PLOTTING

Plotting has become my new best friend. I am currently writing my third book and this is the first time I have plotted the story before I began writing it. I tell you, it is soooooo much easier to write when you know exactly what is going to happen next. The frustration of what to write is taken out of the writing process, and now all I have to concentrate on is how to write it.

I have the entire story set out in chapters in an Excel programme. This allows me to see any loop holes I may have missed, and any weaknesses in either the characters or storyline. Here I can also double check the pace and strength of the plot from start to finish. I also found I can write the story a lot faster because I only have to concentrate on the writing and nothing else.

I have pictures of my characters (images from google) set out so I can imagine my hero/heroine more strongly. I have images of body language and different situations that help me picture the scenes in my head more. I have worked hard to get to know my characters backgrounds so I understand them better.

This is the image I base my hero on, a divorce attorney set to find a wife that will complete him.

Here is an image of my heroine, a private investigator undercover as my hero's personal assistant.

During the plotting process I found the original story I had in my head before I began changed as the plot developed, it turned out to be stronger, more exciting for me as a writer and hopefully for my future readers. There is a lot more spark between my main characters and the surrounding story is far more interesting.

Her trusting relationship with men was blown to smithereens when, at the young tender age of ten, she found her father cheating on her mother with one of his patients. Then when she finally allowed herself to trust again, she caught her rotten scoundrel of a fiance with his pants down. No wonder she has a closed-off reaction to all males.