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spawning of Bob
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I wrote a long essay about what motivates me to build a plot (as distinct from what motivates my characters or what motivates me to write). The whole essay is on the back burner because I felt it was too self indulgent and because the best examples were frequently of things I hadn't published yet, but the summary is as follows:
These plot motivators (joke / sensible idea - set up - payoff) help me set way points in the greater narrative - and my characters and I together chase them down one by one. In the process we sort of oscillate around the mean of the actual story and hopefully provide some interesting sub plots and characterisation.
In the False Moon War, each Chapter / section was an individual set up and gag. Now the things twine around themselves so much that you never know when they will pop up again. Tip - assume everything is important as you read it. Understanding a future joke or indeed a significant plot point may rely on it.
These plot motivators (joke / sensible idea - set up - payoff) help me set way points in the greater narrative - and my characters and I together chase them down one by one. In the process we sort of oscillate around the mean of the actual story and hopefully provide some interesting sub plots and characterisation.
In the False Moon War, each Chapter / section was an individual set up and gag. Now the things twine around themselves so much that you never know when they will pop up again. Tip - assume everything is important as you read it. Understanding a future joke or indeed a significant plot point may rely on it.