plot – Confabulator Cafe

Dreams: The Free-loading Bitches Who Won’t Help Me Write

Larry Jenkins - June 3, 2013

For whatever reason, my dreams refuse to be helpful. I know there are some authors who claim they get brilliant ideas from dreams. I don’t necessarily hate those people, but I haven’t met them in person either, so I’m not prepared to say we’d be friends. I’ve also read at least one article that recommended […]

Lead and I Will Follow; Meander and I Will Say F*@k Off

Larry Jenkins - August 20, 2012

My family and I recently relocated to Virginia, and as a result, we’re working through a lot of necessary changes. One of those is the search for a local writing/critique group, so I don’t go crazy from lack of human contact. (I work from home and easily lose track of time. So unless I have […]

Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

Aspen Junge - March 24, 2012

One of the annoying aspects of writing for a government is that usually there are plots, but no characters, main or otherwise. In fact, there are often no subjects in the sentences. Things happen, events unfold spontaneously. Objects are acted upon by mysterious forces, perhaps deployed by black helicopters. The passive voice is used excessively. […]

Which is more important to you: plot or character?

Paul Swearingen - March 24, 2012

I can barely separate and prioritize plot/character when I write, as they are so closely intertwined in fiction. Nevertheless, I consider the prime purpose of writing fiction to be storytelling, so “plot” gets the nod, followed by character and then setting, also vitally important to fiction. By definition, a piece of fiction (novel or short […]

Plot vs. Character: Save the eggs; torch my metaphor

Nancy Cayton Myers - March 23, 2012

“If your story was a house on fire, what would you run in and save?” Brad Bird ~ Writer/Director (Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Mission Impossible – Ghost Patrol) Plot vs. Character? No doubt in my mind, I’d save the characters. Here’s why: character drives plot. The “stuff” of story, the desire that drives choices and actions […]