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How I Outline Plot (Using 6-Stage Plot Structure)

Most writers dread outlining their stories. I don’t really know why. For every good book I’ve written, there’s been a nice, meaty outline. An outline consolidates every detail of your story and keeps it in a place where you can easily see the transition between scenes, chapters, and acts. My personal method has only 5 steps.

1. Create a synopsis for your story. Or just write down what you kinda want to happen. It can be pretty rough. 

2. Create a table in your document. I’m using Microsoft Word 2007. 

3. In a fresh document, divide your story into three acts: beginning, middle, end. (If you’re using the 6-Stage Plot Structure, assign the parts their names.) Here, I broke it into four sections but there shouldn’t be very much back story in your actual book at all.

4. Decide what happens in your story to start it (Mirabelle leaving her house), and put that in the first square of your table (the top square circled in green.) What happens after that? That second thing (Mirabelle hesitates) goes in the second square, (the bottom square circled in green). Pretty simple.

5. Continue filling in the squares with whatever material you have. You have gaps? No problem. You’ve got entire chapters missing? No problem. When you create a synopsis, or write your goals for a story, you tend to figure out your plot as you go. It’s normal to have gaps after that, too—filling in character sheets or just a good, ponderous shower can unlock the mystic gaps of your plot. Whenever you think of something, WRITE IT DOWN. 

And there you have it! Your book is outlined, and you have a temporary synopsis, too. I’m not kidding about writing down every idea you have, by the way. Whether you think it’s stupid or not, it could save your book’s life when chapter nine is just a glaring, blank space with nothing to say.

I hope this was comprehensive, but if you have any questions let me know!

xx

#text #fixyourwritinghabits #writing #q

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“Unless you are following the dialogue with an action and not a dialogue tag.” He took a deep breath and sat back down after making the clarifying statement. 

#text #lightning5 #writing #q

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I have to write an article about a book prize (where I was ) in my german class ( I'm from Germany) But whenever I want to start writing I simply can not force myself to write a simple sentence about this event ( it was so great and life changing for me) Is there any way to help myself?

Ah, the ‘I really need/want/desire to write this but I cannot make myself write this what’s wrong with me’ problem of writing. I suffer from this as well (whoops, cat on my lap, can’t write. I wonder if Gawker has updated? Hey, I need to download the latest Read It And Weep podcast right this minute! etc.), and it’s a real creativity killer. It’s not your fault - we live in a distraction filled world, and your brain knows writing is hard work - and you’re not alone. A number of authors struggle with the same problem, especially when dealing with internet distractions.

As someone who also has this problem, here’s a few suggestions from me:

Find the right background noise. Listen to old music - not new! - that you know puts you in the right mood, without pulling you out of your concentration. I recommend soundtracks, they really work for me. Try free programs like Focus@Will, Simply Noise, and Focus Booster. Having the right amount of background noise can help; if your environment is too noisy, use headphones.

Cut your distractions. Clear off your desk, pile things on your bed to keep it from tempting you with naps, shut off your wifi until you really need it. Switch computers to one that doesn’t have those distractable podcasts/shows to watch. The temptation to do something else will constantly jab at you, especially when you’re still trying to get underway with your work. Cut it off before it gets to you.

Change locations. This really, really does help me. Change rooms in your house. Go to the library, camp out at a cafe. You don’t have to break your budget buying coffee all the time, but you do need to shake up your current habits that keep you from being productive. Establish a place that you get your writing done. This might take awhile, because you have to form the habit, but it is so worth it.

Use the right tools. Too much caffeine, even if you drink it like water (like I do) can lead to a caffeine crash. Consider switching to tea or decaf.  (Try using honey, not sugar, if you’re not used to tea). Eat snacks that’ll give you energy, but won’t make a mess, like fruits or vegetables. Make sure have writing tools within easy grasp - paper, pens, paperclips, etc. You don’t want to break your flow just because you have to go searching for the right tool or spend too much time riffling through the fridge.

Schedule, Reward, and Punish. Mark time off in your schedule and keep to it. If that’s hard, or if you have a habit of forgetting to check your schedule (like I do), make daily To Do lists and ensure writing is on them. Reward yourself for making goals; small rewards for small goals, big rewards for major goals. Punish yourself for failing; add on chores to your To Do list, make yourself do exercises. Miss a major goal, clean out that room you’ve been putting off. Miss a minor goal, do twenty jumping jacks.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to stick to your goals, but there’s nothing wrong with enlisting help! You can ask friends and family to check in and keep you on task, help you with rewards, or hold punishments over your head. The most important thing to keep yourself going is to form the habits that keep you writing. Try whatever you can to find out what works.

#fixyourwritinghabits #writing

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Gale Hawthorne in the new Mockingjay part 2 sneak peek.

#oh dear god I'm not ready #thg #mockingjay pt2 #c: gale #fandom: katpeegal #p: hemsworth2 #liam hemsworth #gale hawthorne #q

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joshifer gender swap everlark [x]

#oh my god #thg cast #liam hemsworth #jennifer lawrence #josh hutcherson #p: hemsworth2 #p: my lady love #p: hutcherdamnson #q

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Liam Hemsworth + Woody Harrelson

“That’s what I like about Liam, he’s not just a pretty boy. He has depth.”

·“Woody’s like a little kid. Me and Jen always call him a Labrador because you throw something and he’ll fetch it. When he does turn it on, he’s got the most intense, crazy look in his eyes. He’s such a great actor, yet he can be so free and just have fun with the whole thing.”

#god they're precious #brotp #oh hey gabbi made this #liam hemsworth #woody harrelson #p: hemsworth2 #q

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#i love this so much #the duff #random celebs #funny #q

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#fantastic #c: steve #p: cevanchainz #the avengers #fandom: marvel #mcu #q

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Liam Hemsworth

Requested by Anon

#I really love beards #p: hemsworth2 #liam hemsworth #q

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#such quality #many colors #p: cevanchainz #c: steve #fandom: marvel #mcu #age of ultron #q

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Ladies of The Hunger Games I wish were included in the movies.

#this is pretty #fandom: katpeegal #thg #q

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the “I act like I don’t notice but I notice everything” squad

Taurus, Scorpio, Cancer, Aquarius, Capricorn, Sagittarius 

#yep #personal #taurus #these things are stupid but i love them #q

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i express all of my emotions by saying “fuck” in varying tones

#truuuuue #personal #funny #q

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#okay gabbi is the best ever #empire state #p: hemsworth2 #liam hemsworth #personal #q

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san diego comicon appearances july 2013 & july 2015

#how does he look younger now? #he defies all laws of everything #the curious case of liam hemsworth #liam hemsworth #p: hemsworth2 #thg #mockingjay pt 2 #q

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sdcc2015

#he looks like he's having some intense thoughts #p: hemsworth2 #liam hemsworth #jennifer lawrence #mockingjay pt 2 #thg #p: my lady love #q

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Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence attends ‘The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2′ Presentation at Comic Con in San Diego on July 9th, 2015

#my bbies #liam hemsworth #josh hutcherson #jennifer lawrence #thg #mockingjay pt 2 #p: hemsworth2 #p: hutcherdamnson #p: my lady love #q