October 27, 2015. Welcome to my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. This post is about the seven best tips I've ever heard, and used, for decreasing the time it takes to get your first draft written, by doing three things: start writing sooner, keep writing longer, and write faster by not breaking your flow.

1. Turn off the editor - One side of your brain is creative, the other side is analytical. Trying to create and edit at the same time is like running two complex programs simultaneously. So focus on creating--you can always edit it later. If, while you are creating the story, you can't think of a word,or of the best word. leave three hyphens (two hyphens are a dash) where the word should go, or write down several words/expressions/nouns (that's how I do it) that would work and pick the right one later, when you're editing.

2. Turn off the researcher - Don't stop your creative flow to check a fact or do more research. Instead, write a word to cue yourself to research this later. Choose one that isn't a common word in your text, so you can use "Find" to find it, such as NOTE, RESEARCH, or CHECK.

3. Stop writing at the end of each session in the middle of a paragraph - or in the middle of a sentence. When you pick up again the next day, it will be easy to finish that thought, and that will get you writing again quickly.

4. Set a daily word count quota. Having a daily goal will increase your output and give you a sense of success. 50,000 words is intimidating and progress can seem discouragingly slow; 1,500 is much more doable.

5. Read your notes on the next section you're about to write just before going to bed. Let your subconscious mind work for you while you sleep. When I do this, I wake up with entire scenes in my mind, ready to be written.

6. If #3 & #5 don't get you writing as soon as you sit down, try doing a short meditation or reading the last paragraph you wrote (not to edit it, just to get back into the story) or write a page of stream-of-consciousness thoughts, before you begin writing your story.

7. Overcome your inner resistance. Write 3 pages or 1000 words as quickly as you can: list every fear or anxiety you have about being successful at NaNoWriMo and how you will overcome each one. Define what being "successful" at writing your novel looks like to you, and visualize that success in daily words on the page.

Do you have a trick that speeds up your writing? Please leave a comment sharing it. We can all learn from each other.

October 26, 2015. In this blog challenge, you've reflected, answered questions and made notes on all the important aspects of your novel, from probing your characters to writing your outline. Now it's time to put it all together in a form you can follow easily while you're writing.

(Those who are just arriving, please read  the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.)

1. The first sheet you'll need is the one with your answers to the 8 questions on the Inherent Conflict in your novel. (Blog post on Oct. 19) You need to keep these front and center while writing.

2. Write or type the numbers 1 to 25, widely spaced, on a piece of paper. These are the chapters in your novel. Review your answers to the 5 questions in the post on Beginning your Novel, on Oct. 20. Those answers go beside the first 3-4 chapters.

3. Review your answers to the 7 questions on the post concerning the Inciting Incident, on Oct. 21. Those answers go beside chapters 4-6.

4. Review your answers to the 9 questions in the post on the first half of the Dreaded Middle, Oct. 22.  Put those answers on your sheet as follows:
Chapter 7 - answer to question 1
Chapter 8 - answer to questions 2 & 3
Chapter 9 - answer to question 4
Chapter 10 - answer to question 5 & 6
Chapter 11 - answer to question 7
Chapter 12 - answer to question 8
Chapter 13 - answer to question 9

5. Review your answers to the 9 questions on the post on the second half of the middle (after the mid-point crisis), Will I be Stuck in the Middle Forever, Oct. 23. Put these answers on your sheet as follows:
Chapter 14 - answer to question 1 above
Chapter 15 - answer to questions 2 & 3
Chapter 16 - answer to question 4
Chapter 17 - answer to question 5
Chapter 18 - answer to question 8 & 9
Chapter 19 - answer to question 6
Chapter 20 - answer to question 7

6. Review your answers to the 6 questions in the post on the final chapters, The End at Last, Oct. 24. Put these answers on your sheet as follows:
Chapter 21 - answer to question 2
Chapter 22 - answer to question 1
Chapter 23 - answer to question 3
Chapter 24 - answer to question 4
Chapter 25 - answer to questions 5 & 6

There you have it - a complete plan for your novel!

Join me tomorrow for tips on how to get your first draft down on paper quickly.

Please leave a comment, tweet or like this page. We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 24, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Those who are just arriving, do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

This section takes up the last quarter of your novel, or perhaps a little less.  

1. What last, desperate push or sacrifice does your protagonist take to accomplish his/her goal?

2. How does he/she finally reveal his secret or face her weakness, and overcome it? What does he/she do that he/she swore he/she would never do? Why?

3. Why is your protagonist's last effort successful? How successful is it?

4. What is the cost of this victory: To the protagonist? To the antagonist? To the friend, the mentor and the love interest? In what way is each of them changed forever, particularly the protagonist?

5. The protagonist's world has forever changed. Describe the new world and his/her relationship to it.

These five questions must be answered in the last 4-6 chapters of your novel. In a stand-alone novel, they are usually answered completely, although there are exceptions -  for example, in Gone With the Wind, Scarlett is determined to get Rhett back, and we are left hoping she will. In a book that is part of a series, it's more common to leave some threads dangling, a hint of things to come, which will be followed up in the next book in the series.

6. will you close off all your story lines, or leave some open for a future novel? If the latter, what will you leave open?
 
You've worked hard - your novel is planned and outlined, you're ready to write. Take the weekend to tweak the ideas you've worked on, or add to them. On Monday, I'll be back with tips for writing your first draft in record time.

Please comment, tweet or like this post. See you tomorrow!

October 23, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Those who are just arriving, do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

We are now entering the second half of the middle, otherwise known as Part III or Act II b. The further we get from the beginning, the harder it is to plot specifics - unless, of course, you are a firm plotter. Your characters may have surprised you by now, your enthusiasm and energy may be depleting, and the end is still a long way from sight. Hard as it may be, the more you have outlined in advance, the (relatively) easier it will be to get through this part.

Yesterday's post left off with the mid-point crisis or turning point. As you start the second half of your novel, you need to show the fall-out from that.

1. How does your protagonist respond to the mid-point obstacle? How will he/she overcome it? What does that cost him/her?

2. How do his/her friend/mentor/love interest react to it?

3. How does the antagonist respond to the protagonist's overcoming it? What does this failure cost him/her? NOTE: the protagonist may, in exhaustion, consider giving up, but the antagonist can never doubt himself or think for one minute of giving up.

4. How are all of the relationships between the characters changing as the journey progresses?

5. Has the protagonist's attitude toward the goal changed in any way? If so, how? 

6. Part III ends with the climax, the hardest obstacle yet, the third turning point of the novel. At this point, all seems lost, the protagonist is worse off that he/she was at the beginning despite all his/her attempts to achieve the goal, and is on the point of giving up. How will you show this scene? 

7. What morally significant choice is your protagonist faced with at this point? (The thing he/she would NEVER do) Why MUST he/she do it?

8. How has the protagonist brought him/her self to this point? What fatal weakness or secret has the antagonist taken advantage of in the protagonist?

9. What fatal weakness in the antagonist will the protagonist be able to use to resolve this final obstacle?

Once again, this looks like a lot to cover in one exercise, but this can be just a rough outline of the main markers, to keep you on track as you are writing.

Please comment, tweet, or like this post. Happy outlining! See you tomorrow.

October 22, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Those who are just arriving, do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

Part II (Act II a) begins with the protagonist leaving behind (literally or symbolically) the world as he/she knows it. This section takes up 50% of your novel and must include two more sets of obstacles and turning points. The second obstacle-followed-by-turning-point occurs half-way through part II (the mid-point of the novel), when the protagonist fully commits to the new larger goal and becomes pro-active. (Previously, he/she was merely reactive, responding to the inciting incident.)

1. How will you show the protagonist literally or figuratively leaving his/her old world behind?

2. What is the protagonist's new goal, the goal created by the inciting incident, which will be his/her over-reaching goal for the novel?

3. How does this new goal conflict with the antagonist's goal?

4.  What is the first obstacle or conflict that occurs as a result of the protagonist's decision at the end of part I, or because of the conflict with the antagonist's goal? 

5. How does the protagonist respond/react to this obstacle? What strengths does he/she use to overcome it? 

6. How will you hint at an inner flaw or secret that may prevent the protagonist from overcoming future, more difficult obstacles? (maintaining tension)

7. How do the protagonist's friend, mentor, and love interest respond to this new obstacle?

8. How does the antagonist respond/react to the protagonist overcoming this obstacle?

9. What second, major obstacle and consequent turning point will occur at the end of Part II? How will you show it to be a direct result of the protagonist's way of dealing with the previous obstacle or of his/her inner flaw or weakness? What is it about this obstacle that will make the protagonist fully commit to the goal and become proactive in pursuing it and/or in defeating the antagonist?

This looks like a lot to cover in one exercise, but we are not doing a detailed outline, just a rough outline of the main markers, to keep you on track as you are writing.

Please leave a comment or tweet or like this post to share it. We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 21, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Those who are just arriving, do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

In the second half of part I (or Act I) the protagonist is forced to change - against his/her will. He/she must be put in a position where she has to embark on her journey. This is called the "INCITING INCIDENT". Something happens which forces the protagonist to make a choice or a decision which will change his/her life forever, even if he doesn't realize it at the time.

1. What is the inciting incident that occurs at the beginning of your story and starts the action of the story?

2. What does the protagonist have to choose between? What are the stakes involved in either choice?

3. What morally significant choice does the protagonist make? Why does he/she choose this?

This is the first turning point of your story. It is also the end of the hook. Now it's time to start building suspense. The protagonist realises he/she has done something irrevocable; this is serious, he/she could lose everything. From now until the final climax, you will be building tension and suspense to keep the reader interested.

4. What is the protagonist's inner, emotional reaction to this decision? When does he/she realizes what this choice will mean?

5. What is the antagonist's emotional reaction to this decision? Why? How does it affect him/her? 

6. What is the emotional reaction of the protagonist's friend/mentor/love interest to this decision?

7. How will you hint at the secret/backstory/flaw that could cause your protagonist to fail completely? (Building tension here)
 
These questions should all be covered by the end of the first six chapters (or 1/4 length) of your novel. This is the end of part I of your story. Your protagonist is about to embark on his/her journey.

Please leave a comment, or tweet or like this post. We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 20, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Those who are just arriving, do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

This is part I (some call it Act I), and it comprises the first quarter of your novel. So if you are writing a novel of approximately 24 chapters (assuming approximately 3-5,000 words per chapter), this part will cover the first six chapters.

Today's questions for reflection will deal with the first 1/2 to 2/3 of this first part. This is where you introduce the setting, the protagonist's "ordinary" world, the main characters, and prepare the reader for the protagonist's journey. (The protagonist is currently in a state of innocence, in that he/she is not aware he/she is about to take this journey yet.)

1. The opening of the novel MUST provide a hook, to keep the reader reading. How will your opening surprise or intrigue your reader? What is unusual or unexpected in the setting, the main character or the event unfolding on the first page? What conflict will there be in the opening scene?

2. What is the world of the protagonist like? Is he/she happy in it? Is he thriving or just surviving? Is she in conflict with her world?

3. What is the protagonist's "simple, everyday goal" in this world?

4. How will you hint at the backstory/secret/scar/flaw in your protagonist?

5. How will you introduce the antagonist in a way that will show what he/she is capable of, what the protagonist will be up against?

 These questions should be answered in the first 3-4 chapters of your novel.

Please leave a comment, or like or tweet this post. We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 19, 2015. Welcome to my Blog Challenge on preparing your novel. Do check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out  more about this challenge, read my original post  HERE.

Having discussed characters, setting and theme, it's now time to work up your plot - or if you're a pantser (that's someone who writes by the seat of your pants as opposed to being a plotter) use these blog posts to create a working outline.

Imagine story as a game of chess; plot is how you move your pieces (your characters) around the board. They move in relation to each other. Every time one character (or chess piece) moves, it affects the future movements of the others. The antagonist and the protagonist are the black and white kings; when one is winning, the other is losing, and vice versa. They should both mirror or reflect that see-saw in their reactions, choices and emotional responses to each other. When the white knight (protagonist) is threatened, his knights (friend, mentor) move to help/protect him. When he is pressing forward, they follow; just like chess pieces. Depending on the story you are telling, the queen (love interest) either supports or rejects the king (protagonist) according to the choices he makes and their consequences. (I don't mean to be sexist here, I'm just using the names of the chess pieces as an image. You can reverse the roles of King & Queen if your protagonist is female).

Over the next two weeks, we'll be reviewing some basic "story moves" to make your novel a winner, by outlining following the three-part structure: beginning (first I/4 of the length), rising action & conflict (middle 1/2 the novel), and ending (final 1/4 of the length). I'll discuss what should be included, or at least considered, in each of these sections.

Before we begin, let's clarify the inherent conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. Think of your novel while answering the following questions:

1. What are the conflicting, mutually-exclusive goals of each of them?

2.What will each of them lose if the other wins? Why can't each of them afford to lose?

3. How do each of them instinctively respond to conflict?

4.What is so important to the protagonist that it will make him engage with the antagonist despite his reluctance?
 
5.What is the deal-breaker ( the thing he/she would never do) for your protagonist?

6. What will your antagonist do to make him do it?

7. What is your antagonist's trigger(s)? What makes him over-react, ready to kill, brings out all his evil?

8.What will your protagonist do to set off this trigger? 


Please leave a comment or like or tweet this post. We can all learn from each other. See you tomorrow!

October 16, 2015. Welcome to the 16th day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Before we start discussing plot, and making an outline for your novel, I want to briefly discuss premise and theme: the "why" behind your novel. 

Premise answers the question, what does this story mean? What is the purpose of this story, why is it significant? What does it mean for me, the reader? What does it tell me about life, or the human condition? Theme answers the related question, what is this story about? Is it a love story? A revenge story? What type of story is it? 

Human minds are designed to make meaning out of the things that happen to us. To "learn" from an experience. Your readers will want to know, what is the point of this story? What is its message, what information or understanding can it impart? We don't want to be lectured, or beaten over the head with a heavy-handed message, but we do prefer a story that has a premise and a theme.

They give a story a universal meaning beyond the specific plot of the tale. Being consciously aware of what that universal concept is can keep us on track in  telling the story, and help us determine what is relevant to this story and what isn't, while we're writing it.

But as fiction writers, we don't generally start out with "I want to tell readers XXX" and then create a story that will demonstrate that premise. That's what medieval morality plays did, but I don't suggest you try to write one of those for a modern audience! More often what happens is, we get an idea for a story that intrigues us and we have to tell that story. To uncover the universal premise behind your specific story, ask yourself these questions:

1. What about this idea intrigues me?

2. Why is it important to me to tell this story?

3. Review your notes from day 2 of this challenge, particularly the "What if..." statement you wrote about your story. Your story is the answer to that question. What does your answer to that question reveal about human nature or the human condition in general?

4. What does my main character (and possibly other characters) learn in this story? (premise) How does he learn this? (theme)

5. How is my main character (and possibly other characters) changed because of this story? In what way will she be changed?

NOTE: I will be taking this weekend off from blogging as I am at a writers' conference. Join me again on Monday, when we will begin discussing how to outline the plot of your novel.

See you on Monday!

October 15, 2015. Welcome to the 15th day of my October Blog Challenge on preparing to write your novel. Those who are just arriving, check out the earlier posts on this challenge, as the exercises/ reflections build on each other. To find out what this challenge is about, read my original post  HERE.

Now that you've chosen your narrator, or narrators, what voice will he/she/they use: first, second, or third person? Second person is not used in novels, so it is really a choice between first or third. This will partly be determined by your own preferred writing style, and partly be convention. If your story is young adult, the most common voice is "I"; if it's romance, mystery, or science fiction, the most common voice is he/she. Regardless of which you choose, the story must be told from the point of view of one character; or at least, one character at a time. If you have chosen to have multiple narrators, in order to portray multiple points of view, it is best to devote different chapters to each different narrator, and stick to that narrator's point of view withing his/her chapter.

First person narration is best for emotional impact. In first person, the author disappears; there is no narrative barrier between the reader and the character speaking. In third person, even though the narrator's thoughts are still recorded, a slight distance between the reader and the narrator is maintained by the use of "he/she" rather than "I". That distance makes it easier for the reader to evaluate the reliability of what the narrator is saying, to maintain a slight intellectual distance from the character narrating the story.

1. Will you write your story in first or third person? Why?

Your next decision is whether to write your story in past tense or present tense. Present tense can be more difficult to maintain, and may be less familiar to your readers, depending on the genre. It does increase the urgency and immediacy of the action, however - the reader is right there with the characters as the plot is unfolding, not hearing about it afterwards. Use of the present tense also increases the suspense - in past tense, the narrator obviously survived, but in present tense, he/she might not.

2. Will you write your story in the past or the present tense? Why is this the best way to tell this story?

 See you tomorrow!