Story Genius – a plotting guide for pantsers?

The writing code cracking promised by Lisa Cron in the blurb was less cracking the code of the story, and more cracking the code of my own writing process.

I’m fairly new to the writing craft book party. But now I’ve arrived, I am entrenched at the buffet, consuming everything within reach.

 

Story Genius is one of those books that kept popping up whilst online shopping on those ‘You might like…’ lists. I held out for a little while; I think that the blurb made it feel a bit gimmicky. It’s touted as an alternative to ‘plotting’ or ‘pantsing’, using the science of how our brains are wired to create a true page-turner. Instead of wasting ‘three years of writing 327 pages that go nowhere’, Lisa Cron promises to help you ‘crack the story code and create a novel, screenplay, or memoir that will keep readers riveted.’ You might be able to see why I thought it was gimmicky.

 

Cron proved me wrong, right from page one.

 

I devoured this book, as Cron guided me through the process of digging into my MC’s past to build their future (i.e. the story), finding areas of conflict and hurt, why there are areas of conflict and hurt and how they could fuel my MC’s transformation. The book has plenty of exercises. You write fully fledged scenes from your MC’s childhood, you ask the question ‘why?’ so many times, you might be mistaken for a insistently inquisitive three-year-old, and you don’t use story beats.

 

That’s right. Not a single story beat in sight.

 

Instead, you follow your MC’s logic, what is driving them internally (including their backstory), and what has to happen for them to overcome their misbelief (also known as the shard or the lie in other methodologies) to push the plot along. The idea is, if you follow the steps of digging deep down into your main characters, the conflict, the pressure points, everything will naturally follow.

 

If you have followed me for more than a millisecond, you’ll know that I can’t plot my own breakfast, let alone a novel. So, the idea of having a pathway whilst still having the creative freedom to discover as I write is intoxicating.

 

I think the one takeaway from the book is that I was doing all the things she recommends already. And I bet, to some extent or another, every writer is. The code cracking promised in the blurb was less cracking the code of the story, and more cracking the code of my own writing process. It’s helped me see what I’m doing and, vitally, why (there’s that word again!) I’m doing it. Whereas before I’d write scenes from my character’s past ‘just for fun’, now I realise what an amazing tool I was creating for myself. When before I thought I was winging it when I didn’t have scene cards for ten chapters ahead, I now know that I couldn’t possibly have those ready, as the specifics that would beget them hadn’t been written yet.

 

I’ve been stumbling around in the dark with my new WIP, Project Merla, brandishing my story beats like having those meant my story should be ready. Going back to the way I write – just in a more focused, aware way – has reinvigorated my enthusiasm and my creativity. I feel like, for the first time ever, that I have a process. It’s obviously not word for word Story Genius’ process, but it’s helped me figure out how I write. It’s put on the blinders and focused me in on why.

 

I don’t think Story Genius is for everyone. If you have a methodology, like using story beats, that works for you, then this book might not be much help plotting-wise, although it might help you with character development. I did get fed up a few times whilst reading Story Genius where Cron (politely) trashes other ways of plotting. I’m a firm believer in everyone has a unique process and that for some, the structure of Save the Cat et al is absolutely perfect.

 

For me, though – a whole-hearted pantser in need of a guiding hand to set her on the right track – Story Genius was perfect.

 

It’s for you if:

 

  • You’re a discovery writer
  • You want to write character-driven stories
  • You don’t like the structure of Save the Cat or other methodologies with ‘beats’
  • You want to write from the get go
  • You feel constrained by plotting too far in advance
  • You’re a pantser but fed up of taking 20,089,907 years to complete a novel because you have no process and it all just happened organically without rhyme or reason (it’s like I’m speaking from experience or something…)

 

It’s not for you if:

  • You already have a process that helps you produce great page-turners
  • You like the comfort of having a meticulously plotted-out outline
  • You hate scene cards
  • You’re a total newcomer. I’m not sure I’d recommend this to be absolutely the first book you get on writing craft.
  • You’re half way through your first draft – just wait until the draft has finished. I can guarantee you’ll want to go back to change so much – best to do it with a finished product than kill your enthusiasm mid-story!

 

Give it a try if:

  • You have your plot but are looking for guidance on developing your characters more
  • You have a plot, but feel your story is missing it’s ‘heart’
  • You just like learning!
  • You’re looking for an accessible read to take your plotting and novel building to the next level
  • You’re trying to find your writing process
  • You’ve got a touch of the ol’ writer’s block

Have you read Story Genius? How did you find it?

 

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