30 Days of Outlining - October 2020 Writing Challenge (Preptober)
– Yes, I am aware that October contains 31 days, but I take Halloween off to celebrate and give myself a breath before starting NaNoWriMo on November 1st. There’s a bonus prompt at the end, just in case. I look forward to seeing all of your guys’ responses here using the hashtag #wordsnstuffoutline and over on Instagram, where you can tag me @ writingandsuch.
This challenge begins on October 1st, but I thought I would give you guys some time to plan stuff out, because you may need to switch some days around to accommodate your schedule. You’re free to do one day’s challenge on another day if your schedule doesn’t allow enough time to complete that day’s challenge. Best of luck to you!
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What point of view are you writing from and why does it suit your story?
What structure are you using based on your story’s genre and character arcs?
Is your story driven primarily by characters or plot? How do they work together?
If you have a zero draft completed, list what you hope to accomplish as you rewrite. If you are approaching the zero draft, list what you’d like to accomplish in this preliminary telling of the story. *
Where does your story begin and why?
Where have you placed the climax and how does this aide in the smooth resolution? If you’re writing a series, what does the climax introduce that will not be solved in the resolution?
If you’ve fleshed out your characters, how can you utilize different plot points to show their traits and nuance to the reader? If you haven’t, I recommend the “Character first, plot second” questionnaire.
What details of the plot/characters have you left to discover as you write or revise in future drafts? Why?
Create a “timeline” chart that demonstrates the pacing in your story. Describe the pacing trends and how this serves your story. Are there any points you would like to space out or condense?
Make a five sentence summary of your story. One for each of the major stages of a story; Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
How do you resolve your major conflict, and how does this resolution provide payoff for the built tension?
How do you build tension throughout the plot?
What are the major stakes that persist throughout the plot? How are they answered in the resolution?
Create a three-sentence summary for each of your main characters’ arcs. Where do they begin, what causes a shift, and what is the outcome?
What will your reader notice when they read your story the second time that will make them say “I should have seen that coming”?
How will you incorporate foreshadowing into the plot without giving away the ending or being too subtle?
What are the major themes you hope you incorporate into the plot/arcs and why?
Where will these themes be placed amongst the subplots, main plots, and character arcs?
How do your themes tie together as a complete work?
Make a simple chart that demonstrates the rise and fall in action, as well as the major twists that occur in your story. How evenly placed is the action and the reaction?
Describe the evolution of the 3 main relationships portrayed in your story, using the Beginning, shift, and outcome structure.
How do you plan to incorporate time-period and setting into the story in a meaningful/note-worthy way, without info-dumping?
Are there any symbols you initially see incorporating into your plot? Go through your outline so far and note places where you may have room to hint at them.
Describe the evolution of tone in your story. Focus especially on suspense and tension.
List the major and minor events that occur in your story, then describe their consequences, both short-term and long-term.
How does your falling action effectively bridge the gap between the climax and the resolution?
What emotion do you hope the reader exits your story with? What do you hope they remember most about the story?
What commonalities of the genre have to incorporated into your story, and how have you changed them to suit your original vision?
How do your characters, theme, and conflict develop throughout the story? Does one develop faster/deeper than the others? How can you create or maintain this balance?
Are there any scenes that you are looking forward to writing the most? How can you utilize them to motivate you to continue, as well as get into the groove of the story the fastest?
*Zero Draft: a preliminary telling of the story to get the main ideas and events out of your head to be edited, refined, rewritten, and perfected in subsequent drafts. (A rough, rough draft that is meant for your personal use)
If you’ve already planned your major scenes, go through them and make sure you know how each scene serves the plot, develops the characters, and prepares the reader for upcoming events/information.
☼ Useful Resources To Help You Win ☼
Useful Writing Resources | Part II
Pros & Cons of Different Points of View
Resources For Plot Development
Guide To Plot Development
Writing Long Stories Without Filler
Character Driven vs. Plot Driven Stories
How To Write A Story Timeline
Making A Story Come Together
Tips on Introducing Backstory
How To Develop A Distinct Voice In Your Writing
Balancing Detail & Development
Tips on Balancing Development
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