Now the plot bunnies proliferate...

[mochajoy13.livejournal.com]

NaNo'ing Progress—I have a plot idea! It's generally crappy, but at least it's THERE. It's not like I have one brilliant idea that I've just been dying to write: I wish. No, it's more like I'm desperately scrounging around for an idea—ANY idea—to write about. My strength is the writing, not the plotting. I can develop characters and write an interesting piece like nobody's business, but the preparation beforehand? The making of the plot and the outline? Heh... not so much. Character development alone makes a crappy novel. But that's originally what was in my mind: I had this wonderful character that just sprung out, Athena-like, but I have no idea what to do with her.

So now I'm trying to decide what's worse: no plot at all, or a plot that you're not entirely behind? I don't know. Here's a bit of what I'm thinking:

Motherless Girl (as yet unnamed) has a brilliant scientist father working for the government. When he’s suddenly kidnapped trying to develop the ability to harness time and travel through it and the kidnappers go after her next (maybe they kidnap her as incentive to make him give up his knowledge and then she escapes?), she’s sent off on a journey to find her father, destroy the device, and preserve her own life. Eventually, she has to decide whether to destroy the device or travel back in time to prevent her mother’s death.

What think you? I seriously need feedback. Is it entirely cliche? Been done too many times before? Above all, does it sound like something a Suethor would write? That's one of my biggest fears—turning into one of those that I despise. Please drop me a short line with your initial reaction. I could really use it.

Comments

[delordra.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. It does have familiar elements, but then, doesn't everything?

I'm also not much of a planner. Usually what I find works best is to go ahead and get a starting plot in mind, but focus mostly on the characters and let them do what they will. When it comes down to the plot I had thought out vs. what the characters would do, I always go with the characters. It's more fun that way...an incentive to keep writing so I can find out what happens.

[mochajoy13.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. It's so easy to fall out of interest with your plot—I, like you, often stick around just to see what the characters do. They never fail to surprise me.