Plotting Sideways

So for BuNoWriMo this year, I am trying something I've SORT of done, but not really. I've dappled in the idea of it for mysteries, because it seems to make sense, but this is the first time I am coming at it for a suspense (which admittedly has mystery underneath it, of course, but it is more a 'what the heck happened' than a 'whodunnit'... though who dunnit matters quite a lot, but the finding the what and the who will happen simultaneously). All they KNOW is the AFTERMATH.

So what is this crazy idea of mine? I timeline more than outline normally—you know that, yes? This is because outlining makes my writing sound canned (but pantsing writes me into a sad corner of abandoning my book). I need more room to meander than an outline, though. But see... with a mystery, there is an underlying story that needs uncovering.

So I am outlining THAT. What really happened before the book ever starts? Who is involved and how do they execute it. I've done a lot of this (for this book--not much prior to this), but NEXT, I am going to go through and figure out how my MC learns of it.  Use another color of pen and write in how somebody SHE gets involved with learns it.  Then I can sprinkle info by manipulating when she meets people, rather than having them hold back anything (that often irritates me--seems contrived). I really think I am getting there.


So WHY would this be so urgent? BuNoWriMo starts FRIDAY!!!!

If ANY of the Following Apply to you, PLEASE consider joining us for BuNoWriMo:

۞ You want to write a book in June.
۞ You want to FINISH writing a book in June (ideally that has at least 50K left, but you can finish one and start another if you prefer. (have I made it clear I'm easy?)
۞ You want to do a major rewrite in June
۞ You want support for some OTHER large writing project and would like to declare your commitment and do it as part of a group.

Joining is EASY PEASY if you have a facebook account: Go HERE and request to join. I let anybody in... I just can't find the button anymore to make it an open group, but besides that, I like the convos to be between members, even if ANYBODY can be a member.

If you need more information before making a decision, you can see HERE.