When we interviewed Now Novel Kickstart your Novel alumnus and editing client Dr Bonnie Traymore, she shared how using post-its in the planning and outlining stages helped her compromise with her ‘pantser’ preferences: Outlining a story on cards, notes on a corkboard (whether analogue or digital like our scene builder tool) is a helpful way to get physical with your plotting process.īlending ‘pantsing’ with story outlining and using boards to pin ideas down 40’, The Paris Review, quoted by Colin Marshall for Open Culture Vladimir Nabokov, interviewed by Herbert Gold, ‘The Art of Fiction No. My schedule is flexible, but I am rather particular about my instruments: lined Bristol cards and well sharpened, not too hard, pencils capped with erasers. These bits I write on index cards until the novel is done. I fill in the gaps of the crossword at any spot I happen to choose. The pattern of the thing precedes the thing. Vladimir Nabokov famously wrote sections of stories on physical index cards that he would then reshuffle to find novel possibilities for plot lines and the order of his stories’ events. Many writers find it helpful to add a visual element to plotting, because this helps us to see the structure of a work of fiction (or non-fiction) laid out. It will help you ensure every scene is driven by clear purpose. Writing scene summaries ahead of drafting your scenes in greater detail is a helpful way to maintain focus. We’ve written before on how to structure scenes around concrete, clear story events. Scenes are ‘a sequence of continuous action in a play, film, opera, or book’ ( OED). Summarize scenes and chaptersĪ plot outline is helpful to structure your story into scenes and chapters. There is also further guidance to write a helpful synopsis and fuller outline. The free ‘Central Idea’ section of Now Novel’s step-by-step story dashboard guides you through finding a concise, central idea. This may seem a daunting task when you haven’t written any part of a draft yet. Note any obstacles or adversaries you already know will feature. ![]() Write down the starting scenario or situation that leads to the inciting action – the events that set your story in motion. Once you have a central idea for your story, write a synopsis detailing everything you know so far. Total freedom may feel daunting.Ī freer, looser first step often helps to ease into making further creative decisions. You’re making choices that will direct, to a degree, the progress and destination of your project, after all. Putting limits and parameters in place for a creative project is one of the hardest parts. ![]() Let’s explore how to make a story outline in further detail: Start with a synopsis Learn how to write a plot outline with these seven plotting techniques: 7 popular story outlining methods: A way to find more material, and create a story structure template that guides your draft. Yet it is a useful way to scrutinize and expand your story idea. Creating a story outline is not for everyone.
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