tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post4660005638898919414..comments2023-11-07T21:12:19.852-06:00Comments on Wyrdsmiths: Notes on Plot (pt. 3)tate hallawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631759014508937940noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-30005437249331294752007-06-02T11:05:00.000-05:002007-06-02T11:05:00.000-05:00Oh, and on the cost front, yes absolutely. A goal ...Oh, and on the cost front, yes absolutely. A goal that as achieved without any sacrifice isn't much of a goal and a book or story (mostly) has to be about something big, whether that's internal or external. This is doubly true in F&SF where the traditions of the genre call for stories with lots of plot meat.Kelly McCulloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399122960869198042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-36381192838031315192007-06-01T23:37:00.000-05:002007-06-01T23:37:00.000-05:00Bri,Sure, I should probably have been more explici...Bri,<BR/><BR/>Sure, I should probably have been more explicit with what I mean by progress toward a goal. In terms of plot it doesn't have to be a goal that the protagonist has any explicit ideas about. In fact, the goal doesn't have to be a character goal at all. Plot is more a writer goal than anything, a place you want your characters to arrive at. Whether they want to be there or not is more a matter of what kind of structure you're building than something the character seeks. Does that make sense?<BR/><BR/>Oh, and thanks for delurking and commenting. I find that trying to answer questions helps me do some of my best thinking about writing.Kelly McCulloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06399122960869198042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32085591.post-90481779686407291882007-06-01T15:38:00.000-05:002007-06-01T15:38:00.000-05:00I've been keeping up with your notes on plot - and...I've been keeping up with your notes on plot - and while I have been lurking, I decided to venture something. One of the things you said rang especially true - that without loss there is not much of a story. Loss of dignity, respect, goods, life etc. <BR/><BR/>But what I wonder is - if plot is motion and construction toward a certain goal - could you have a plot of "deconstruction?" Could you have a character who reacts against everything and who doesn't necessarily develop toward a certain goal? The closest thing that comes to mind is Paul Newman's character in Cool Hand Luke. His conflict is against the "system," but he has no definite goal of establishing a better system. <BR/><BR/>Either way, I look forward to the next post!<BR/>BriBrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10337090157655667695noreply@blogger.com