The Snowflake Method: How to Plan and Write a Novel

"Good fiction doesn't just happen, it is designed." (Randy Ingermanson)

Randy Ingermanson, author of six books, has a foolproof way to write a novel called the Snowflake Method.  You start small, with a basic triangle, and build it up using many interconnecting triangles. It's a way to manage your creativity, to keep your writing on track. Follow the steps at http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/.  Here is a synopsis of the Snowflake Method.

The steps of the Snowflake Method courtesy http://www.thesecretcode.co.uk/page_2461704.html.

Step 1

Take an hour and compose one sentence to summarize the story ex. "A rogue scientist travels back in time to kill apostle Paul."  Think of the big picture.  Your sentence should be short, no more than 15 words.  Do not mention any character's names in the sentence.  Tie together the big picture and the personal story.  Read one line blurbs from the New York Times bestseller list to get ideas.  You can use this sentence as your pitch when you try to publish your book.  This is the triangle step of your snowflake.

Step 2

Take an hour to expand your sentence to a paragraph.  It should be five sentences in length.  The first sentence describes your story's set up.  The next three sentences describe ensuing disasters and the last sentence summarizes the ending.  This paragraph can be used as your story proposal.  This is the second triangle step of your snowflake.

Step 3

Devote an hour to writing a one page summary of each character in your book which includes:

• the character's name
• the character's motivation
• the character's goal
• the character's conflict

Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be perfect.  Keep the forward momentum going.

Step 4

Take several hours and expand each sentence of the summary to a paragraph.  All but the last paragraph should end in a disaster.  

Step 5

Take a day or two and write a one page description of each major character.  Tell the story from the character's point of view.  "Great fiction is character driven" according to Mr. Ingermanson.  Editors will eat it up.

Step 6

Take a week and expand your one page plot synopsis to four pages.  Your triangle is starting to look like a basic snowflake by this point.

Step 7

It's time to make a character chart.  Give each character a birth date, description, history, motivation and how he or she changed during the course of the story.  This is the stage where a published novelist would start writing the first draft or an unpublished novelist would write the proposal.

Step 8

Write a four page synopsis.  Use a spreadsheet to make a list of the scenes to turn the story into a novel.  It's like a "story at a glance".  Devote one line to each scene, point of view, plot and number of pages.  Mr. Ingermanson's spreadsheets usually total 100 lines.  Your snowflake should be acquiring much more detail by now.

Step 9

Take one week to write a narrative description of your story.  The one line descriptions in your spreadsheets should now be paragraphs detailing the essential conflict, important dialogue.  Write one to two pages per chapter, making about 50 pages in total.  This is your chance to revise.

Step 10

Pound out your first draft.  The story should fly off your fingertips.  According to Randy Ingermanson, planning out your story in such detail can triple your fiction writing speed.  "No reason to spend 500 hours writing a wandering first draft of your novel when you can write a solid one in 150," he explains.  Midway through your draft, fix any broken parts of your design document.  You will be thrilled at how deep your story has become, according to Mr. Ingermanson.  

Note:  Snowflake Pro software is available to order online at http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/product/snowflake-pro-software/.

For more information, read Randy Ingermanson's book Writing Fiction for Dummies.

https://thrillerwritinghelp.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/writing-that-dreaded-scary-and-frightening-synopsis/

Editing Your Article: Get Ready to Roll Up Your Sleeves

"When you have the first draft of your article done, then revision begins.  Get ready to roll up your sleeves, because this is the real work, and often, the real fun." (Michelle Ruberg)

Michelle Ruberg cites the example of Marge Simpson who sets out to write a story.  She writes the first paragraph and then clicks spell check.  That is her first mistake:  writers should separate the writing process from the editing process.  When writing that first draft, "Let it flow; get everything on the page," says Ms. Ruberg.  If you listen to your inner critic at this stage, you will stifle your voice and your creativity.  

With the first draft complete, take a break for a day or two.  Let it digest.  Work on another writing project or putter in the garden.  Come at if from a fresh perspective, with new eyes.  Pretend you are looking at your writing for the first time.  Critically re-read your piece with a fine tooth comb.  It's not a once over, it's a process.  Ms. Ruberg separates the process into four parts:  focus, organization, style and grammar.

1.  Focus

What is the major impression you want to make on the reader?  Summarize your theme in one or two sentences.  If you can't, it must not be strong enough.  As you re-read your article, make sure that everything points towards that central theme.  If not, take it out or rewrite it.

2.  Organization

Does your article flow?  Are your points presented in a logical sequence?  Do you link your points with easy transitions?  Do you repeat the same points or words?  Have you left some paragraphs sparse?  Re-read your piece twice.  Print it out and read it aloud, giving you more of an "outside reader" perspective.

3.  Style

Is your style interesting and easy to read?  Do you use your own voice?  Does it shine through?  Does your lead ex. quote, anecdote hook the reader in?  Do your paragraphs flow?  Have you tied your ending to your beginning?  Have you left the reader satisfied or have you left him or her hanging?  Is your content style and tone reflective of the current market?  Is your word count under the maximum amount?

4.  Grammar

Have you peppered your piece with strong verbs?  According to Ms. Ruberg, "strong verbs equals strong writing".  "To be" is one of the weakest verbs; replace it with a more interesting choice. Change the passive voice to the active voice.  Again, this makes your piece more convincing. Change nouns to verbs, especially those that end in "ing" (gerunds).  Eliminate adverbs and replace them with stronger verbs.  Replace noun/adjective combinations with stronger nouns when possible. Ms. Ruberg says this will strengthen your writing and lower your word count.  Make sure your tense is consistent as well as your point of view.  Use a good grammar reference to check punctuation. Make a checklist of your most common mistakes.  Finally, re-read your article backwards to find errors you missed.  Here is a chance to catch repetitions and overused words.

Happy Editing!

Note:  For more information, read Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing (Michelle Ruberg).

Snoopy is breaking the first commandment of editing:  "Thou shalt not combine thy writing and thy editing" courtesy http://arnoldzwicky.s3.amazonaws.com/PeanutsEditing.jpg.