My Writing Process (part 4)
Over the years, my writing process has changed and grown, a lot. My process is always improving as I discover more tips from other writers and learn things in classes.
I use Milanote (a subscription is required to use fully) to hold and organize all the information about my stories. On Milanote I have a template that I use for creating each wip! I will continue to build my very detailed template as my process grows and changes. However, I’d like to share some of the things I have gathered to potentially help your writing processes!
This template consists of many brainstorming and pre-writing exercises, templates full of questions for character and world building, and an outline for plotting. It also has questions for beta-readers and checklists for revision and editing.
It is important that I make it clear: everything I share in this post has been gathered over the years. I did not create this content and do not claim the credit for it.
I am simply sharing my compilation of tools that I have found over time.
Plotting is all about finding the right outlining process for you. Personally, I like to write chapter-by-chapter outlines that lay out exactly what I want to happen in each chapter. A lot of what I use in my plot outline comes from things that I have written while brainstorming.
Two things I like to keep in mind as I write my plot outline:
Each Chapter should include;
a) a goal your POV character(s) want(s) to achieve
b) a conflict your POV character(s) has(have) to work through
Important things to note for outlining:
Chapter number
POV (for multi-pov wips)
Date/time of year
Location
Chapter title?
Main plot of chapter
Subplots (character arcs, backstories, themes, relationships)
Trails for plot twists (foreshadowing)
Anything else necessary for the chapter
There are so many ways to outline a novel; I don’t have room in this post to show them all but I will list them with a brief explanation:
a very classic take on outlining that follows the three acts;
Act One: set-up, inciting incident
Act Two: confrontation, midpoint
Act Three: resolution, climax
You slowly go from describing your plot short and brief to describing it in a much longer more detailed way.
Mind Map or The Tree Method
A visualization of your plot.
Starting by outlining the end of your plot and moving backwards.
The Save the Cat Beat Sheet
This is created by screenwriter Blake Synder. Following the ‘beat sheet’, you outline each “beat” which is a transformational event in your story. Check out https://savethecat.com/ to find more.
Recognizing your plot as the experience of the protagonist; understanding the plot through the protagonist’s motivations, goals, obstacles, etc.
Creating a one to two page synopsis of your plot; plotting without going into too much detail. Covering the story’s hook, inciting incident, major plot points, midpoint, climactic sequence, and resolution.
Summarizing each individual chapter or scene in your book.
Create “bookends” for your story by outline the beginning and end of your plot then discover how to get from start to end as you draft.
Plotting your novel using a calendar or planner as if you were the protagonist.
Using images and quotes to guide your writing process and organizing them based on a timeline or relevance. Then use the snapshots to guide your writing whether it’s writing up another outlining method or diving into drafting.
Outlining each event or key part on flashcards, allows you to visualize your plot and to physically rearrange the order.
Outlining your novel (especially for a series) using a timeline to help map out the sequence of events.
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