My Control Phreak Process
So, a few people thought a post explaining a little on my process would be interesting. I do plan to one day pull it all together in a nice nonfiction book, but this will have to do for now.
When I posted my comment at Stephen Leigh that my planning is a 10+ on the organized scale, I meant it. But it's something of a different kind of "organizing." I'd call it more like layering, with each phase of the process (which I call novel plot building) adding new layers. By the time I actually reach the rough draft phase, writing that draft is a breeze for me.
I've played with the process a bit too, but, as I noted on my post comparing the 3 Heroes of Ehlarayn novels, doing so leaves me short on the rough draft. From that comparison, there's one or two phases I could combine or cut, but here I'll give a little on each of the original stages of writing I use for my novels. These are more like brief notes of what I do for each, but I'm willing to answer questions if anyone is actually interested.
Foundations: I start with a 2 or 3 sentence paragraph about the book. It includes the conflict, the characters (by labels if I don't have names), the resolution, and gives an idea of what genre and audience I'm aiming for. I then expand this into a 5-7 sentence paragraph that includes the M.C., the antagonist, main conflict, and a clearly indicated resolution to aim for.
Plotting: I fill out a specific plotting form that helps me think about how to fill in the story by writing information on the main plot, any subplots, a character list, character related plots, the resolution, important character interactions, anything that I might need to have going on to lead into any sequel that might be planned, and what the characters are doing at the end of the story. More on this phase of the process and the form I use can be picked up here. Sometimes I have trouble figuring all this stuff out, so I do a brief outline plot sketch listing my main events in very brief sentences in the order they'll happen. This usually gives me a better feel for the story.
Outlining: Using the plotting form I've filled out, I start creating an outline of the novel. I don't use Roman numerals for my sectioning, but things like location, subplots, and character names as my markers, and I tend to write in brief paragraphs rather than single sentences. This is where I usually end up not writing in a linear fashion the most -- I fill in areas of the outline I know first, work on the others as they come to me. While the previous phases usually don't take more than a week combined, this one can take several weeks on its own as I sort things out and add and subtract. I also include world building notes so I will be aware of and thinking about the world building that will need to be done for the novel.
Synopsis Narrative: Not really sure that's what this phase is, but now I turn each event in the outline into a present tense, 3rd person summary of the event. And I'm still adding to the story and world building notes at this point. This is also where I start using the overwrite feature -- I write a little, then overwrite for a bit until I get to a section where I need to see what happens to write and turn the overwrite off. I do keep copies of each phase of the process, so each of these is saved under a new file name before I start working.
Expanded Narrative: Still in present tense, 3rd person, I begin to describe actual scenes, add more world building notes, authors notes, and so on. I'm still telling, not showing, still playing with the story.
Notes Draft: This is where things really start happening. I'm filling in scenes, writing notes that I need to keep track of or on things I need to add (such as descriptions), adding transitions, and so on. It's still more telling than showing, there's little actual dialogue and all that, but the story is really filling out and starting to look closer to what it will be when I finish the rough draft.
Building Draft: Here I start turning the story into an actual story. Notes are integrated into the story as needed, complete descriptions (and I mean complete -- right down to the smallest details) are added in, dialogue is added, and I start showing. I also take out the world building notes and create a world building checklist.
Rough Draft: And this is the slap it down, write the story as a story, weave in those descriptions, and don't worry about technicalities draft.
Not sure I explain the differences between each phase well. Each phase works on expanding and integrating what was added before, as well as adding more. I get to know the story really well and I know what I'm aiming for with the resolution. Feel free to ask questions and I'll attempt to clarify whatever I've muddled in the translation.
I know a few people will think that the process itself might end up being some kind of straight jacket, but I always give myself permission to change things as I need to. Even with changes, by the time I get to the rough draft, I know the story so well that it's breeze to write. But I'm sure anyone can also see why activities like NaNoWriMo and I don't get along. ;)
And the process has taken me from struggling with getting a complete rough draft for one book over 17 years to now having 3 books drafted (although I'll grant that the last 2 need some expansion work done on them). I actually finish the books I started rather than stalling out somewhere around chapters 6 through 10 and finally giving up in total despair of ever getting done.
Now if I could just figure out a way to make the revising easier . . . .
When I posted my comment at Stephen Leigh that my planning is a 10+ on the organized scale, I meant it. But it's something of a different kind of "organizing." I'd call it more like layering, with each phase of the process (which I call novel plot building) adding new layers. By the time I actually reach the rough draft phase, writing that draft is a breeze for me.
I've played with the process a bit too, but, as I noted on my post comparing the 3 Heroes of Ehlarayn novels, doing so leaves me short on the rough draft. From that comparison, there's one or two phases I could combine or cut, but here I'll give a little on each of the original stages of writing I use for my novels. These are more like brief notes of what I do for each, but I'm willing to answer questions if anyone is actually interested.
Foundations: I start with a 2 or 3 sentence paragraph about the book. It includes the conflict, the characters (by labels if I don't have names), the resolution, and gives an idea of what genre and audience I'm aiming for. I then expand this into a 5-7 sentence paragraph that includes the M.C., the antagonist, main conflict, and a clearly indicated resolution to aim for.
Plotting: I fill out a specific plotting form that helps me think about how to fill in the story by writing information on the main plot, any subplots, a character list, character related plots, the resolution, important character interactions, anything that I might need to have going on to lead into any sequel that might be planned, and what the characters are doing at the end of the story. More on this phase of the process and the form I use can be picked up here. Sometimes I have trouble figuring all this stuff out, so I do a brief outline plot sketch listing my main events in very brief sentences in the order they'll happen. This usually gives me a better feel for the story.
Outlining: Using the plotting form I've filled out, I start creating an outline of the novel. I don't use Roman numerals for my sectioning, but things like location, subplots, and character names as my markers, and I tend to write in brief paragraphs rather than single sentences. This is where I usually end up not writing in a linear fashion the most -- I fill in areas of the outline I know first, work on the others as they come to me. While the previous phases usually don't take more than a week combined, this one can take several weeks on its own as I sort things out and add and subtract. I also include world building notes so I will be aware of and thinking about the world building that will need to be done for the novel.
Synopsis Narrative: Not really sure that's what this phase is, but now I turn each event in the outline into a present tense, 3rd person summary of the event. And I'm still adding to the story and world building notes at this point. This is also where I start using the overwrite feature -- I write a little, then overwrite for a bit until I get to a section where I need to see what happens to write and turn the overwrite off. I do keep copies of each phase of the process, so each of these is saved under a new file name before I start working.
Expanded Narrative: Still in present tense, 3rd person, I begin to describe actual scenes, add more world building notes, authors notes, and so on. I'm still telling, not showing, still playing with the story.
Notes Draft: This is where things really start happening. I'm filling in scenes, writing notes that I need to keep track of or on things I need to add (such as descriptions), adding transitions, and so on. It's still more telling than showing, there's little actual dialogue and all that, but the story is really filling out and starting to look closer to what it will be when I finish the rough draft.
Building Draft: Here I start turning the story into an actual story. Notes are integrated into the story as needed, complete descriptions (and I mean complete -- right down to the smallest details) are added in, dialogue is added, and I start showing. I also take out the world building notes and create a world building checklist.
Rough Draft: And this is the slap it down, write the story as a story, weave in those descriptions, and don't worry about technicalities draft.
Not sure I explain the differences between each phase well. Each phase works on expanding and integrating what was added before, as well as adding more. I get to know the story really well and I know what I'm aiming for with the resolution. Feel free to ask questions and I'll attempt to clarify whatever I've muddled in the translation.
I know a few people will think that the process itself might end up being some kind of straight jacket, but I always give myself permission to change things as I need to. Even with changes, by the time I get to the rough draft, I know the story so well that it's breeze to write. But I'm sure anyone can also see why activities like NaNoWriMo and I don't get along. ;)
And the process has taken me from struggling with getting a complete rough draft for one book over 17 years to now having 3 books drafted (although I'll grant that the last 2 need some expansion work done on them). I actually finish the books I started rather than stalling out somewhere around chapters 6 through 10 and finally giving up in total despair of ever getting done.
Now if I could just figure out a way to make the revising easier . . . .