#plot tools

[manicpixiedreamboots]

hi! i've had writer's block for months now but i've finally started drafting up a new writing project. it is going to be a collection of (fictional) memoirs from a lady in her 60s over the course of her entire life. i want all the memories to connect and to be meaningful. i've been using index cards to try to help me organize my ideas but are there any other tools you or other writers use for outlining complex plots? thank you!

Hello Nonny :)  

 Hoping for help from our writerly community for this one!  Does anyone use any cool tools??  Is there an app for this!? 

I don’t have anything specific i can think of other than  writing out, or printing summaries of  my ‘chapters’  and then physically arranging them. It’s a pretty crazy experience and takes up a lot of space. Sometimes I blu-tak them to the walls other times I spread them all over the floor. Having that visual and tangible element really helps me to understand what I am trying to achieve.  Might not work for everyone though. 

[thewritersguardianangel-blog]

The villain in my story uses one of the characters sort of like their secret weapon. This character is helping the villain against their will but I need to come up with a reason why the ability that this character has does not have any affect on the villain. I'm worried that the reason I've already come up with will seem too "convenient" to the reader. Almost like a cheat or something like that, if you know what I mean. What are your thoughts on this? Is it okay as long as the reason makes sense

Oooh. Manipulation. Always a good way to create conflict and tension.

Honestly, it would completely depend on the reason you have, because there definitely is such a thing as having a reason that’s “too convenient”. In most cases, sure, the readers will notice it but probably forgive it, but if it’s too ridiculous then there may be too much distraction and it can take away from the story.

Usually, the “cheating/convenient” solution is frustrating when:

There are other circumstances where it could have been used/could be used in the future, but it isn’t.

It is inconsistent with the rest of the story- i.e. some piece of technology that goes way beyond what’s established, or has greater implications for the world of science but is only used in this one circumstance.

It’s oddly specific- for example, a magic spell that somehow covers every special detail about this particular situation, no loopholes.

It could be used against anyone, but they only use it against this one person for some reason

And other such situations. It can make sense when you explain it in an isolated way, but if it doesn’t make sense in the story as a whole, then it’s a problem. 

If you aren’t sure, give someone the details and see how they feel about it. Sometimes it takes a second opinion.

~Penemue