So, the other day I was talking to my agent and she asked about my current work in progress.
A(gent) o(f ) A(wesomeness): You outline your books, right?
Me: Um, yeah, Sorta.
AoA: Well, do you want to send me what you have?
Me: Uh, I guess I could take a picture of it or something.
AoA: A Picture? You don’t do it on the computer?
Me: (Crap, I have to tell her…) No, I use a giant drawing of a dinosaur.
AoA: I’m sorry,I think we have a faulty connection. It sounded like you said dinosaur.
Me: His name is storysaurus.
AoA: Yeah, do you think you could just put it in a word document?
Me: Sure I’ll get right on that.
You see, when I was in second grade, Ms. George taught us how to write a story. She used the storysaurus. He was a dinosaur with spikes on his back. Each spike represented a chapter, and his whole body represented the story’s main plot. I fell instantly in love with storysaurus, and I still use him to this day.
And, because I love you–and because you probably have no freakin’ idea what I’m talking about… I made you a little drawing:
(If you click the drawing, it should show you a larger version)
So, dear readers of my blog–my guess is that you don’t use a dinosaur to outline our stories. (Although, you may now, because let’s face it, dinosaurs make everything more fun.)
So, tell me.. How do you plot?
Sigh, fine… you can buy storysaurus apparel here.
Have a Nice Day and Watch out for the Big Yellow Chicken.
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I do a combination of methods I’ve gleaned from all over.
There’s StoryFix’s four acts:
Set-Up
React
Act
Resolve
There’s Jim Butcher’s Dominoes.
Throw the dominoes on table.
(Turning Pt1 I)
Stand up the Dominoes
Mid-point – knock em over
Watch em fall.
There’s I forget where I got it of the Not-Arc Arc.
The story-line of equilibrium – up to turning pt one takes you way above the line, tp1 sends you crashing far below, then from there you climb up above the line again, last turning pt points you back to the line, and you end up at a new, better, slightly higher equilibrium. (It looks better drawn.)
Um. Yah.
Jess´s last blog ..ROSEMARY AND RUE, Seanan McGuire
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By Jess on 02.24.10 12:15 pm | Permalink
ohhh I like the idea of stnading up the dominoes and then knocking them over!
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By Jamie on 02.24.10 12:21 pm | Permalink
Hahaha! That is SO awesome. I might have to make a StorySaurus for my next book just so I can say things like, “yeah, of course I outline, I write it all on a giant picture of a dinosaur.”
StorySaurus is EPIC. And, really, it does show where rising action and the such should be. So. totally legit also!
Rachel´s last blog ..Things
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
@Rachel, That’s what I love about storysaurus, He’s both epic and effective.
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By Rachel on 02.24.10 12:37 pm | Permalink
Outlines are evil… and not in the good way.
I basically keep an ideas file, which is where I say things like:
“Someday you’re going to have to explain what that cryptic comment in chapter 3 means, so figure it out.”
or
“Right after she’s attacked by the killer hippopotamus, it’s totally time for some making out. Pick a boy, any boy.”
But I don’t outline. Ever.
I did write a synopsis of book 2 before I started… now that I’m 50k words into the book, that synopsis is FULL OF LIES.
(I cannot be trusted.)
HWPetty´s last blog ..Cupcake Day: The most holy of holidays
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@HWPetty, haha I am the same way. That’s what I love about the saurus. Some day I want to get a giant magnetic one then I can get dry erase humps, and write on them and move them all around as needed… this is my dream outline.
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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HWPetty Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@Jamie, YES! I really just want a writing office with a whole wall that’s painted with chalkboard paint, so I can stare at my story ideas until they make sense.
HWPetty´s last blog ..Cupcake Day: The most holy of holidays
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HWPetty Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@Jamie, If you make yours wall-sized, you could have A LOT OF HUMPS.
(Great… now I’m singing Alanis Morrisette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmYfVCH2UA )
HWPetty´s last blog ..Cupcake Day: The most holy of holidays
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@HWPetty, ohmigosh how have I not SEEN that before?!?!?! (see that right there? I just terrabanged you)
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By HWPetty on 02.24.10 1:41 pm | Permalink
This is awesome! I laughed so hard I almost spit coffee out my nose! Then I looked at it and realized it’s a really good way to outline! Me, I do it the old fashioned way with roman numerals & all that boring stuff. I like your way much better!
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By Heather on 02.24.10 1:51 pm | Permalink
Dude. I love you. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I think.
I don’t usually outline until I’ve got about a third of my first draft done. And even then, I mostly just make a list of things I want to happen. Part of the reason for this is that I rarely write my stories/novels in the order of how they happen. I’ll get blocked writing chapter seven, so I’ll go and work on the climax. I’ll be bored with my character in chapter 9, so I’ll get to the part where I kill him off in the end. Etc. I keep telling myself I should outline, but it just hasn’t happened for me yet. The storysaurus, tho…this could be the start of a whole new Emily.
E. Kristin Anderson (Emily)´s last blog ..Distractions are my friend. That’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@E. Kristin Anderson (Emily), haha storysaurus, making a whole new Emily since 2010…
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By E. Kristin Anderson (Emily) on 02.24.10 1:51 pm | Permalink
Ya know, I always call my WIP outline a “story skeleton.”
Now I’m thinking I should just blow it up like “the leg bone’s connected to the thigh bone, the protag’s connected to the…”
@jmartinlibrary´s last blog ..Flawless
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@@jmartinlibrary, see wouldn’t that be so much more fun??
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By @jmartinlibrary on 02.24.10 1:52 pm | Permalink
I love this. I may “steal” it from you. I’m a little confused at the climax being so far from the end. Seems like a lot of stuff after we solve all the problems. Or am I just totally confused???
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@Nancy the Romancechick, No, you’re right… I just am not so awesome with the drawing in paint
heh
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By Nancy the Romancechick on 02.24.10 1:55 pm | Permalink
Cafe Press is calling! StorySaurus should be on a t-shirt. He’s awesome! Plus, I kinda want a framed print of him in my office.
Shelli Cornelison´s last blog ..Sara Crowe: An Agent’s Perspective
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
@Shelli Cornelison, haha I would SO wear a storysaurus shirt.
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By Shelli Cornelison on 02.24.10 2:18 pm | Permalink
I’ve never outlined before, but I have to say that a dinosaur might inspire me to do so. I think I might have to have a wall-sized drawing though…maybe I could paint something like a mural and use post-it notes to label the spikes for each new story! My husband would love that!
- Liz
Liz Czukas´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday – February 23, 2010
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
@Liz Czukas, I so want to paint him on my office wall, but my husband might flip out a little
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By Liz Czukas on 02.24.10 2:20 pm | Permalink
Okay, I am an outline-hating pantser of a writer, but I think even I could get behind Storysaurus. Love it!
Linda G.´s last blog ..Just warming up…
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
@Linda G., yes exactly… the storysaurus LOVES pantsers…
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By Linda G. on 02.24.10 2:38 pm | Permalink
Storysaurus may be my desktop background right now. Just sayin’. xoxo
MeadowC´s last blog ..Parenting FAIL
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
@MeadowC, HAHA that makes me so very happy
Jamie´s last blog ..StorySaurus Rocks Your Face Off
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By MeadowC on 02.24.10 2:40 pm | Permalink
This is awesome! My students and I just did story-plotting and mapping to pictures like this. But I never thought of doing it for myself when I write! You are so cute.
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
@Krissi, hehe turns out the things we learn in school Do matter!
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By Krissi on 02.24.10 3:01 pm | Permalink
Wow. My friend, you are one of a kind.
I don’t outline. I don’t plot. The most I’ve done is make a timeline during the writing of what has happened already so I have a visual of where I currently am, but not where I am going.
[Reply]
Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
@gwen hayes, you might wanna try a dinosaur of sorts, just sayin.
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By gwen hayes on 02.24.10 3:32 pm | Permalink
I so love this! I am sure you will see the Storysauraus lurking at my house soon.
Danielle Yockman´s last blog ..Diet Update…
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Jamie Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
@Danielle Yockman, haha that makes me SO happy!
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By Danielle Yockman on 02.24.10 4:16 pm | Permalink
How awesome is this storysaurus?? Answer: AWESOME!
Elana Johnson´s last blog ..Writing A Query Letter With Voice
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 2:06 am
@Elana Johnson, storysaurus approves of this message.
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By Elana Johnson on 02.24.10 8:54 pm | Permalink
OMG! Storysaurus is awesome. I still use various techniques from grade school, including ‘bunny ears’ to tie my shoes. *blush*
marybeth @ http://www.babygoodbuys.com´s last blog ..Printable Aveeno Coupon: Save $3 on 2 Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 2:06 am
@marybeth @ http://www.babygoodbuys.com, haha I use the bunny ears too!
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By marybeth @ www.babygoodbuys.com on 02.25.10 12:36 am | Permalink
Plot? What’s that? LOL…no really though…I plot in my head mostly and in note form on my computer. Maybe storysaurus would help!? considering it….This post was awesome! Read it to hubs! Thanks!
Melony´s last blog ..Help me, Help you!
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 2:05 am
@Melony, haha I’m so glad he liked it. It’s always good when the hubses get to hear my post
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By Melony on 02.25.10 1:16 am | Permalink
Storysaurus is rockstar kind of awesome! I plot, all old school with pen and paper but I have nothing as cool as Storysaurus (why is there a deep male voice with an echo saying that in my head every time I read it?). Anyway, I just write notes, lots of notes…never ending notes. Fleshing out ideas, working on plot points, researching details, etc.
It’s so bad that the hubs bought me a livescribe pen so I can load my notes into the computer and search them to make it easier to use the endless notes once I actually start to write.
Rhonda Cowsert´s last blog ..Incompetence is NOT An Art Form!
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
@Rhonda Cowsert, see, I type SO much faster than I type that would never work for me
But yes… that’s EXACTLY how you are supposed to say storysaurus…
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By Rhonda Cowsert on 02.25.10 2:03 pm | Permalink
Also, I love this plot organization. It’s a tic-tac-toe board and it’s brilliant. I am using it for my next novel. http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-plot-or-revise-your-book.html
Jess´s last blog ..ROSEMARY AND RUE, Seanan McGuire
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
@Jess, yes I saw that the other day and fell in <3
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By Jess on 02.25.10 2:37 pm | Permalink
OMG, this is why I’ve never been a plotter. I just never had the dinosaur before! Thank you for introducing me to him!
Tawna
Tawna Fenske´s last blog ..24 hours with Hot Lips
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Jamie Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
@Tawna Fenske, glad I could be of service
Jamie´s last blog ..My Feet Stink…
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By Tawna Fenske on 02.25.10 5:25 pm | Permalink
[...] some of us will be wearing THESE T-SHIRTS. If you don’t have one already, you should. Jamie Harrington [...]
By The Hate-Mongering Tart » Blog Archive » The Great HEB Plus Experience (and then some) on 03.06.10 1:10 am | Permalink
[...] Storysaurus was hard at work this weekend for Cheryl’s manuscript. I’m not going to lie though… I’m a little scared that her storysaurus is going to eat my storysaurus: [...]
By Totally The Bomb.com » Blog Archive » Storysaurus in the Wild, and Other Happenings on 04.19.10 10:29 am | Permalink
Oh, I’m working on an outline now and I just saw this.
As far as notes I just keep a long google doc of crazy, but for the “outline” I’ve been mostly following the Hero’s Journey and I use an actual outline in google docs.
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By Shannon Kay on 04.23.10 1:02 am | Permalink
You are brilliant! I love storysaurus!
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Jamie Reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
@Kyra, Aw! Thanks!
Jamie´s last blog ..Blog Break #AmWriting
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By Kyra on 04.26.10 4:42 pm | Permalink
[...] to the plot of our story. Personally, I am somewhere in between. I don’t create a cool Storysaurus like Jamie Harrington or a Pentagon like David Sheppard. I write point form notes. As I turn my [...]
By Plotting on 04.28.10 12:36 pm | Permalink
I clicked over here from Heather Mc Corkle, and I have to say I LOVE this storysaurus. I have three boys in school and I have NEVER heard of this! Even I could understand this concept, and I think I’ll use this from now on.
Julie Musil´s last blog ..No Pay & Low Pay – Your Opinion
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By Julie Musil on 07.14.10 5:54 pm | Permalink
My dinos are thrilled to meet the storysaurus. They get their whole evolution so much better now. The day I figured out I could teach adult writers the same way I taught kids, it was like we got the dinos off our backs and played with them instead. I’ll share this with them. Check out PLOT & STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell for more ways to look at story arc. Thanks for this delightful post, and thanks to fun-cartoon-guy Dana Sullivan for leading me here.
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By Deb Lund on 07.17.10 10:17 am | Permalink
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