K is for Know, Knot, and Kernal
or are they all the same thing?
I often use the expression 'A sort of Knowing' when I 'know' something I've never known before, never heard of, never read, never researched. I mean how could I if I never knew about it? And yet, suddenly, that 'knowing' is there, fully formed and in an unexplicable way, totally logical and practical.
It may be I meet someone, and I get that kind of 'I know you, from somewhere,' and yet at the same time I know I've never physically met them in my life before.
Story plots can be a little bit like that. At least for me, they are. They often turn up out of the blue, fully formed, but that doesn't mean I'm a plotter! Oh no! If I try to go down that route the idea evaporates into a mist of disallusions and confusion.
And what about my characters? They, too, usually turn up full of their own importance and determined to have their own way. I can almost see them approaching, huddled together in a knot of goals, plots and subterfuge. Oh, and don't forget about love. After all I am an author of romance!
With the third choice, I cheat, oh yes, I'm becoming more like my characters every day. They turn up and say one thing and turn out to mean something else entirely!
So for 'Kernal' read 'seed'. The 'seed' of an idea, given to me by my characters who then delight in turning everything upside down when I start following the seed they've planted in my mind!
Are you a 'plotter' or a 'panster' kind of author?
Who controls the sory, you or your characters?
Do you deviate from the original 'design' of your story and if so, what are the consequences?
There are nearly 1900 participants this year and you'll find a list HERE
18 comments:
Love your blog, Sherry!
I'm a romantic at heart; love a good romance story or movie!
Really enjoyed reading your post for day! Very intriquing!
I've only written and self published one book thus far; I was pretty much in control of the story line - character wise.
I never really deviated from the original design; I thought it important to remain consistent in terms of one thing relating to another throughout the book.
There are differnt scenarios, examples, etc. provided in the various stories; however the reader is always brought back to the main point.
Great post for "K"
http://bettyalark.blogspot.com/
i am pretty sure i control the characters---very interesting points of view!
Well, I am not a writer of books. But the stories I have written have evolved over the course of their creation. As with the jewelry projects I design, or other endeavors, I find I do not tend to have the gift of seeing the big picture/end result with 20/20 vision. It is trial and error, and I make a lot of adjustments as I go. I am usually surprised with what I end up with. Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't.
I love the word kernal, it really conjures up the image of the heart of something.
I'm a pantser! Through and through (and high fives to all the other pantsers on the block). My characters carry me through, they talk to me, complain, nag and witter on, sometimes I can't sleep. They only quieten down when I give them what they want.
Great post, Sherry. I'm a total pantser and quite often let the characters run with the story. Occasionally I have to haul them back but most times they know better than I do!
Looking forward to having you as our guest at Heroines with Hearts tomorrow!
Lynn Proctor, please will you WHisper that when you share it here? LOL My characters are having a hissy-fit in case I follow your example! :-)
Betty, Thanks for sharing your method of writing. I love hearing how others approach it.
Wendy, I know just what you mean and have blogged about being in the xone when involved with doing something you love.
http://www.sevennightwriters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/do-you-have-to-meditate-to-meditate.html
High Fives right back at you, Sue :-). I do object when my characters send me up a blind alley and then run off for days laughing as they go!
:-) Paula I'm looking forward to me visit tomorrow, thank you. I know what you mean about hauling the characters back. But sometimes mine are just too sneaky for me! LOL
I know what you mean! I feel like that all the time.
Sonia Lal, A to Z challenge
Love the post! And I'm a plotter, except the characters sometimes change the plot a bit before I'm done.
I'm definitely a pantster! Love your knowing, knot and kernel description :-)
I love the words you use. So creative. Thanks for visiting me yesterday.
dreamweaver
:-) Sonia, glad to hear I'm not on my own! Thanks for coming by.
Patty :-) :-) thanks for the laugh. (in a nice way!) You are so organised I cannnot imagine your characters giving you an grief! Thanks for sharing :-)
Thanks for your kind words and comment Deniz.
Debra, thanks for returning the visit. I'm trying to get to as many participants as possible and hope to make return visits again soon.
Thanks too for your kind words.
Post a Comment