Plot Board

Per a request in the comments of a recent post, I'm going to give a few details on the plot board I'm creating...have really almost finished creating. I got the idea from Diana P. (can't find her post right now) and read a really good description of how it works on Roxanne St. Claire's site.

Basically, you buy a pack of multi-colored Post-its and assign one for each of the different plotlines in your book (romance, suspense, subplot, inner conflict...whatever). Then you get yourself a posterboard or foam board or something sizable on which to tack on the Post-its, divide it into squares or blocks, one for each scene, and then write down the specifics of each plot element that is changed/adjusted/tweaked in that particular scene, and then afix the Post-it to the square. That way, you get a visual of the entire book and all its elements, complete with colorful tracking of where each plotline is developed. (If it's working right, all the colors should pretty much balance out). If scenes need to be changed, you can mix the plot points up on the board and see visually how it'll work...really get the 'big picture'.

I started mine after my first draft was already done, and I think that is probably the way I'll go on. It makes for a great review--it takes me so long to get a book written that I find I forget everything that happens in the interim. Plus, I can see which scenes need to be trimmed, beefed up, or rearranged. It's a little bit of time investment, but I think it's been worth it--it's even better helped me get a handle on my Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, which was in my mind after reading Deb Dixon's book.

So that's it, in a nutshell. Plot boards: Two thumbs up, highly recommended.