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Without even thinking, I've created a side plot in my next ebook. I'll explain but not try to ruin my story's plot
A is the good guy who is assisted by B and C (who are the tg characters)
D is the bad guy. He's assisted by E and F.
As I write the story
C and F do similar work for their bosses. F is a scumbag who A has personal reasons for hating that person.
D is seriously unhappy with F.
D has a lady friend R (Never seen but often mentioned for the first 1/3 of the story), R dies
C and R are a similar type of woman (What type? Their breast size? The color of their skin? They both use the same mouthwash? They both give to the March of Dimes? I will let you guess if one of these or something totally different is the clue)
I've built this all up to the tune of about 68,000 words and the climatic part is underway when I realize
The plot I have set up has left me the possible subplot- D is attracted to C soon after they met while D tries to do business with A. C could replace F and be his new lady friend at the same time. C would still towards the goal of eliminating D (and the project he's working on) or not do that but this makes D more tempted by the bait that will be used to destroy him because he wants C.
At this point I can write this into the story without changing anything.
I've been working on a story for a month and developed a subplot without even thinking about it. Until today.
On a smaller scale than this, I've twice written little things into a story and then at some time later found out they coincided with reality. Namely the timing of a television broadcast and where a certain yearly sporting event was to be held.
Comments
Bloating
Well, one gets plot tumors while trying to explain things. You realize that this had to happen, that had to happen, and things progressively bloat. Before you realize it, you've included a whole new thing.
It's happened to me.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
I never knew...
…that a story could come down with cancer, let alone that the cancer could metastasize!
The Unexpected
Every once in a while, one unexpectedly learns something new: the Plot Tumor: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlotTumor.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
TVTropes.org
Cool! Thank you… I’ve been to tvtropes.org, and learned something else unexpected: that one can get lost and easily drown in there! :D
A TVtropes Comment
Someone (perhaps at wired.com) commented that he learned three things visiting TVtropes:
1. Originality is gone.
2. Nobody misses it.
3. You've just blown six hours.
TVtropes Will Ruin Your Life and you may well be familiar with the Wiki Walk from Wikipedia.
-- Daphne Xu (a page of contents)
Tension
Often in my writing process, I'll have an entire first draft written before I sit down and do a tension diagram.
When looking for the tension between the main characters, I will often find sub-plots and sometimes entire story arcs.
I like to write stories with 10K to 45K total words. On average, the first draft will contain about half the words of a final draft.
The story I'm working on now had about 6K words in the first draft. I'm in final edit and it is running about 12K.
Years ago I read a how-to-write book that suggested writing your theme on a post-it note and sticking it on your screen. Every word, every sentence, every arc, every sub-plot, every character should contribute to the fulfillment of your theme.
If your new sub-plot helps you deliver your theme, you should add it.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
tension diagram? Eh, what is
tension diagram? Eh, what is this? Sounds interesting... is this a personal thing that you developed for your writing process? I find myself having an epiphany while driving, watching TV or trying to fall asleep which results in scribbled notes to myself...
Donna
I've began a story, got 3/4
I've began a story, got 3/4 thru it, have an "inspiration", some up with the ending and then back into the the main body of the what I'd written... Go figure!
Donna
Here's a resource - the ending is everything.
Here are tips on writing... I hope they help
writing tips
Donna
It's not everything, it's the only thing.
…because it’s not the fall that hurts, but the sudden stop at the end.
Alphabet soup
FDR would’ve been impressed!