Posts Tagged ‘story structure’
Ingermanson is the author of “Writing Fiction for Dummies.” While I can’t fully agree that rookie writers qualify as dummies, I often feel dumb during the fiction-writing process. And I know this is true for my other writer friends because we’ve compared experiences.
“…but more frequently, I suffer afternoons where I question my ability to write even a shopping list.”
Learning, understanding and implementing all the components that make up a compelling page-turner is an arduous process. It’s a path that is as individual as the writer who has embarked upon it. I live for those cherished “aha” moments, but more frequently, I suffer afternoons where I question my ability to write even a shopping list.
Part of the quest is learning the nuts and bolts of fiction writing from those who have successfully blazed the trail. Two of my favorites are Larry Brooks are (storyfix.com) and Randy Ingermanson (snowflake method). I’ve written about both of these creative and generous writers on this blog before. The duo have joined forces in an informational and fun interview. Take time to read this interview with a superstar writing mentor.
Write on!
–Claire Yezbak Fadden
- In: writing
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As a little girl, I used to get so excited when I finished a task. “Look, Dad,” I’d say. “I did it!”
My dad would reply, “Anything’s easy when you know how to do it.”
It used to annoy me. Just because you know how to do something doesn’t make it easy.
Have you ever been captive in a car with a driver who refuses to ask for directions? I used to be one of those writers who didn’t want to be bothered with a roadmap. I would click away at the keyboard, and my characters would take me away to settings and lives of my own creation. The imaginative ride was a rush, but it took forever to make everything fit into place at the revision stage.
Claire Fadden posted a bit about story structure last week. What? You mean writers don’t have to write by the seat of the pants to be creative, effective storytellers? — The “Just let it flow and see where it takes you” school of thought brought me to the seventh revision of my first novel. As it turns out, organization is a good thing. Planning doesn’t make me weak, unimaginative or a hack. Setting up a process for getting from point A to B to C and so on gives me the freedom to create three-dimensional characters and a plot that makes sense. Plot twists come more easily when I know generally where I’m going and how I’m going to get there. Feeling my way through the dark, figuring it out as I go along, took sooo much time and caused tremendous frustration. That isn’t to say I write detailed outlines of every scene. Now I list scenes within the beginning (set up) to the first plot point (inciting incident), etc. Things tend to change along the way, but the overall plan makes the process – not easy – but so much easier.
All hail story structure!
Claire posted the storyfix.com link last week. You might also want to check out the link Ondine found which outlines the “Snowflake Method” of writing a novel http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php. Both have great how-to help and insights into story structure. Find out why it works better to Mapquest an address that to “feel your way” in unfamiliar territory when it comes to writing a novel.
A certain freedom comes from following a set of rules. Once you know you have to stop at the red lights and you can go at the green ones, you are free to travel anywhere you want!
~Trish Wilkinson
The Page a Day Writers Group is a diverse collection of wonderful writers based in San Diego, CA. We've been meeting monthly since 2004. Our primary function is in-depth writing critique, marketing and brainstorming, but there's usually some wine, chocolate and ribaldry involved too. We write fantasy, humor, literary fiction, nonfiction, romance, thrillers and YA. Join us on our journeys to publication and the wonderland beyond!
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