Creative Writing 101

Lesson 4: Plot Building.

Building the Forest.

Logical plot building as used in the Situation and Roadmap methods relies heavily on question-and-answer. Why would this happen? What is likely to happen next? The key to success is remembering that the most likely event is not always the best in plot terms. You need to find something that is plausible and dramatic or entertaining, and this means weighing available choices.

TAPPING INTO THE SUBCONSCIOUS.

The plotting method called "Building the Forest" is quite different. Instead of relying on question and answer or on logical progression, it taps right into your subconscious.

The subconscious is pretty good at plotting. You need only look at dreams! In most cases you can track a dream to its source(s) and be amused, amazed or horrified at the way your subconscious has pieced together events, fears and longings.

Sometimes a dream is a rerun of something that happened. Very often it is a pre-run of something you anticipate or fear. In dreams, your subconscious gets revenge on people who have slighted you, and gets revenge on you for refusing to face emotions and facts. It compensates you when you've missed out, and shows you aspects of friends and family that you had never considered.

Some writers dream vividly and often. Others find that their dreams run in adverse ratio to the amount of creative writing they do. If I stop writing for a few days I dream a lot more. It's as if writing keeps my subconscious happy, but when I cease to create it tries to fill in the void.

BUILDING THE FOREST.

Instead of springing from idea and situation, a Building the Forest plot springs from an environment. To begin a plotting session, choose a time and place when you won't be disturbed. Make sure you have a pen and paper (or your computer).

Pick a generic environment from the following list.

Blizzard.

Castle.

Cave.

City.

Darkness.

Desert.

Fantasy world.

Feud.

Forest.

Garden.

Island.

Mountain top.

Museum.

Office.

Other world.

Planet.

Ranch.

School.

Silence.

Snow.

Spaceship.

Undersea.

Village.

War.

Of course, you are not confined to these environments, but they will do as examples. Choose one that appeals to you or appals you. Or you could always try sticking a pin in the page. When you have chosen, follow these steps.

Step 1. Close your eyes and place your hands flat on the desk or on your knees. This pose cuts distraction and prevents you from fidgeting.

Now, picture yourself, or a character standing in for you, in the environment you have chosen. Concentrate on "your" surroundings, but don't try to imagine anything. Just let the environment fade in around you.

When you can "see" your environment, open your eyes.

Step 2. Without pause for thought, write down what you saw. Use your natural style, and write in sentences rather than point style. Write at least five sentences.

Step 3. When you have finished your description, close your eyes again and put your hands flat. Step back into the environment. In front of you is something that blocks your view. It is something that belongs in that environment. Now, "look" to your left. There, you will see an object that is not, and was never, alive. You are surprised to see it there. When you have seen the object, open your eyes.

Step 4. Without pause for thought, write down what you saw.

Step 5. Close your eyes and step back into the environment. Something living is approaching you. It is about to appear around the obstruction. When you see it, open your eyes.

Step 6. Without pause for thought, write down what you saw.

Step 7. Close your eyes and step back into the environment. Behind you is a reflective surface (water, glass, mirror, metal). Look at "your" reflection. Pause to consider the mood of the environment. Happy? Fearful? Peaceful? Uneasy? When you see how "you" look, and know how "you" feel, open your eyes.

Step 8. Without pause for thought, write down what you saw.

Step 9. Close your eyes and step back into the environment. This time, "see" it as a film set. "You" are there, so is the inanimate object and the living creature. A voice calls; "ACTION!" The scene comes to life. See what happens.

Step 10. Open your eyes, and write down the action you just participated in/witnessed.

At this point, stop to consider what you (or your subconscious) might have produced. Most people who use this method discover they have the beginning of a narrative. They have the setting (the environment), the viewpoint character/protagonist ("you" or a projection of "you"), one other character (the living thing) and an unusual object. You also have the first scene (beginning) of your novel.

It's quite likely "your" appearance will be modified to match or contrast with the environment.

This promising beginning is about as far as subconscious plotting can safely take you. A few people are able to "see" an entire story but most need to go back to conscious question-and-answer planning.

Of course, you need not stick to the "one object, one living thing" scenario. You could have a group, or you could listen for a noise. Whatever you do, you should find the narrative growing out of the environment.

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