During lunch today, I took Lynn Lorenz’s spreadsheet template and started (oh my!) doing a little plotting. I actually filled in chapters and scenes that I had already done on my WIP and will work on the future stuff tonight or this weekend. I can already see that I’m going to have to tweak it a little and do it my own way. Lynn makes a great big cell for each chapter, and I have trouble fitting stuff in. I think I’ll make rows for each chapter and maybe have columns in each row for my scenes. I don’t know. I just love playing with spreadsheets. I do want to pay attention to her plot points, though.
I remember when I was eating with Kait Nolan and Susan Bischoff one time, they were trying to explain to me that plotting didn’t have to be scary. That I didn’t have to lose my creativity. That I could still be flexible. Then I tried it and failed miserably. Did I do it wrong? IS there a wrong? Was I just not ready then? Or was the thought of USING A SPREADSHEET what sparked my interest? I don’t know, but I was all excited after I talked to Kait and Susan that time, and then I was disappointed that I couldn’t do it. I think maybe we should have talked about it longer, and they should have beat me senseless so I could have awakened as a plotter. LOL. So let’s see how my latest venture in plotting will go. I’ll keep you all posted. 🙂
Now for something fun. These are the guys we got to spend time with all week at the RNConvention in Vegas. Four of them were the Mr. Casanova contestants, and the one in the middle is a Hunk-O-Mania dancer and a friend of Jimmy Thomas, who was the creator of this convention. Their names are Justin Tatum, Michael Mecucci, Julian Mora, Michael Hendrickson. and Shawn Cunningham. Shawn won the Mr. Casanova contest. The guy is 6’8″ tall! And all of these guys are really sweet and friendly. You know, because it doesn’t matter that they’re GORGEOUS.
lauralynnelliott.com 
Clearly we need to get together.
Do you know how much I would totally love that? 🙂
Nope, although given that you don’t have to board a plane, I’m thinking that makes me extra appealing.
EXTRA, extra. LOL
I’ve never heard of using a spreadsheet to plot. I make a list in excel (so kind of like a spreadsheet), but it just goes in a list format of what I think needs to go in each scene, then I “check” them off as I write them.
I’d be curious to see what other ways there are to do that.
By the way, I used to be a panther 100% but as I’ve written more books, I’ve become more of a plotter and I think it helps keep me focused. LOL
If you’re using excel, you’re doing a spreadsheet. It doesn’t have to be about numbers. LOL.
I’ve found that writing horror, suspense, or mystery is a lot harder than writing romance (for me). The plots are usually more complicated, so plotting seems to be a necessity. I’m trying not to let my current WIP turn into a mess where I don’t know where it’s going.
I’m an Excel geek, too! Highlight your key plot points in hot pink, or something, so you see what blanks you have to fill. Finish a scene, fill in a different “celebratory” color, like bright purple or something. There’s no “wrong” way to do it–just a “right” way for you. I learned that the hard way. 🙂
Good ideas, Cate!
I find it interesting that no one commented on the picture of the guys. I want to make it clear to everyone that this convention wasn’t a bunch of man-crazy women who were there for the sole purpose of ogling these guys. The men were there for a contest, then to have photo shoots so there would be pictures available for book covers. I just don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about this professional, educational convention. 🙂
I don’t use a spreadsheet to plot out a novel; I have a ton of notes written on paper covered by Post-Its that begin to look like Lego blocks trying to build a monument. Somehow this works for me.
And damn those beef cakes, now I need to go do a million sit-ups and not eat anything this weekend 😉
I have to use my computer. I don’t do well with written notes. LOL
Hee hee. Even I felt intimidated by them, and I’m a girl. 🙂
Oh I’m with you on plotting. I keep on trying, but beyond writing a premise and getting GMC straight, I’m stuck. Those guys look a bit too muscly for me, but I love Vegas and these guys are buff! 🙂
I had lunch with Susan Bischoff yesterday, and she really helped me get focused on things and explained some plotting strategies. I’m ready, I think!
I don’t like guys who are TOO pumped up because I’m not into the major body building stuff. But these guys are just about right in my opinion. LOL. Hubby just rolls his eyes.
Ha, my hubs switches off completely when I even mention writing or my books or publishing. Kind of like me when he starts a sentence with, “The golf’s on later and….” 😀 I’m reading about plotting now and trying… BUT only because I see its value (if I even get my head around it). 🙂
I can only write down a few notes for what will come in the next chapter or two of a book. I don’t think I’ll ever be a big plotter. The panster thing is still the way I do things, especially since my characters change things on me at a moment’s notice. 😀 With genres other than romance, though, I have had more success in plotting.
Nice picture of the guys. My favorite is the one on the far right. He looks like the guy next door type and I love that type. hehe
I can pants just fine in romance, but since I’m venturing into other things, it seems that I need more structure. Especially with complicated plots. I think I might end up being a combo pantser/plotter. LOL
That’s Shawn. He’s the one who won the Mr. Casanova contest. He’s really nice, seems a lot more serious than the other guys. And he’s 6’8″ tall!
Ha! Here, is was the method of plotting that was turning you off….did you know before this that you had *spreadsheet-love*? Or is this a new finding?
…well…glad you are excited about your writing…whether is is pantsed or plotted! 🙂 Have a great week, Lauralynn.
Oh, I KNEW I loved spreadsheets. I use them all the time in my full time job. I just never thought about using them to plot. LOL