Plots & Subplots: What a tangled web they weave...

[cloudy]

I'm reading (almost finished) a book by Robert K. Tanenbaum called "Hoax," and there are so many subplots in this story that I'm amazed at his abilities. I'm almost at the end, so I'm beginning to see where all the subplots are finally tying together.

My point?

How do they do that? How do they keep track of them all, and have them all make perfect sense?

I feel very un-talented at the moment.

 

[Liar]

I'm reading (almost finished) a book by Robert K. Tanenbaum called "Hoax," and there are so many subplots in this story that I'm amazed at his abilities. I'm almost at the end, so I'm beginning to see where all the subplots are finally tying together.

My point?

How do they do that? How do they keep track of them all, and have them all make perfect sense?

I feel very un-talented at the moment.

I wrote a novel once that had 28 different subplots going on, and all were tied up neatly in the end.

The problem? 26 of them were droll, trite and boring (but still nessecary for the story so I couldn't just cut them out), so the whole thing sucked pretty bad.

#L, untalented in a different way

 

[Samandiriel]

I love being blown away by other people's genius, it makes me want to poke myself hard and get motivated to the same.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I love being blown away by other people's genius, it makes me want to poke myself hard and get motivated to the same.

Shouldn't be a problem for you, Ms. Cliterfingera Pokesawholelot.

 

[carsonshepherd]

they have a really good editor who helps them wrap everything up.

You think these people write like this in first drafts? No WAY! they struggle just like we do... they just have someone paid to help them. You'd be just as talented if you had a professional handholder too



( to my handholder)

 

[Samandiriel]

Shouldn't be a problem for you, Ms. Cliterfingera Pokesawholelot.

Flatterer.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

they have a really good editor who helps them wrap everything up.

You think these people write like this in first drafts? No WAY! they struggle just like we do... they just have someone paid to help them. You'd be just as talented if you had a professional handholder too



( to my handholder)

Not to over-shadow the fact that many of these authors are quite good, if not excellently talented, in their own right.

Q_C

 

[carsonshepherd]

yah... it's hard to keep up with every subplot while in the process of drafting though... I used to be able to do it alone, before I hit 30 - now my mind has gone to crap and I need my handholder, as well as paper notes.

 

[Guest]

yah... it's hard to keep up with every subplot while in the process of drafting though... I used to be able to do it alone, before I hit 30 - now my mind has gone to crap and I need my handholder, as well as paper notes.

i could take this one post and turn it into something so far afield...
but i wont
cuz i likes ya.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

yah... it's hard to keep up with every subplot while in the process of drafting though... I used to be able to do it alone, before I hit 30 - now my mind has gone to crap and I need my handholder, as well as paper notes.

I'm not even thirty yet (another 2 months before I turn 28) and I've never been able to do it. Feel lucky, Carson. Meaning "feel blessed" not "grope Lucky-eleven."

Q_C

 

[Guest]

Organization.

I'm not the 'fly by your pants' sort of writer as so many others seem to be. I blame it on too many esspressos, laziness, and porn for those gaps in right brain, long term memory. It's good to keep those subplots, character profiles, and chapter outlines.

I'm a shareware slut so I recommend, Keynotes for any bit o' important info for your story you don't want to forget.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Organization.

I'm not the 'fly by your pants' sort of writer as so many others seem to be. I blame it on too many esspressos, laziness, and porn for those gaps in right brain, long term memory. It's good to keep those subplots, character profiles, and chapter outlines.

I'm a shareware slut so I recommend, Keynotes for any bit o' important info for your story you don't want to forget.

that looks waaaaaay too complicated for me

i just have a friend with a scarily accurate memory who not only keeps track of my subplots, but also sends me emails of what I've told her I'm planning for the next chapter. she's my little human recorder

(and if I ever sell this novel she'll probably want a salary...)

 

[Guest]

that looks waaaaaay too complicated for me

i just have a friend with a scarily accurate memory who not only keeps track of my subplots, but also sends me emails of what I've told her I'm planning for the next chapter. she's my little human recorder

(and if I ever sell this novel she'll probably want a salary...)

haha. I have a human recorder too, but as such, its stuck on 'where's that next chapter, jackass?'

 

[carsonshepherd]

I have one of those too - I call that one my slave driver. *looks around nervously to make sure he didn't hear that...*

 

[Guest]

I need one of those to whip my complacent, lazy ass. Perhaps then I'd actually use that Keynote software instead of pimping it.

 

[carsonshepherd]

ass whipping, eh....? my specialty

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Has anyone here ever read a book called "Infinite Jest"?

 

[Liar]

I need one of those to whip my complacent, lazy ass. Perhaps then I'd actually use that Keynote software instead of pimping it.

I have an ass like that too. It's not complacement and lazy, just keen on reserving energy for the important things in life. Like procrastinating.

 

[4degrees]

ass whipping, eh....? my specialty

alright, break it up.

 

[Guest]

I have an ass like that too. It's not complacement and lazy, just keen on reserving energy for the important things in life. Like procrastinating.

Psst that goes along with being lazy

 

[Liar]

Psst that goes along with being lazy

Oh shaddap. Let me live in my delusion puhlease.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I can stop procrastinating any time I want. maybe tomorrow, if I get around to it.

 

[oggbashan]

It's simple.

Just draw a PERT diagram (you may know it as something else like Critical Path Analysis).

You have a line for each sub-plot and links at the points where the sub-plots interact with the main plot so that action 223 on sub-plot 6 must happen before action 125 on the main plot but after action 231 on sub-plot 5.

Sounds complicated in words and is very simple as a diagram.

Og

 

[logophile]

It's simple.

Just draw a PERT diagram (you may know it as something else like Critical Path Analysis).

You have a line for each sub-plot and links at the points where the sub-plots interact with the main plot so that action 223 on sub-plot 6 must happen before action 125 on the main plot but after action 231 on sub-plot 5.

Sounds complicated in words and is very simple as a diagram.

Og

I can't even read that without wanting to go back to bed...

 

[Celtic Princess]

I can't even read that without wanting to go back to bed...

You too?