The Invisible College Lesson Five: Planning a Route
May 21, 2017
Debate over plotting versus discovery writing, with writers describing meticulous pre-planning and spontaneity. Writers compare craft to shipbuilding, night driving, and reading characters’ footprints. Short archival readings illustrate how plots can be plotted or found through characters’ actions.
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Plan Like A Craftsman
- Plan a novel from start to finish before writing detailed scenes when you can envision it fully.
- Work out structure and control every element like a craftsman fitting a ship's timber.
Blueprints For Surreal Stories
- Know your plot in advance if you need structure; Angela Carter says she can show 'blueprints' for her books.
- Use detailed planning to avoid getting lost while writing complex, surreal material.
Discover Plot While Writing
- Start with a striking character or scene and discover what happens as you write rather than outlining everything.
- Let better ideas arrive later and adapt the story during drafting.