Thoughts of a Mad Man

Another Essay on making an essay into plotting

If you do one it might be bad. If you do ten thousand, one of them will be good.


The same is true of plots. Don't like to outline? Because you prefer to fly by the seat of your plane? Sure, that's understood.


However, why not do a few dry runs every day, just sketching out the main points. If something inspires you you can then fill it in. Or at least have ideas you can then redo.


One plan for this is the Wannasoi Interrrogative Formula. It's a Madlib for plots.


I want to...


So I...


Fearing that..


Hoping that...


Instead...


So I...


Filling out plans like that, with or without that framework written out, opens up the mind. A lot of time the answers will be uninspired, but what happens is cause and effect. As you follow a character through their cause and effect, sooner or later you'll get a story.


And if you do it enough, you will get one worth telling.


Then retell it a hundred ways and you'll do it right.