Secret #2 – I Keep Plot Charts/Tables For All My Stories
Along with chapter titles that no one ever sees, I also keep plot charts. Except they’re not really charts at all, they’re tables where I keep track of my word count and write one or two lines about what’s going on to help me out when I’m in a hurry to find something.
I also use them for very short brain-storming session during the writing stage, leaving myself short notes about what’s coming up next. I do this for all my books, so this series isn’t particularly special in this regard. Actually, my charts are pretty scanty for most of this series. Probably because I knew roughly where I was going.
Some (edited for spoilers) examples include:
Sisters of Icarus
- Grief. Nightmare. Chores. Farewell, Icarus.
- … Cana sees much, but says little.
- Fox, Fox, Fox!
- Snowball fight! Love, kisses, promises, hopes. Crossed wires.
The Crying Child
- Cari is thoughtful. Fox is Fox.
- Catch a falling star and put him in your pocket, save him on a rainy day…
- … Cari still sulks – others are content.
- … Selkie delivery.
- Fox to the rescue! Well, kind of…
- OH NOES! I AM THE NEW ICARUS
The Icarus Child
- There was a boy, a very strange and lonely boy…
- Storm and goats. The magpie – yay!
- Family fun. Saekara and Ica and Morvoren. Love.
- A new face on the island. Hurricane Morvoren!
- … Selkie panic! Ica itches.
- … Save us! Save us!
And there you have it, another small insight into my writery habits that you probably were perfectly happy not knowing about.
Next time music! (I’ll give you a hint, it involves lots of soundtracks.)
Becca Lusher 