16.614-08:00Paul,
Congrats on your new book! This is an excel...Paul,<br /><br />Congrats on your new book! This is an excellent blog. Some readers think that mystery and crime fiction is all about the story, the twists and turns. But without well-drawn characters we can care about, the events of the story matter less. There's a lot of action in my suspense thriller Death Promise but the main focus is still on the characters.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.com