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Filling in Plot Holes

    I started my last novel in the beginning of this semester, and this time I am writing a dystopian vs. utopian. A different style of writing was calling my name. Bye, bye, Outline.
    It was going great! Until I got stuck. I knew where I was and I knew where I needed to end up, but I couldn't connect the dots. I just had one big hole in my plot and I couldn't figure it out sitting at my keyboard. So, I got off my laptop and brainstormed. I found a surprisingly helpful way to fill those holes.

Locate the problem: For me, I knew point "A" and I knew point "B," but how to get from one the next was slipping my mind. I started with what I knew.

     Athena and Silas needed to escape from Akmal, drawing just enough attention to let the city know that they are on the run. 

Puzzle Pieces: There were all these little things that I wanted to put in, or little events that I knew had to happen. I wrote those down.
  • Kastra is the main official after them.
  • Ico and Myla will be at Camp 9.
  • They are headed to Soloria.
  • The readers should know about supplies. 
Brainstorm Answers:  Find yourself some sticky notes and a blank wall, sit down, and start piecing together a solution.Write new notes. Tare others to shreds. Move events around. Look at a new perspective. Eventually, you fill the hole.

      I came up with motorcycles for transportation out of the city. (grab supplies right before leaving) A news report on TV screens around the city. (reveal Kastra and Camp 9) A computer inside the motorcycle. Maybe I could name it Radon.

You see how it goes? A massive amounts of random ideas slowly generates into the few puzzle pieces you need.

Have you done a similar process to fill holes? Does it work? What are some things that you find help the best?

Comments

  1. Victoria Grace Howell4/11/13, 8:52 PM

    Nice post. :) I find taking a break and sitting out side and listening to music helps get my brain juices flowing. I like your blog design. I do like owls. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alyson Schroll4/11/13, 9:13 PM

      Taking a break does a world of wonders : )

      Delete

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