July 30, 2019

How to write a complex SciFi plot without going mad

Here’s my revelation of the day: There are two stories to a book:

Those don’t need to match. They need to overlap. The plot is contained within the larger story.

I guess, I finally understood the story vs plot distinction. One is flat, objective, boring, the other is has dramatic intensity and emotion.

So how to write a complex SciFi plot without going mad1:

  1. Write the (hi)story first. Do not worry about structure. Just facts that are consistent.
  2. Then figure out a plot that fits within that story.

  1. No warranties though.↩︎

July 30, 2019




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