For those authors more in the beginning stages of creating their books, I understand what you're going through. I've been a hybrid planner for many years, part seat-of-my-pants and part plotter (knowing two things: as many as seven main plot points and up to sixty possible scenes). That's worked for me the three times I completed NaNoWriMo. But that resulted in three stand-alone novels in draft form, not Books 1 through 3 of the same series.
A series is a different animal. It takes forethought, much more so than for a single novel. To write a series, I needed a setup and a cast that I would enjoy working within and with for years. Also the wherewithal to add new characters. I needed an overarcing storyline that ran through each of the books (like murder mysteries solve the murder in each book, except I'm not writing murder mysteries), yet each book within the series was a self-contained unit. It's a major undertaking. You don't want to end up in the middle of Book 2 with no way out for your characters and no plausible plotline while staying true to the setup given in Book 1. Contemplating a viable series was daunting.
So I've written books to help me in plotting a single book, which I would apply to preparing my series, projecting even three books into the future. My latest publication was the BUILD-A-BOOK Storytelling Checklist which contains 110 items to make note of when plotting a book. I took gems amassed from myriad books on plotting, then took the best of the best and arranged them chronologically. My other releases that help me in plotting are my four volumes of quotations. To me, they represent writing prompts. When I'm stuck in the plotting process, one of the things that can help me the fastest is to read a few pages of quotes. Invariably I'll hit upon a theme, about which I can talk/write forever (spanning three or more books even, I hope), or I'll find a few quotes that evoke a rush of emotions. Then I play around with those themes and emotions, brainstorming and/or mindmapping to see where it leads me.
Invariably I have to let it simmer on the back burner of my mind. Then, in the shower, unloading the dishwasher, mowing the lawn or whatever mundane chore I'm doing, I'll have a moment of inspiration where it all falls together. It's wonderful when that happens.
At this magical moment, I have to immediately write everything down. Usually as a letter to myself, stream of consciousness fashion, just getting it on paper or into my laptop before I forget a thing. Afterward, I work through the Snowflake software, from a logline to a fully fleshed-out plot and scenes list.
Anyway, that's my process. And I've started Book One of my proposed series in my daily hour or two of downtime, with future books in this series becoming more and more apparent. I'm proof positive that the muse visits those while writing (not just waiting).
Hope this helps someone else get over the plotting hump. Take whatever resonates and toss the rest. Happy plotting!
Denise Barker
Author, Blogger, Freelance Copy Editor
LivingTheDreamPublishing@gmail.com
Showing posts with label scenes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scenes. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
How Long Are Your Chapters? And How Many Scenes Make a NaNo Novel?
I'm considering NaNo again this year. Last year I listed thirty-nine scene ideas on one sheet of paper (using both sides) which I used as a jumping-off spot to write my 50K WC novel. Some items morphed into others and only a handful didn't get used at all.
Not bad for someone who had no clue as of October 25, 2011 about what to write come November 1.
Fast forward another year. I'm again wondering what my new tale will be. Which is a separate task, on a more creative level. I plan to brainstorm and mind map my way through that.
But purely from a plotting purview, by a pantster no less, it got me to thinking. How many scenes do I need to reach the magical NaNo mark? So I decided to get some quick stats from my own creations.
First, I checked out how long my chapters were, on average, in my published fiction, one novel and one short story.
Eerily enough, both have chapters that average twelve double-spaced pages.
I find that fascinating.
This is hardwired in me. I didn't learn this.
I discovered it. Just today. Not an hour ago.
And I don't try to make all my chapters "even." I normally break text so it ends on a good hook or at a nice place in the action, not because it is twenty pages later. Now if it happens again on the next page, then I compare the two proposed endings and move my chapter ending to the one I deem "best."
So while I wouldn't create a single-page chapter, I don't usually worry about the length of one unless it falls in the extremely short or long category compared to the rest.
What about scenes? you may ask. That was the second thing I tracked. I found two per short story chapter, whereas I had four per novel chapter.
Which in NaNo-speak means I will need approximately eighty scenes to complete a 50K WC novel.
Good. That gives me something concrete to work toward as I outline this year's NaNo project. If I participate online, that is.
I still need the idea for the story . . . .
Not bad for someone who had no clue as of October 25, 2011 about what to write come November 1.
Fast forward another year. I'm again wondering what my new tale will be. Which is a separate task, on a more creative level. I plan to brainstorm and mind map my way through that.
But purely from a plotting purview, by a pantster no less, it got me to thinking. How many scenes do I need to reach the magical NaNo mark? So I decided to get some quick stats from my own creations.
First, I checked out how long my chapters were, on average, in my published fiction, one novel and one short story.
Eerily enough, both have chapters that average twelve double-spaced pages.
I find that fascinating.
This is hardwired in me. I didn't learn this.
I discovered it. Just today. Not an hour ago.
And I don't try to make all my chapters "even." I normally break text so it ends on a good hook or at a nice place in the action, not because it is twenty pages later. Now if it happens again on the next page, then I compare the two proposed endings and move my chapter ending to the one I deem "best."
So while I wouldn't create a single-page chapter, I don't usually worry about the length of one unless it falls in the extremely short or long category compared to the rest.
What about scenes? you may ask. That was the second thing I tracked. I found two per short story chapter, whereas I had four per novel chapter.
Which in NaNo-speak means I will need approximately eighty scenes to complete a 50K WC novel.
Good. That gives me something concrete to work toward as I outline this year's NaNo project. If I participate online, that is.
I still need the idea for the story . . . .
Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy
editor
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Plotting Tips by Holly Lisle
I enjoy Holly Lisle's own website at HollyLisle.com which I visit routinely. If you are more interested in her teaching module, check out HowToThinkSideways.com.
She gave an interview at another venue which I read and found useful. You may too, at Joe Bunting's portal: http://thewritepractice.com or the direct link here: http://thewritepractice.com/holly-lisle/ to the article entitled "How to Avoid Distractions and Create a Career in Fiction: Interview with Holly Lisle."
I particularly enjoyed where she spoke about the number of scenes needed for a book. To me, this is more about math and less about plotting. Which makes me smile.
She gave an interview at another venue which I read and found useful. You may too, at Joe Bunting's portal: http://thewritepractice.com or the direct link here: http://thewritepractice.com/holly-lisle/ to the article entitled "How to Avoid Distractions and Create a Career in Fiction: Interview with Holly Lisle."
I particularly enjoyed where she spoke about the number of scenes needed for a book. To me, this is more about math and less about plotting. Which makes me smile.
Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy
editor
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