Plotz

Gabriel & Fungus
Originally uploaded by Tokyorosa

It's been a long time since I've written any fiction. A long time. And recently, I signed up with NaNoWriMo to write a 50,000 word novel during November. (Now, bear in mind that 50,000 words only looks like a lot of words on paper. --Get it? On paper??--But no, seriously: 50,000 words is more of a novella, really.)

But NaNoWriMo has some rules. One of those rules is that you cannot start writing before November 1. None of those words written prior to November 1 counts anyway. Another of those rules is that you can--and they suggest that you do--start plotting the course of your novel prior to writing. They want you to plan, outline, plot. Plotting is something that they suggest you do all the time, all day, every day. They just don't want some ringer coming in on November 1 with half a novel already. They want you to have a fresh start. And I'm all about a fresh start these days.

But I'm less about plotting. Ever. My usual method when writing is to sit down and see what happens. To me, trying to direct writing is like trying to direct lightning. Neither needs (nor needs to acknowledge) my attempts at direction.

And I'm perfectly comfortable admitting that that is an amateur's approach to writing. And probably a lie to boot.

So when it comes to plotting, I'm not so keen on--

But wait a minute. Let me tell you about the photo first. The photo is an old one, a little dorm-sized refrigerator-top composition of shiitake mushrooms (99 yen at Shop 99 in Higashi Mukojima) and a copy of Living to Tell the Tale, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's autobiography. (That's him, as a tiny child, on the cover). So that's the photo.

About plotting: I'm not very good at it, so trying to concoct a plot has been an uncomfortable process for me. (As uncomfortable as any kind of change or growth ever is.) I don't know what kind of ideas hatch into plots, so I'm not familiar with the collection or development of those ideas--or at least I think I'm not anyway. But now, I think I have a plot.