![]() There is a few terms flying around out there now where writers are now said to fall into two camps...are you a panter or a plotter? A panster is someone who flies by the seat of their pants when they write while a plotter is what I am! Here is a link to a more in-depth blog on this concept: strictlywriting.blogspot.ca/2009/06/plotter-or-panter.html I remember when I wrote my first book back in high school. I took it to my English teacher and asked for a critique. What he had to say I will never forget (partly because he also DREW it!), and I have been thinking since I start this latest project how to deal with it. He said my book was too flat. Not enough hill and valleys of excitement to keep the reader engaged. So I thought, ok, how am I going to change this? I knew I was a VISUAL learner (I will write on learning styles in another blog) primarily and so for me, the answer lay somewhere in there. I went looking for an app. for my Mac. LifeHack talks about the their findings of best applications (apps) lifehacker.com/five-best-mind-mapping-tools-476534555 I looked at all of these apps for Mac. I decided I didn't want the complications or the cost of some of these apps especially since my Mac is acting up so I went with SCAPPLE. I have found it just fine for my purposes. I found it to be a really EASY app to figure out, the instructions exceptionally helpful and direct and the versatility was great. A few small flaws I feel, like removing hard lines easily for connects in complex lay outs but other than that not bad! I likely just cannot find the easy way to do it. I used Scapple for everything in my preparation of the novel I am writing from doing character profiles for each individual to creating a tension/plot line. Many of my illustrations I blurred. I didn't want any spoilers! lol! You want to read the book if I ever get it out there. So here is an image, for instance, of my character profile. Since I am visual it is all about the imagery for me! I used the example of my old car as a character to show you a little about how I approached each character I created. As I said, the visual aspect helped me a great deal. I would also add a story line about how the character is involved in the story as well as their development since that is something I chose to not ignore. There is a column for physical characteristics also which I couldn't screenshot! Next I created a template of each character grabbing an image out of my photos or off the internet. I also blurred these. I don't want to be sued for copying them! I blurred the names but show how I edit in each for I am using them for. You, of course, may do differently. Some mind mapping programs give different sort of line connects but straight is fine for me! Here is a sample of my character tree as I like to call it! I make sample images like this of all my characters as I write about them in their personal character profile. This is my son Blaize so I don't mind using his image! I blocked out all the images however you can see how I look at all my characters and their roles. I can drag and move them around at anytime! I also make a tension/plot outline. In these I include both a setting image and then add these small images of characters with them as I plot the tension line along the plot line. I can also note the seasons, word count and make notes of changes or ideas as they come to me. Again, I blurred images so as not to give the story away! ![]() I have enclosed a larger over view of the lay out however it is of course, not the full layout! I also edited. You will see I keep a gallery of my characters at the top of my plot/tension line to help keep things straight. I colour code fonts and backgrounds to also help keep everyone clear as I write. I know I am not writing off the seat of my pants, however this method works for me. It means I can get everything down in the first draft and then go back later and know exactly what I am editing also! The bottom is the lowest point in tension and the top is the hight of tension. I can visually see how the plot is progressing and I can drag each setting and character around to any place I want. This method of mind mapping is how I do it and indeed unless your an artist, you may find it very tedious however to each his/her own!
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June 2024
AuthorArtist, Buddhist, Educator, Traveller, Cabinet Maker, kayaker, etc and now writer! |