30Story-Snowflake
The Importance of Design: Good writing doesn't just happen, it is designed. Think of a triangle or a square or a hexagon,
anything to begin. Imagine the shape gradually changing, one shape at a time. The work doesn't look much like a snowflake
at first, but after a few steps, it starts looking more and more like one, until it finally becomes a snowflake. If you are a
spontaneous writer, you can use this process after the first draft
This is a process for designing a story - a small start, that builds into the story. The steps of design, or drafts, are needed. Not only because the basic story can improve, but because your memory is fallible, and gaps will exist.
Step 1) Write a one-sentence overview of your story. This is the big picture, focusing on the main character, an analog of the starting triangle in the snowflake picture.
Step 2) Expand that sentence to a paragraph, giving the major plot, important occurances, and the ending. This is the analog of the second stage of the snowflake.
Step 3) Now describe your major character(s) in one to two paragraphs. Describe their motivation, goal, and conflict(s), i.e. the heroine may love the hero, but fear his philandering.
Important: You will undoubtedly need to revise these early plans. This is a necessity - it means your characters are teaching you about your story.
Step 4) Expand each scene, stating the O-O-O, the Objective, Obstacle and Outcome. This can be tricky. Take care to develop each O until you can state them clearly.
Step 5) Decide which scene begins the action. Consider starting at that point and using flashback to capture essential scenes from earlier. Search for a narrative hook, a beginning line(s) that will grab the reader's attention.
"Call me Ishmael."
Step 6) With your ideas firmly in mind, start writing the story. Transitions between major
occurances (scenes) may needed.
This is a process for designing a story - a small start, that builds into the story. The steps of design, or drafts, are needed. Not only because the basic story can improve, but because your memory is fallible, and gaps will exist.
Step 1) Write a one-sentence overview of your story. This is the big picture, focusing on the main character, an analog of the starting triangle in the snowflake picture.
Step 2) Expand that sentence to a paragraph, giving the major plot, important occurances, and the ending. This is the analog of the second stage of the snowflake.
Step 3) Now describe your major character(s) in one to two paragraphs. Describe their motivation, goal, and conflict(s), i.e. the heroine may love the hero, but fear his philandering.
Important: You will undoubtedly need to revise these early plans. This is a necessity - it means your characters are teaching you about your story.
Step 4) Expand each scene, stating the O-O-O, the Objective, Obstacle and Outcome. This can be tricky. Take care to develop each O until you can state them clearly.
Step 5) Decide which scene begins the action. Consider starting at that point and using flashback to capture essential scenes from earlier. Search for a narrative hook, a beginning line(s) that will grab the reader's attention.
"Call me Ishmael."
Step 6) With your ideas firmly in mind, start writing the story. Transitions between major
occurances (scenes) may needed.
THE SNOWFLAKE METHOD
Excerpted from http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/