Comments on: ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS THIS PLOT… http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/ Noir fiction for the modern reader. Wed, 16 May 2012 12:53:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joyce Ann http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Joyce Ann Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:01:11 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-248 Faulkner would take a notebook into his barn, stretch out on the hay and write entire novels, non-stop. As many of you know, some of his sentences were paragraphs long. Hemingway would put a sheet of paper in the typewriter and stare at it all day long, without ever writing a word. And, as you know, Hemmingway blew his brains out. So, everybody be careful. Do what comes naturally and ask for help, if you need it. Faulkner would take a notebook into his barn, stretch out on the hay and write entire novels, non-stop. As many of you know, some of his sentences were paragraphs long.

Hemingway would put a sheet of paper in the typewriter and stare at it all day long, without ever writing a word. And, as you know, Hemmingway blew his brains out. So, everybody be careful. Do what comes naturally and ask for help, if you need it.

]]> By: Mike Dennis http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Mike Dennis Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:21:50 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-38 Dana, I hope one day to be able to do what you can do. See comment #2 above. Dana, I hope one day to be able to do what you can do. See comment #2 above.

]]> By: Dana King http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Dana King Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:07:38 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-37 I'm frustrated from the other side of your equation: most of my favorite writers don't outline at all, and I can't work without one. They're fairly simple outlines, a sentence or short paragraph about what has to happen in the scene, but I can't write anything long that holds together unless I know where it goes. It can get there any old way, those decisions I make as I type, but I have to know what comes next. I’m frustrated from the other side of your equation: most of my favorite writers don’t outline at all, and I can’t work without one. They’re fairly simple outlines, a sentence or short paragraph about what has to happen in the scene, but I can’t write anything long that holds together unless I know where it goes. It can get there any old way, those decisions I make as I type, but I have to know what comes next.

]]> By: James Scott Bell http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-35 James Scott Bell Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:57:09 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-35 Thanks, Mike. Keep writing. We noir guys need to stick together. Thanks, Mike. Keep writing. We noir guys need to stick together.

]]> By: Mike Dennis http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Mike Dennis Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:52:08 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-32 You sold me, Jim. I bought your book and I'm hoping it will lift me out of the muck. You sold me, Jim. I bought your book and I’m hoping it will lift me out of the muck.

]]> By: James Scott Bell http://mikedennisnoir.com/once-upon-a-time-there-was-this-plot/359/comment-page-1/#comment-31 James Scott Bell Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:19:02 +0000 http://mikedennisnoir.com/?p=359#comment-31 If only there was <a HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Plot-Structure-Techniques-Exercises-Crafting/dp/158297294X/ref=pd_sim_b_5" rel="nofollow">a #1 bestselling book on the art and craft of plotting</A> out there that has <a HREF="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100237796" rel="nofollow">helped many</A>. One that had a chapter on plotting "systems" and suggested ways for NOPs (No Outline People) to benefit from a more formal approach. I'm not just here to shill (honest!) but to offer up a word of hope. If you just use some "signpost scenes" you can be "seat of the pants" between them. From there, you'll find it easier to do more outlining, even if it's just a "rolling outline," sort of two or three chapters ahead as you go along. Good luck! If only there was a #1 bestselling book on the art and craft of plotting out there that has helped many. One that had a chapter on plotting “systems” and suggested ways for NOPs (No Outline People) to benefit from a more formal approach.

I’m not just here to shill (honest!) but to offer up a word of hope. If you just use some “signpost scenes” you can be “seat of the pants” between them. From there, you’ll find it easier to do more outlining, even if it’s just a “rolling outline,” sort of two or three chapters ahead as you go along. Good luck!

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