NaNoWrimo Novel Plot Prepping

There are two main types of writers at NaNoWrimo Planners and Pantsers. Some people come into November with only their passion and an idea that’s been floating around in their head. I tried to do that one year, got stuck. I don’t know why I thought I could fly off the seat of my pants. I am a planner at heart. I love my planner and constantly make todo lists and schedules. So there are only 23 days left till Nov 1st. Thus, I want to cover one of the most important parts of preparing for NaNoWrimo to me, Plot Prepping!

There are numerous methodologies to plan out your plot, some work better for certain types of stories or people. But, the key is to find a method that works for you and map out where your story will go. Today I will go over 3 easy to use plotting tools. This isn’t an exhaustive set, nor are these 3 exclusive. Feel free to combine to make your own system.

Plotting Method 1: Three Act Barebones Structure

This method breaks the story up roughly 25/50/25 percent between the three acts. The first act is The Call, this act is for introducing characters and establishing relationship. Then there’s some kind of conflict that causes a turning point to go into Act Two. Act Two, Rising Action, is half of the novel. This is where the conflict is built up. The protagonist will reach his/her darkness hour at the end of Act Two. This will transition to Act Three, where we have the climax and then resolution. This method could be drawn as a map or written as a document. It’s a basic outline of conflict and resolutions across three acts. This will give you a place to put ideas for the story and to leave notes as you start writing. In recap three acts are:

Act One:   The Call

Act Two:   Rising Action

Act Three: Climax and Resolution

 

Plotting Method 2: 5 Stages of Mythic Journey

This method has 5 stages that form a circle. The first stage is the Cage. This is where the story explores what is trapping your hero. Is he/she held captive by a person or responsibility or limited by position? The second stage is Escape. How does the hero get out of his/her cage? The hero could run away or fight free, maybe he/she is even saved by another person or a new opportunity. The third stage is the Quest. What is the hero called to do and how does he/she accomplish this? The fourth stage is the Dragon. This is where the hero has to face his/her challenger. The final stage is Home. The hero returns and the story is wrapped up and resolved.

1. Cage
2. Escape
3. Quest
4. Dragon
5. Home

 

Plot Method 3: Snowflake

This method was invested by Randy Ingermanson and you will see it mentioned in a lot of NaNoWrimo forums. It is a ten step method that will be performed over multiple writing sessions. The ten steps are listed below:

1. Write a one-sentence summary of your novel
2. Expand the sentence into a paragraph summary: the setup, disasters and ending
3. Create basic character sketch
4. Expand each sentence of your summary into a paragraph of its own.
5. Write one-page synopsis of each of your major characters and half-page synopsis of other important characters.
6. Take each paragraph from your summary and expand to full page
7. Expand character synopses into full-fledge character charts, detailing everything there is to know about each character.
8. Take the story synopsis and list out each scene involved.
9. Take each scene and expand into a multi-paragraph of the scene
10. Begin writing your first draft.

 

I hope this gives you some ideas to start on your plotting journey. There are many methods and different levels of plotting. Some people find they just need a basic road map with a conclusion they are working towards and others like to have each scene sketched out before they start writing. The key is finding the right balance of structure to freedom of creativity. Some people need more fluidity than others to write their Nano draft.

Join me next week when I give some tips to develop your characters that you will be spending the month of November with.

5 Prepping Tips for a Successful NaNoWrimo

It is the 1st of  October and fall is in the air! It is time for warm beverages, cozy blankets, and writing. Only one month until the kickoff and it’s time to start preparing. Here are my 5 top prepping tips for a successful NaNoWrimo:

1. Create a Support Structure. Whether it be people in your town, your family, friends or a virtual community you will want to have a support structure. A lot of communities have write-ins and virtual write-ins. This can give you a structured place to write with others. Also, having people who you can chat with if you are stuck on a character or need some motivation (word sprints tend to be a great way to get to your daily goals). Please look at the forums online!
2. Proclaim that you are a writer. Post it on facebook or twitter, tell your family and friends that in November you will be writing. This is a big step towards completing your project is to tell other people about it. Also this will allow you to protect your time. If your friends know you will be writing and someone asks you to go grab dinner or coffee you can say you can’t because you have to write. No need to make up an excuse, it’s the truth, you will need to be writing.
3. Set up a distraction free zone. Your time is valuable, so let’s make the most of the time you give towards writing. If you think you will honestly be able to write in your living room with your family around you, you are either extremely idealistic or the best concentrator I’ve ever encountered. Set up a space where you will be writing, and only writing, keep all distractions away! No cleaning, paying bills, reading in your writing space. It’s writing time. This should also be a space that your family will respect and allow you to work at as well.
4. Organize your writing tools, or decide on your writing tools. I, personally, love the Scrivener software and they give a free trial for NaNoWrimo. Scrivener is a writing software that allows you to set up your story line in electronic notecards. Some people like to set up word files and a folder system on their computer. Other people love pen and paper, they will have a binder to keep their character sketches and ideas organized and then either write in a notebook or on the computer. There is no right or wrong way to write, but it is key to find a system that works best for you before 1 November!
5. Get Excited! November will be a long month and keeping the motivational all month-long will be a challenge. Start checking out the forums for places to help ignite your passion and keep you from the dreaded writers block.

Book Review - The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine

The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine

Tagline: Life Design for People with Too Many Passion to Pick Just One

In high school, I was highly successful, I graduated 3^rd in my class, had the lead in the musical, captain of the golf team, on the class advisory board. You name it, I was probably involved in it. This lifestyle was celebrated by family and for college acceptance packages, yet as I grew up it was expected that my interest should narrow and now the celebrated lifestyles seem to be of those who dedicate their life to one activity and excel at it. Did I miss a key to growing up? Is there something wrong with me? This book answers those questions and gives direction to people like me who still desire to do it all and well.

Today’s society defines people with a plethora of interest as scatter brained, flighty, easily distracted, passionate but unable to commit to projects. This book starts with defining what a Renaissance Soul is and giving historical examples like my influencer Da Vinci and one of the greatest Renaissance Souls, Benjamin Franklin. There are 4 parts to Lobenstine’s book:

-          Part 1: Claiming Your Renaissance Soul

-          Part 2: Thriving on Many Interests without felling scattered

-          Part 3: Practical Realities: Career Design for Pursuing your Passion

-          Park 4: Successful Life Design for Renaissance Soul

This book makes many great points and I would highly suggest it to anyone who feels like their vast passions are a hindrance and not an asset in his or her life. Yet my biggest takeaway will have to be on her concept of harnessing these passions. Lobenstine uses the analogy of choosing an ice cream flavor to deciding what to do with your time. No one could eat every flavor and not get sick (though many of us relish the idea to try). So she gives the option of a sampler. 4 smaller versions of different flavors and to return whenever you want to try 4 different flavors. So keep a list of all of your life flavor or interests and choose 4 to focus on for a certain period of time. Any time something new pops into your head, add it to the list for later. Then you can manage the 4 focus points in your life.

My Current Sampler:

1.  MBA Program – fall classes until 14^th Dec
2. Blogging/Writing – focus shift for NANOWRIMO
3. Running – Training for ½ marathon 19^th October
4. Sewing/Embroidery – Christmas Presents

Each item will be focused on until completed and then I can pick new items to fill my sampler.  This means that my scrapbooking project or home reno projects will have to wait into their turn in my sampler.

After your sampler is set, each week you can sit down and decide what activities need to be done for the focus point. Once you have these activities you set blocks of time in your schedule for Focus Point Time. A great tip from this book that I am trying to implement is to set aside enough time for all the activities but don’t specify the activity needing to be done in that block. For example if I come to my scheduled block of time and find that I am not motivated to write, I can work on my school work or visa versa if I feel too inspired to stare at a textbook for a couple hours I can write.

The idea that there are many people out there with a Renaissance Soul actually helped inspired by blog here. The Da Vinci spirit is for those who don’t like to be defined as right or left brained, creative or calculating, why can’t I excel at math and art. I hope this book inspires you like it has me!