Preparing To Write A Novel

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I want to take a look at the stages of writing a novel. So what better place to begin than before the beginning? The big P! No I don't mean a prologue! I mean preparation. I know some of you Pantsers out there are scoffing and getting ready to skim - but wait just a second! Because I (as most of you know) tend to be a Pantser as well. The thing is, there are some things I have to prepare ahead of time to make the whole process easier later on. Of course each project is different, but for arguments sake, let's take a look at a fictitious book.


Let's say I wake up at 3 AM and decide - this is it! I am going to write a book about a human raised by vampires! After basking in the glow of my brilliance (serious exaggeration), I decide to use my newfound energy and excitement to start planning. 


Step one: Who is my protagonist?

• I know I've said it before, but I need someone who does NOT belong/thrive in this situation. In this case? How about a boy with hemophilia? A delicate boy, who is very scientifically oriented... Yes, I think that would do nicely. Let's call him Eugene for the purposes of this example.

Step Two:  What is my plot? 

• So I have a situation, but that's NOT a plot! What is going to be Eugene's problem he'll have to solve? And what will get in his way? Maybe His parents are framed for a crime by another vampire and he has to clear them. But to do that he has to come to terms with his disbelief of the supernatural and face his greatest fear - bloodletting. 
• At this point I would try to write a one sentence pitch, followed by a summary, and finally the beat sheet from Save the Cat. That's all the outlining I do. And chances are a lot of it will change as I go, but at least I have a guideline to work with.

Step Three: Research!

• At this point I would research what other books are out there in this genre that might be good comp books. I might find out that *gasp* vampire books aren't selling well right now! In which case I might decide to change the whole vampire thing. But since this is just an example, we'll keep going.
• I'd also research any other real life issues associated with the book. I'd want to check out hemophilia for example to make sure I depict it accurately and without stereotypes.

Step Four: Other Notes

• I keep an extra file in Word with random notes I think of as I go. This might contain things like other character comments/ideas or world details. Maybe these vampires can go out during the day because of some of the scenes. 

That's my process! What's yours? Other than more serious outlining, any big steps you'd recommend? 

Plotters Vs. Pantsers The Ultimate Showdown

This is a topic that's been on the forefront of my mind lately. It seems everywhere I look I see people weighing in on whether they are Pansters (seat of your pants, write as you go) or Plotters (outlining, character worksheets, the whole kit and caboodle).

Sometimes it feels like a showdown.

What side am I on? I've always been a Pantser. Here are some pros and cons as I see them:

Pros:

• The sense of discovery keeps it interesting and fresh, which in turn keeps it feeling that way for the reader
• It encourages a creative flow, almost like stream of consciousness writing
• It's character driven. The characters are more free to make their own decisions, and less likely to be forced into certain actions by the author because of a perceived notion of where the plot is supposed to go

Cons:

• It can be messy when you go to revise
• You could find yourself 70,000 words in and written into a corner you can't escape from (I have around 5 started manuscripts on my hard drive, which I may or may not ever go back to)
• If you have a complex plot (like I often do) it's hard to keep track of all the threads

Now here's the earth-shattering part of the post. Ready? I don't see why you have to be one or the other, or why you can't change depending on the project.

Recently I started a brand new WIP. I decided to give outlining a try. Nothing major. Just a simple Beatsheet(worksheet) from SAVE THE CAT as recommended in a Twitter conversation with my Tweeps/blogging buddies, Stina and Laura. This particular story also requires quite a bit of research to begin with. I haven't gotten terribly far yet, but I am excited about the possibilities. It's kind of nice having a safety net of sorts, especially knowing where it ultimately should end up.

Will I force it to fit my outline if my characters suddenly take an unexpected turn? Nope. I'll let them explore and see where it leads. It's just who I am. But if I'm lost, I now have a road map of sorts.

A compromise.

I doubt I'll be declaring myself a Plotter anytime soon. But at least I know I'm not allergic to outlines. Just werewolves.

How about you? What's your preference? Did I miss anything on my pros/cons list?

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