1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Chapter layout so you can find your way around easily.
2. ALL ABOUT THAT PLOT INTRODUCTION
- A brief intro into who I am, why I wrote this guide, and what you can expect to get out of it.
3. IN A NUTSHELL
- How to take your story from idea to outline in eight steps.
4. NARRATIVE ARC + THREE ACT STRUCTURE
- An introduction to narrative arc and three-act structure.
5. BACK TO BASICS
- Master the story basics before you jump in.
6. THE MUDDY MIDDLE
- How to prevent your story's middle from being trash.
7. CREATING A CHARACTER ARC
- How to weave a character arc into your plot.
8. GENRE/WORD COUNT
- What you need to know about genre and word count.
9. NAILING DOWN THEME
- The underlying importance of theme.
10. MAPPING YOUR STORY
- My actual process for making an outline map, marking plot and pinch points, and assigning word count goals. The logistics of your story.
11. LISTING KEY SCENES
- How to structure key scenes from your novel.
12. QUESTION YOUR PLOT
- Ask your plot these questions to help strengthen it.
13. TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- Extra tips and techniques to keep you on track and get your creativity flowing.
14. WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET STUCK
- Because even the best writers struggle at times.
15. A WORD ABOUT GUTS
- Every writer needs some.
16. WRITING RESOURCES
- A list of writing resources, from websites and Youtube channels to books and writing blogs.
*It's important to note, your story may not follow this method exactly. Every story is unique and each writer does things differently. That's perfectly okay! This is only a general guide meant to give you direction and highlight important story elements. Use it in a way that's tailored to your needs. The most important thing is to find a process that works for you.
**Many of the ideas expressed in this guide are not my own. This is a compilation of material I have found helpful in my own personal research. In the last chapter, I have linked various supporting resources.
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Start Your Novel
Non-FictionSo, you wanna write a novel but don't know where to start? Then this guide's for you! Inside, you'll find a step by step process for how to plan your entire novel, starting with only a basic story premise. You'll learn the basics of plot, narrative...
