tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post2435433469465716510..comments2024-01-24T05:13:06.164-08:00Comments on Not Your Usual Suspects: Starting in the middle?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286314155783213006noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-60787230400143347792014-06-03T08:05:22.108-07:002014-06-03T08:05:22.108-07:00Good question, Cathy. Probably not, particularly i...Good question, Cathy. Probably not, particularly if I'd tried writing it. Plotting from the middle could be an interesting exercise, but producing a fully realized scene like this one before I've written anything else, not likely.Ana Barronshttp://anabarrons.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-27897865860632611162014-06-02T21:57:16.060-07:002014-06-02T21:57:16.060-07:00I generally have the turning points plotted once I...I generally have the turning points plotted once I turn a fuzzy 'what if' into a 'maybe it's a book.' I'm not sure starting in the middle would work for a mystery/suspense since there's so much set up to keep the tension/pace/plot/subplots moving. <br /><br />Love your excerpt and that the game changer falls right where it should, Do you think you could've set everything in motion to <i>reach</i> that point if you'd started there?CathyPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671747592743029540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-61947517796623143142014-06-02T15:51:06.486-07:002014-06-02T15:51:06.486-07:00You must be a better plotter than I am, Rita. I kn...You must be a better plotter than I am, Rita. I know the beginning and end and have an idea of what happens in the middle, but I always have trouble with the "sag." Ana Barronshttp://anabarrons.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-39475087650591847482014-06-02T13:44:18.165-07:002014-06-02T13:44:18.165-07:00I feel like I KNOW the beginning middle and end be...I feel like I KNOW the beginning middle and end before starting the book. I'm just writin the fill in.<br />Don't think I could start in the middle. Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054306874904898496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-67817458063717391342014-06-02T13:39:31.157-07:002014-06-02T13:39:31.157-07:00I'm selfishly glad to know you two weren't...I'm selfishly glad to know you two weren't aware of this method either -- I always figure I'm behind the curve. ;) I think I'll try plotting from the middle first and then try writing the scene. Like you, Anne Marie, I don't feel as though I know my characters well enough at the beginning. But maybe doing something like this would kickstart the knowing.Ana Barronshttp://anabarrons.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-89039817251869056192014-06-02T10:45:50.459-07:002014-06-02T10:45:50.459-07:00Hey Ana,
I haven't heard of plotting from the ...Hey Ana,<br />I haven't heard of plotting from the middle but I have heard of writing the "good parts first." <br /><br />Those important moments of change are sometimes fun to start with--and help you understand what you are writing toward.J Wachowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184091482307217132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545210782126483136.post-61438429727355083662014-06-02T08:35:43.485-07:002014-06-02T08:35:43.485-07:00Great excerpt! I hadn't heard of this techniqu...Great excerpt! I hadn't heard of this technique and the "mirror moment" but it sounds intriguing. (And I'm always up for a new technique to add to my bag of tricks.) <br /><br />For me, I wonder if it would be tough to start in the middle. Sometimes I don't fully "know" my characters or plot until I've written at least a third of the book. However, the middle is where I struggle, so maybe I should give this a try. ;)Anne Marie Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603878676306179018noreply@blogger.com