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KUNATI BOOK PUBLISHERS
Infinity Publishing
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Organize Your Novel
©2005 S.L. Bartlett |
| I
know what you’re thinking. How can you organize a novel before it’s
even written? I thought you just wrote, and worried about all that later.
Right now, it’s just a series of events in my mind. That’s
the point. It’s especially confusing for first time novelists. Perhaps
you have written editorials, or short stories, and that’s good. You’ve
built up your resume. However, a novel is long-time commitment, not
something you can do in a day, a week, or even months in some cases. You
have to be able to stay on track despite real life issues which may colour
your plot or characters. First,
know your characters inside out. A friend, Cheryl
Kaye Tardif who is a multiple
published author, gave me a very good bit of advice; make up a “Wall of
Rogues” or a “Rogues Gallery” [Cheryl calls it a Character
Wall]. In other words, find photos or
paintings somewhere that reflect what your character may look like.
Don’t worry, they are strictly for your own visual use and not intended
for any other reason. The characters become more real if you can see them.
Also on the same paper, make out the characteristics of this character.
Paste them on your wall, or in a scrapbook so you have quick reference.
This will keep your characters true to form, and you will not stray or
write something that would go against the personality of that particular
player. Next, work through a rough story outline either in your head or on
paper, making sure it's your characters that define the story and not the
other way round. An informal outline of the beginning and ending will
help, along with bits of information in between that drives the idea in
your head and approximately where they will fit in the story. Then
write your finale. For instance if you are writing a romance, you might
write 'Dirk asks for
Jane's hand in marriage.' Do not be secretive, after all, you’re the one
writing it and no one else will see it. So be explicit on how you want
this story to end. It's simplistic, I know, but that's the point. Start
to describe opening scenes, the actions that take place, conversations, if
you have them, and how issues might be resolved. At the end of this
process, which may take you a whole day or two, you should have a draft
template for your novel. Read over if a few times and make sure it
includes basically everything you want in your novel. If you survive this
process, and it makes you eager to fill it in, you are ready to begin in
earnest. This will help you to keep focus, and to prevent you from straying too far off the mark as you progress. Can you see the book in its entirety? Good, that is the purpose. It will also point out trouble spots and hopefully give you a direction to go in to iron them out before you get too far into the plot. There have been too many writers who get lost halfway through the novel because they get lost, and write themselves into a corner. It’s especially helpful, as well, when you have to put it aside for a period of time, and when you get back to it, all you have to do is look at your “Rogues Gallery” and the extended outline you have written out, and you don’t have to stare at your monitor and wonder where to go next. It’s all there for you, as a guideline. I know this sounds more like a business plan than the romantic idea you had of just sitting and writing the next bestseller. It simply does not strike you as creative. However, even most artists draw out a basic template before putting their brush to the palette. Writing is a business, and you need that “business plan” to stay on course. Some, of course, will disagree with this essay, and that is fine; whatever works for you. But if you are uncertain on starting your first extended project which a novel inevitably is, this is a plan that will at least make your idea more concrete, and ease you into it.With a novel outline and your “Rogues Gallery”, you are more likely to finish your novel than without one! Only one in twenty new authors ever finish their novel. So before you dismiss the idea as too much planning, at least give this a shot. Contrary to popular belief, authoring a novel is not a matter of just sitting down and writing. It is far more than that, so be prepared |
Lead BookAdz Interviewer, S.L. Bartlett, has written several editorials and freelance items for her local and county newspaper, as well as satirical essays. Bartlett is also a book reviewer for BookAdz and a staff writer for Silver Moon Magazine. |
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