I'm just not a great plotter. It's true that I need major help developing the story. I usually have a great idea, but then making it come to life, thinking up names, (yes, that's hard too, the name HAS to fit the character or I'm doomed), locations, and most importantly the conflict, always frazzles my brain.

I'm lucky in that I have a very supportive husband who is a great chess player, meaning he's good at seeing three moves ahead, whereas, I'm not. So, sometimes, I give him my idea, and he comes up with some great, "what ifs" that tend to help a whole lot.

And if I'm really lucky, I can get a few of my writer friends together and do a plot party. Sometimes, it's a full day, a luncheon with yummy foods necessary for inspiration and sometimes, it's just a quick hour or two at a restaurant where we can hash out our ideas to hopefully nail down the story.

The great thing about this, is that you get to be involved with people you like, doing what you love to do, much as it's a pain to try to develop a story, it's also a fun way to remove yourself from the computer that day and still know you're working on your story! I love to be invited to plot parties, have also done them online. They can tax your brain, challenge you to think hard and many times, give you the impetus you need to keep that wonderful story you so truly want to write alive.

This has been a fun week on the Desire Blog.
Come visit my website at www.charlenesands.com
Thanks!