After all that discussion with Alison Kent and Julie Leto abotu the different ways to use plotting boards, I thought it would be fun to post an example of my style of plotting board.
And actually, to tell the truth, this one isn’t even mine, either. It belongs to my CP Cheryl. But they are done the same way, and isn’t it a thing of beauty? As you can see, every chapter is divided into squares, and every plot thread is given a different color code. Then for any given scene, you post a post it note in the correct color describing how that plot thread is addressed in that scene. As you can see, even from this modified image, there are certain plot threads (purple and yell;ow jump out at me) that were at this point in the development of Cheryl’s story, forgotten for long stretches of time.
I doubt highly that you’d even recognize the new plot board of her book as being the same story as this one. But anyway, that’s what we do. It’s actually quite helpful, because then you can see where your story is underdeveloped. And you don’t have to sit there wondering, if I stick a scene in here, will it help prop up a sagging plotline? You can see exactly how it will in full technicolor.
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