Michael Stackpole did a few seminars when I was at Gencon a few
years back, and I took some notes. I've actually found these steps to
be useful to me in the past, so I thought I would share them here for
any aspiring writers out there who are having a difficult time getting
started...
Novels run from 90,000-120,000 words
long with 2500-3000 word chapters. Short chapters make it a page
turner. When you hit 2200 words, start looking for a way out. Don't
worry about having 2501 words as long as you are close.
Some
people think if you don't write fast, you don't write well. Find a
speed that works for you. Don't worry if you don't write fast. Don't
edit your work until you are done or you'll never get done.
Day 1
Create a character, and write a single sentence about that character. Cover five areas with one sentence each.
Possible areas:
Love Life
School Life
Occupation
What makes them happy
A big problem in their life
Day 2
Two
more sentences about each one of those areas in that character's life.
That will give you five paragraphs. Three sentences in a paragraph.
If you can't come up with two sentences, dump the idea or come up with a
way. Day 2 will have 15 sentences.
Day 3
Write
a single sentence that is in opposition of the five points. Example,
Bob has a job he doesn't like working for his father in law.
Day 4
Write
two more sentences adding to point three. What Bob doesn't know is his
father in law was skimming money from the company and setting him up.
Stories start at the point of change in the character's life. Now, we
have a story. Don't start with perfect characters.
Day 5
Repeat
Days 1-4 for another character. You don't have to link these
characters. In most stories, people see good and bad guys. Don't cast
these guys into that role yet.
Day 6
For
each of your characters, determine their life goals, short term and
long term. Do two short term and one long term goal. Here's where you
can start to connect the dots. The two characters could have the same
goal.
Day 7
For each character, chart
the obstacles and fears keeping them from reaching their goals. Bob
wants to retire to Florida, but he doesn't have the money. Jennifer
wants a singing career, but she has a fear of singing in public. You
are just doing an inventory, not making judgement. What challenges are
they facing to achieve that goal.
Day 8
Repeat
Days 1-4 and 6-7 for another character. When you have three characters
and you start introducing them, you create energy for the story. You
can have 1 and 2 plotting to screw over 3 at the end of the chapter, but
character 3 may not fall for it. This can be a hook. Some characters
you make may be minor. You may not use it at all.
Day 9
Try
to develop character voices. How a character speaks gives a window to
the mind. On Day 9, write a letter from one character to another
character. It could be a warning, an apology, a request for advice or
whatever. How will it look? Write on a paper bag, notepad or
whatever. You need to hand write it. See how this character
communicates with the other. Bob writes a letter to his wife explaining
why he left with his secretary.
Is any of this material making it into the novel? Probably not, but it will give you an idea of what the book will be about.
Day 10
Dialogue.
Take two characters and have a conversation, discussing the content of
the letter. Don't use he said or she said. Word choices are
important. Big words for smarter characters, smaller for less smart.
Voice ticks like using slang or things like, "There ya go." Using names
for a person that others don't use.
Day 11
The
third character will be watching that conversation, but he can't hear
them. That character should attribute something to the speaker for each
sentence. Bob is watching a conversation between Jennifer and
somebody. What does he do? Bob sweats as she speaks, or he wipes his
bald head. That's how you build attribute tags. Don't have a character
looking into a mirror. Don't use he said unless it's building a
point. Its possible to build a novel without he said, she said. If Bob
arranges the things on the table, it shows he's precise when he's
nervous.
Day 12
World building. Ask
yourself what roots them in the world. What is their life in relation
to the world? Bob lives in Chicago, but he wears Packers shirts. Do it
for all the characters.
Day 13
How
does where they live or what they do help or hurt the pursuit of their
goal? How does the world nurture their environment? If Bob lives near
the L Train, he's not gonna be able to focus. He'll go elsewhere for
thinking.
Day 14
If the characters
succeed, achieving their life goals, how will their life change if they
fail? If they are close to success, how will the world push back? In
LotR, Frodo loses a finger, but Sauron loses everything. What is their
power level within the world? There will be a push back against this
goal.
Day 15
Write a brief scene about
each character in a place they all share, or the main character's happy
space. You get to see how they all view that place. Bob might see a
license plate and recall a car he had. Another character could see
something completely different when they see that license plate. A
commonly shared place will help lock the image in your mind, and you
will return to that place again. Observe. Go to the store and watch
people.
Day 16
Character arc plot.
Write up a tag line and back cover blurb for your book. Bob never
thought his life could be any better, but then Jennifer came into his
life. Write back cover blurb. Tell us what this novel is about in two
paragraphs. If you can't do that, you'll never write that book. If we
know where we think we are going to end, it will make it easier.
Day 17
Characters
grow by changing through solving problems. He changes shampoo, because
he doesn't like how he looks. You want character growth, not just
character change. Bob has problems with his father in law framing him.
Five step process to realize problem
Step 1- Show problem.
Step 2-Character has to realize he has a problem.
Step 3-Catalyst for an event shows character he needs to deal with the problem. Reason to deal with the problem.
Step 4-Show how character develops resources to deal with the problem.
Step 5-Show the success or failure of our hero in dealing with the problem.
Steps
4 and 5 are especially important as they help build up to the end of
the story. Day 17 will allow you to create 8 or 9 scenes in the story
per character.
Day 18
We will identify
the complexities and conflicts that come with these arcs. Jennifer
wants marriage and kids, but Bob doesn't. We have to show how he deals
with it. This causes more scenes. You may have an idea, but
interactive energy will make it a better story. Go with it. See where
it goes. Use single lines. No need for a bunch of words.
Day 19
Go
back to 17 and 18 and note physical events. Bob and his wife are at a
party. He finally walks out on her. You may decide another character
will be at that event. Jennifer may stay away, because she doesn't want
to see Bob and his wife. She doesn't see him leave his wife. By Day
19, we have a series of events.
Day 20
Timeline
and interweaving. Interweave the scenes together. If you have
multiple viewpoint characters, you can rotate the chapters (Char 1, Char
2, Char 3, Char 1 again and so on). You may allow two of some in a row
if the story calls for it. This document is like a road map. It is
where you think you will end up. By Day 20, you have a working outline.
Day 21
This
is the day you start writing. Every word you write is one word closer
to the end of the novel. Build the novel one sentence at a time if you
have to. Find a time when you can write. Do not rewrite until you are
finished. Up to Chapter 7 in this novel, Bob has no children. At 7, we
decide we need one. Make a note, Chapter 1, include child. Start at 7
with the child and revise it at the end of writing the book. Keep
going until the end. If writing slows down, go back and get to know the
characters. Interview them. Do whatever. If you get yourself into a
corner, back up from that point and start at the point where you veered
off.
