The comic book chick

Plotting a book can seem an overwhelming task when you’re just starting out, but it does get easier when you understand various plotting strategies.

Here are 3 quick tips that could be all you need to get you started:
One: You’ll find it useful to analyse published books. Two: Decide on the main events Three: Use a synopsis as a plotting tool
Tip 1: Work Out How Other Writers Do It

Here’s something you can do if you get stuck: borrow some books from the library – the most popular books would be good! – and go through them while wearing your writer’s hat. Jot down short notes about what happens in each chapter – and also look at how the author ends each chapter. If the author is skilled, they’ll have some kind of chapter hook (something the reader wants to know) to keep the reader turning pages. This kind of analysis is quite fun – it’s always interesting seeing how other authors structure their books and get their effects!

Tip 2: Decide What You REALLY Need to Include

Not everything that happens in your character’s life is a plot. What a boring story if you recounted everything even in one day. Readers couldn’t care less about the myriad details that make up most of our lives. Do you really want to know what the character eats, how he eats, what toothpaste he uses, where he keeps his car keys, etc etc.. .all of these things are part of his life, but they’re (mostly) not part of your book’s plot.

Choose the details you include carefully. A plot is a specific collection of events that affect that outcome of your narrative. If a story event is not relevant to the narrative – pluck it out.

Tip 3: Write a Synopsis First

It helps to write a synopsis of the story before you start. (Yes, I know that lots of you like to ‘just let it all flow’ and you don’t know what’s going to happen next. Hmmm. Fast way to write yourself into a corner.)

Use the synopsis to plot your book. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Your “planning my story” synopsis can be as rough as guts, actually. It’s just for you; it’s not for an editor. (You can polish it at your leisure somewhere down the track if you want to send it to a publisher.) But in the initial stages, just jot down the high points of your story. A lack of detail at this point is likely to be your friend – you’ll see quite clearly if something is irrelevant.

(c) Copyright Marg McAlister

People who are wide readers of “chick lit” will surely love the new novel by Jane Green, Dune Road. If you haven’t already known, Jane Green is considered to be the founders of the genre, and making it a big hit today. She started writing in 2000, and her novels, the most noteworthy of which is The Beach House, are in the New York Times Bestseller list in 2008.

Her latest novel Dune Road is a must-read novel for a number of reasons, some of which I will gladly share, but without spoiling the plot or the story. For instance, the story is set in a beach community somewhere in Connecticut. For this reason, many people will find it perfect to read at the beach during summer. It’s a light and easy read set in the perfect location for the perfect season.

Another reason is that Dune Road features interesting characters. The protagonist is a single mom working for a reclusive novelist. The novelist is excruciatingly reclusive and very famous, and has a number of followers for his work. When our single mom accidentally finds out about a secret kept by the novelist for years, the fun begins to start. It’s definitely one of those chick lit novels that will get you laughing at crying over and over again up to the last page.

One of the reasons why Dune Road and Jane Green are loved by a lot of people is that they, especially the women, relate to the characters in the book presented by the author. They could easily be you, or someone close to you like your mom, best friend, or sister.

The familiarity, humor, and the adventures that Jane Green sets out for her characters and audience is what makes her and Dune Road a must-read by everyone. However, the book is still set to be released next month so I suggest you get pre-order if you want to secure a copy of Dune Road.

Succubus in the City by Nina Harper is chick lit for the supernatural crowd. Think “Sex in the City” for demons. Lily, a 3000 year old Babylonian priestess, tells the story with lengthy descriptions of her designer lifestyle.

Lily is a succubus living the good life in New York. She tempts men with sex and then turns them to ash. Three deliveries a month fulfill her obligation to Satan, who is depicted as a woman named Martha, so Lily keeps busy with her job, accessories editor at Trend magazine, and her friends. Lily and her three demon girlfriends, Eros, Desi and Sybil, are targeted by the Knight Defenders, a group of hunters who are out to kill them.

P.I. Nathan Coleman shows up to ask Lily a few questions. Her name was in the address book of a missing pharmacist. Lily is ready for love and a relationship. She’s falling for Nathan but can he accept the truth if Lily confesses her true identity? And is Nathan really who he says he is or is he connected with the hunters?

There’s not a whole lot of action. Clever dialogue and smart writing are Harper’s forte. She does an amazing job of painting a vivid picture of upscale New York. It’s amusing and effective, but too many details make the story secondary to the setting. The shallow label-dropping demons are not that likeable and the chemistry between Lily and Nathan is lukewarm.

If you like lots of girl talk about fashion, food, shoes, shopping and men than you’ll be entertained. Unresolved conflicts remain but the scene is set for the second book “Succubus Takes Manhattan,” which promises more conflict.

Publisher: Del Rey (March 2008) ISBN: 978-0345495068 Pages: 400 Price: $6.99