Books We Love Insider Blog: #Plotting your novel

Monday, July 13, 2026

Plot Twists

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In literature as in life plot twists happen. Sometimes a character decides what you've mapped out is just not working for them. Sometimes a piece of crucial research throws your plotline off balance. Sometimes a secondary character muscles her way in with dialogue that is just so quirky or sparkling that she demands a larger role or even her own book.

Sometimes life plots and plans go awry too. Our recent summer plans were thrown into the winds when our daughter needed emergency eye surgery, and she needed our care in her recovery and with her active little boy. Family first, of course so...pivot and adjust all plans!

I love reading with my grandson!

Real life and writing life recently converged in a very unwelcome plot twist. My beloved co-author Jude Pittman died suddenly. It's still hard for me to accept that such a force to be reckoned with could be gone from Mother Earth. We were in the middle of working on an historical paranormal book set in Newfoundland, The Ghosts of Bell Island. She was so excited by her plans to write a story centered on someone a lot like herself called Maggie the Charmer. It's now up to me to write the story and dedicate it to my friend, ally and advocate.

Beloved Jude

I hope your plot twists do not stop you from making necessary pivots to keep adding your beauty to the world, dear readers.

Friday, April 28, 2023

When Your Main Character Organizes a Hostile Takeover of Your Novel By Connie Vines #Plotting a Novel", #Surprise Storyline #BWL Insider Author Blog

Here I sit, night 3, in my cluttered office, excitedly plotting my contemporary novella.

I have the setting, the theme, and the plot points, and I'm fleshing out my primary and secondary characters.

And then. Pow! I hear a voice. (Yes, writers listen to voices).

My main character doesn't like her name and is angry because I don't 'get' her. That's a bit combative, unlike the helpful information my characters give me.

She also informed me she liked what I ate for lunch today. (That's a bit creepy 😲) FYI, She prepares her salad the night before, storing the toppings and dressing in separate containers.

Kale and Lettuce Salad w/ Smoked Salmon
rice croutons and almonds

I wander into the kitchen to brew another cup of coffee.

Who cares if it's midnight? It's not like I can sleep anytime soon (probably for the rest of the week).

Fresh Start. Sigh

Then it dawns on me 😒I listen to music when I write. I just know my primary character has a favorite artist 🎤🎹🎸🎼. Since I subscribe to Apple Music, I pick up my phone and look at what's featured.

Chanel, Gavin, and I now listen to Rosanne Cash: Deep Cuts Album.

My Heronie's theme song:" God is in the Roses."

As the music plays on, I find her sharing her internal struggle.

Which is different from what I envisioned. An internal struggle that I didn't expect...it was true, what she said. I really didn't get her.

I like my newest heroine. She made me laugh and cry a little.

Soon, I hope, she will share her name and secrets with me, too.