I plot all the time–in work and real life.
(Actually, I prefer to call it scheming. That sounds a little less diabolical.)
What exactly is plotting?
About.com defines plot this way:
“Plot concerns the organization of the main events of a work of fiction. Plot . . . is concerned with how events are related, . . . and how they enact change in the major characters.”
What does that mean, specifically, in living with a Christian novelist?
As a Christian I’m interested in how the events of my life work together, you know, as in Romans 8:28: “Everything works together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.”
That means as events tumble in and out of my everyday life, I believe there is a bigger purpose behind them than just doing the laundry, cooking dinner, and maybe writing here and there.
The pieces fit together in a way I may not recognize, but which I believe are moving to an interesting climax that will change my character. You know, like in a character arc?
Life, plot and context
Wikipedia helps us with that definition: “A character arc is the status of the character as it unfolds throughout the story . . . Characters begin the story with a certain viewpoint and, through events in the story, that viewpoint changes.”
Because I see my whole life within the context of God changing and molding my character from rough hewn baby to perfect old lady, I expect to see character improvement. The longer I spend reading and studying the Bible, the more I expect to act at least a little like Jesus.
Which is why my life is all about plot, even when I’m only doing something as mundane as the laundry.
Plot and laundry
With four children, I’ve spent a lot of time planning how to get the laundry done. I bucked the chore for years and actually wondered when my turn would be done–would I have to do laundry for the rest of my life?
I’m not sure what I expected–my mother to move in and whisk it all away?
But one day as the Maytag’s maw beckoned, I came face to face with my attitude about serving my family.
The plot thickened, or at least the pile of dirty clothes got bigger, as I wrestled with my character. Eventually I came to see that laundry, like the tide, is a continual non-negotiable, daily event. I became disciplined about doing it. The clothes got cleaner, my heart improved and this subplot of my life moved to resolution.
Moments of humor along the way lightened the load–for example, the ecstatic day we purchased our first washing machine confirmed I had reached adulthood. Embracing laundry provided a coming of age plot point.
We even had a deathbed scene recently when the Neptune’s motherboard failed for the fourth time.
My character arc in regards to laundry is winding down–the high point came when the children began to do their own laundry. I almost miss the constant hunt for stray socks and the trauma of clean uniforms not being ready. I don’t even have to worry about plotting when to do the wash–we’ve got plenty of hot water now.
Ridiculous?
Maybe. But a novelist is always trying to iron out the details to make their plot convincing and interesting.
Thoughts? Reactions? Lurker?