Saturday, February 25, 2012

Staying Afloat

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/83014

For my final ICL assignment, I chose to begin a middle grade novel. 

About two weeks in, this feels as though I’ve jumped into a raging river and the current is carrying me toward some dangerous frontier. According to the prevailing metaphors and puns, I’m supposed to be “steering a craft.” If I’m in a boat at all, it just may be the bark of folly!

I’m most afraid of the monster beneath the surface: plot. Coming up with a viable plot seems so easy. Many agree there are only three: (wo)man vs. (wo)man, (wo)man vs. nature, (wo)man vs. God. Every story is a variation on one of these.

By now I’ve heard and read thousands of stories. I know what makes a good story. But that doesn’t mean I can write one.

Maybe I will drown in this river, dragged down by the plot monster or by some snag invisible from the sparkling surface. Or maybe (not likely) I’ll dog-paddle my way to shore, shake it off, and curl up in my warm and dry doghouse. 

Probably, I’ll just tread water for a while.

Have you noticed progress tends to come in quantum leaps? That you seem to be at a standstill, and then suddenly, you reach a higher level of skill and confidence?

6 comments:

  1. Hi, I've popped over from Out on a Limb. I love your dog picture but just wanted to reassure you that if you fall off that raft and start floundering in the depths of plot, you won't be on your own. There are lots of us flailing around down here, rising up and gasping for air before being pulled down again.

    We seem to have a lot in common so I thought I'd follow you. ;-)

    http://rosalindadam.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks so much for the reassurance, Rosalind. And it's great to have a follower from across the pond.

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  2. The picture rocks. I love the moment of "breakthrough" when idea graduates to story. That rush is what keeps me coming back to the keyboard.

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    1. Leslie, I sure hope that moment happens to me soon. ;)

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  3. I constantly struggle with plotting, so I can appreciate the monster metaphor ;)

    Do hang in there. And while you're treading water, you may want to check out The Plot Whisperer's series on plotting. You can watch it on YouTube. It has helped me tremendously with my YA novels.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth. Believe it or not, I just found the Plot Whisperer a few weeks ago. Glad to know that she helped you. Please keep the advice coming. I need all the help I can get.

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