[HPforGrownups] Planning the plot in advance -- prompted by Ebony's idea

[Aberforth's Goat]

No: HPFGUIDX 10282

John Walton wrote,

> As I've found when working from a preplanned plot, some of my best ideas
> come from completely outside the plot -- the Castle in Harry Potter and
the
> Song of Time being an example.

Jo mentioned in an interview that the advent of Hermione's social conscience
and SPEW were unplanned--in fact, quite a surprise. I find that interesting,
since people have accused Jo of partially developing the SPEW sub-plot, only
to dump it. When I first read the accusation, I discounted it since I
assumed Jo would pick up on SPEW in later books. Having thought about that
quote, perhaps SPEW really was an unplanned baby.

OTOH, what with Hagrid and his big-boned girlfriend off on a secret mission,
I think I see themes of social integration looming on the horizen--and
plenty of room for baby SPEW (planned or not) to grow up. In fact, the SPEW
question could add depth to the next books.

So this may be an example of a bit of unplanned brainstorming wriggling its
way into the plot--and enriching it.

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray)
_______________________

"My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practising
inappropriate charms on a goat. It was all over the papers,
but did Aberforth hide? No he did not! He held his head high."