| The topmost "display" figure shows the first step of this idea generation and then narrowing process. The figure below that converts it to a Solar System for visual explanation. |
Workshop Title:
Plotting for Pantsers
3x5 CARDS
I've given you a card for both sides with the same sort of info
for each side in the Battle of the Wilderness here.
The nice thing is that primary sources are turning up online
now, as with copies of Lee's reports at this website.
I've given you a card for both sides with the same sort of info
for each side in the Battle of the Wilderness here.
The nice thing is that primary sources are turning up online
now, as with copies of Lee's reports at this website.
The first side of each card has the General's name in the top
left hand corner, and the Battle in the upper right corner. If I
was writing a book with characters involved in this battle on
both sides, I'd need this sort of information. And while the
hours and days of the battle will progress, and the Armies
will move on to the next engagement on the March to
Richmond, the Generals will not change, which is why they
get the upper left hand corner.
The second side gives the source of the information in the
event you need to go back and check it or look for further
information, or the copy editor calls you on it...or, heaven
forfend, a reader does!
If you were actually using books, this second side is where
the name of the book, the author, the publisher, the date of
publication would all go. Any page numbers would appear
next to the information they concern on the first side.
You couldn't group more than a single source per card if this
were a college credit class in any discipline requiring a
research paper, but this is for your own use so grouping
when it can be done is your choice.
left hand corner, and the Battle in the upper right corner. If I
was writing a book with characters involved in this battle on
both sides, I'd need this sort of information. And while the
hours and days of the battle will progress, and the Armies
will move on to the next engagement on the March to
Richmond, the Generals will not change, which is why they
get the upper left hand corner.
The second side gives the source of the information in the
event you need to go back and check it or look for further
information, or the copy editor calls you on it...or, heaven
forfend, a reader does!
If you were actually using books, this second side is where
the name of the book, the author, the publisher, the date of
publication would all go. Any page numbers would appear
next to the information they concern on the first side.
You couldn't group more than a single source per card if this
were a college credit class in any discipline requiring a
research paper, but this is for your own use so grouping
when it can be done is your choice.
If this seems a bit backward, it's because this section actually has the first
POV to show up in the Reno location written first, although Cherise is my 4th
POV and only used when information can't be supplied in either Thorton's or
Harte's or Yancy's POV.
This section doesn't actually have a POV for Yancy but as he is moving
through the scene, his part (as seen by Harte) needed to be detailed
separately. This is all about "bodies" within the scenes. As Yancy leaves
before the scene continues through time in Harte's POV, she's next to
appear against the time of day and place schedule.
Thorton's POV comes in last because his part is happening later than the
others as the clock ticks.
Things could be even more scattered in the future, but the heaviest usage
will come in Thorton's and Harte's columns as they are the two main
characters.
POV to show up in the Reno location written first, although Cherise is my 4th
POV and only used when information can't be supplied in either Thorton's or
Harte's or Yancy's POV.
This section doesn't actually have a POV for Yancy but as he is moving
through the scene, his part (as seen by Harte) needed to be detailed
separately. This is all about "bodies" within the scenes. As Yancy leaves
before the scene continues through time in Harte's POV, she's next to
appear against the time of day and place schedule.
Thorton's POV comes in last because his part is happening later than the
others as the clock ticks.
Things could be even more scattered in the future, but the heaviest usage
will come in Thorton's and Harte's columns as they are the two main
characters.
Examples given below are for TIMELINE, 3x5 Cards, Outline, and
Solar System. Scroll down to find the one you are looking for. Right
click on the example to copy to blank .doc
Solar System. Scroll down to find the one you are looking for. Right
click on the example to copy to blank .doc
Chap 1
A. Introduce J.W.
1) Date and locale given
a) Piney Woods, East TX
b) West bank of Angelina River
c) March 1868
2) Background on why he’s there
a) horse broke leg
b) killed a man in Lone Tree
c) escaped jail when someone else “rescued” by family
d) posse after him
3) Bit of backstory
a) was officer in Union Army, a gentleman
b) the war changed him, no longer a gentleman
4) Current needs
a) dry clothes
b) a horse
c) food
d) decent guns (lost his when arrested)
e) to telegraph Diamond (his sister)
5) Action to take
a) get on the move before posse catches up
b) lacking knowledge of terrain, head west
c) circling buzzards in sky = possible rough meal
B. Introduce Louisa
1) Rouses from drugged sleep
a) why she was drugged
b) who drugged her
c) where is her baby!
d) forces herself out of bed
e) damns late, unlamented husband
f) finds baby (Angelina) content
g) finds Widow Rosa (nurse/guard) drunk and unconscious
2) Bit of backstory
a) who placed Widow Rosa in charge
b) what happened to late husband, Frank Burgess
c) Angelina’s birth only good thing
3) Action to take
a) needs to fight off effects of drug
b) needs to get water to clean baby
c) water in well outside of cabin
d) hasn’t strength to bring the bucket up; passes out
C. Rescue
1) Kind action of stranger (J.W.)
a) damp cloth to cool and rouse her
b) carries her inside
c) brings baby to her
d) brings water inside
2) Description of J.W.
a) build
b) clothing
c) coloring
d) kindness
e) not the Santo Jorges she’s dreamed of
3) Action
a) dialogue between them: his
1) he complements her on beauty of child
2) he asks is she has a horse to sell
b) dialogue between them: her
1) she says husband won’t sell either of their horses
2) she doesn’t say that husband is dead
c) end of chapter
1) he looks out window
2) asks if she has a place to hide a man
A. Introduce J.W.
1) Date and locale given
a) Piney Woods, East TX
b) West bank of Angelina River
c) March 1868
2) Background on why he’s there
a) horse broke leg
b) killed a man in Lone Tree
c) escaped jail when someone else “rescued” by family
d) posse after him
3) Bit of backstory
a) was officer in Union Army, a gentleman
b) the war changed him, no longer a gentleman
4) Current needs
a) dry clothes
b) a horse
c) food
d) decent guns (lost his when arrested)
e) to telegraph Diamond (his sister)
5) Action to take
a) get on the move before posse catches up
b) lacking knowledge of terrain, head west
c) circling buzzards in sky = possible rough meal
B. Introduce Louisa
1) Rouses from drugged sleep
a) why she was drugged
b) who drugged her
c) where is her baby!
d) forces herself out of bed
e) damns late, unlamented husband
f) finds baby (Angelina) content
g) finds Widow Rosa (nurse/guard) drunk and unconscious
2) Bit of backstory
a) who placed Widow Rosa in charge
b) what happened to late husband, Frank Burgess
c) Angelina’s birth only good thing
3) Action to take
a) needs to fight off effects of drug
b) needs to get water to clean baby
c) water in well outside of cabin
d) hasn’t strength to bring the bucket up; passes out
C. Rescue
1) Kind action of stranger (J.W.)
a) damp cloth to cool and rouse her
b) carries her inside
c) brings baby to her
d) brings water inside
2) Description of J.W.
a) build
b) clothing
c) coloring
d) kindness
e) not the Santo Jorges she’s dreamed of
3) Action
a) dialogue between them: his
1) he complements her on beauty of child
2) he asks is she has a horse to sell
b) dialogue between them: her
1) she says husband won’t sell either of their horses
2) she doesn’t say that husband is dead
c) end of chapter
1) he looks out window
2) asks if she has a place to hide a man
Outline of Chapter One of At Twilight
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