plot by committee

[Anne Frasier]

does a book plotted by committee ever work?
i've experienced this a couple of times in my career, and while i find it to be an almost impossible situation, i wonder if it actually works for some writers. i'm guessing it does. many writers aren't going to admit their plots were completely revamped by several people, so i'll probably never know the answer to the question. this committee thing usually happens when a writer's sales figures get high enough to draw interest within the publishing house, but the figures aren't so amazing that the writer can decline the input.

[John McFetridge]

Well, TV shows can work well written by committee. Season arcs and plot points worked out and then individual writers write each episode with a showrunner (or whatever the term is being used now) supervising. I took the Prime Time TV Writing program at the Canadian Film Center (sometimes called the Jewison school because Normal Jewison started it) and it was supposed to teach us how to be "in the room" as they said, writing a TV show. Obviously some work better than others. I would say in the area of crime fiction, some of the best stuff is being done on TV, by committee.

So, yeah, I think it could work with books, too.

[I. J. Parker]

I don't think I could do this. For me, it's important to distinguish between the mystery (puzzle) plot and the plot for the novel. I'm also pretty poor at plotting the puzzle, but I attach low importance to that. My interest is in the overall plotting (arrangement of scenes and character development) of the novel. Actually I do most of both by myself, but some members of my writers group have been very helpful when I got stuck. We make plot brainstorming a fairly regular part of our meetings.

[John McFetridge]

To tell you the truth, I've pretty much thrown out plot along with the puzzle. I was a little worried when the publisher put the word "mystery" on the cover of my book because there's no mystery - at least there's no question about who's committing the crimes (there are a lot of murders, drug smuggling and so on in my books). But so far most readers don't seem to mind.

But I do think this is an interesting thing to talk about for books. I've been talking with someone about an idea for a kind of "TV series" style book series -- different writers for each book, like different writers for each episode of a TV series, but one "producer" that oversees tham all. The stories would be linked the way episodes of The Wire or The Sopranos are linked, with some season long arcs but each "episode" being its own story.

[Anne Frasier]

ooh, john. i really like that idea. my experience with the committee plot is that everybody wants something completely different. it's never been an organized thing at all, but i think if you go into it with a solid plan and a way to approach that plan, it could work very well. i've also wondered about an anthology where maybe 12 writers are given the same synopsis and they all write their own take on that synopsis.

and as far as the series goes -- romance writers have been doing something like that for a long time. they are given a bible, with all the details and characters. not sure they have to work with a big story arc, or if the characters all just kind of live and work in the same place.

[John McFetridge]

Yeah, there's been a lot of "shared universe" stuff in sci fi, too. A lot of my crime fiction involves organized crime and it's completely international these days. Even a lot of single investigations - especially stuff like online child pornography - covers a lot of jurisdictions. I see it as too big and expensive for a TV series (which usually takes place in one city, or at most one country) but could be done with books.

A lot of complications, though, a lot of details to be worked out, but you never know...

[Anne Frasier]

thanks jon and john.
this is just slightly off topic, but i don't think i'd have any problem with a publisher handing me a synopsis and telling me to write the book. i wouldn't want to do that with every project, but i've always been intrigued with the concept of writing someone else's idea. i think it could add a compelling layer to a story.

[Karyn J. Powers]

The closing exercise of the Sisters in Crime Forensics University was plotting the perfect murder. There were a number of published authors in the audience and as we kicked around ideas for the "crime," I got the highsign from one author that we were way to close, by committee, to a work that this person had in its final editorial review. My point is that it was a large group effort that still hit on universal themes in modern times. If it helps and there is mutual respect & focus on the ultimate goal, go for it!