Trying out the plot grid

In my last blog post, I mentioned that I had heard about using plot grids to help guide the writing process. I spent some time working on it tonight for the Mack Hawthorne Project. It has been helpful in at least two ways so far. First, is that I'm thinking more about where this story is going. There's some structure to it that I was lacking before. I learned how to analyze a book or story in junior high, so that we could break it down and recognize the components of the story. I've never tried to use it to create a story though. I must have thought writers did this by instinct some how.

My realization is that I was being a bit naive here. People don't accidentally use foreshadowing, internal and external conflict, and much more to create a book. We can do that a little bit because we've grown up listening to stories in various mediums, but there has to be some conscious effort into weave it into something that is hundreds of pages long. I assume that this will become more instinctual as I get more practiced at writing. For example, learning to drive was initially difficult because I had to do so many new things together. Now I just do them.

The second way that the plot grid has helped is that it is pointing out things I'm missing. I had an idea for Mack's character arc, but no one else's. The same goes for my main plot. I think I know where I want it to go, but it feels thin because there are no secondary plots. For example, what's going on with Wes and Theo? Why are they even hanging around Mack? What do they want? There are a number of opportunities to fill out the story and make it richer here. The characters will be actors in the book instead of one dimensional sidekicks.

Building a plot grid is not all sunshine and daisies. First off, I'm using a spreadsheet. It makes sense to do so, since it is by definition a grid. But I hate working with spreadsheets. I find myself fighting with formatting and other stupid stuff. Second, it makes the story more complex, which is more work. That's not really a bad thing, since I think it will make for a much better book, but it's a slow slog while I figure this out.

All this has made me hit pause on actually writing the book for a bit. Instead I'm doing some more planning and thinking about where the story is going. This should make for a better book. Or at least one that I will need less revision on to make it readable.