Reading to write... what's involved? (Part Two)

Reading to write... what's involved? (Part Two)

Q2: What sets my writing apart from everyone else's?

Mostly planning. If you have a handle on the English language, to include grammar and spelling, you've got half of the battle won. Next you'll need a good plot with plenty of conflict – whether it's moral, societal, supernatural or whatever you choose, there has to be something that makes your characters push for change or revolution.

Next you need to put your planning where your plot is... or is it plot where your planning is? Write out the whole story in a few sentences.

• Ex: Teenie was manufactured to be a robot, but he had feelings. He had no one to share his feelings with. Until he met the human boy Peter. They become quick friends, until the manufacturer came to recall Teenie's model. Now there's a race to save Peter's only friend from being deactivated, or worse, completely scrapped.

Next is the story line. How will it start how will it end? See cheat sheets for more.

I usually do something like...

1. Introduce Teenie in the manufacturing stage
2. describe what he is and when he came to life
3. bring in MC as Teenie is being delivered.
4. Reveal about second character through one sided conversation with Teenie where (second character) Peter reveals his conflicts to a silent Teenie
5. New Chapter – Teenie Reveals himself to Peter etc. etc... When I'm done, I usually transfer it to Bibisco to start the novel.

Next I create my characters' profiles by filling in every detail I can for each. As I write, new characters arise and IMMEDIATELY I create a profile for them (even the insignificant ones).

This is my process for being prepared, planning out my book.

{I like Bibisco because it's a cheat sheet (and it's free. Click here to find out more). I can add pics to my characters, keep a background record on any and everything I want including the world or any maps I create. It categorizes everything for me and gives me a place to put all characterization information and export to a text file or pdf.} See cheat sheets for more.

Now it's time to write! You've checked off your list of things to do before you begin your novel – ie. the aforementioned and anything else you personally do for you to be prepared. (See cheat sheets for more.)

You should have:

• a summary of your story, (plot)
• a checklist of how you want the plot to flow (this happens then this happens then this happens then this happens)
• at least your main characters information completed
• See cheat sheets available for download here

Now it's time to start writing. You should have some form of review from what you've read in other books (How did their story start? How do they describe their characters? What was the character's background information and how was it presented? What was the moral question or conflict? How were they presented in this chapter etc.? See the cheat sheets for more)

For me, the easiest way to write, besides using these tools – is to imagine it myself first, in my own head, then describe what I see. (In great detail ONLY when those details matter to your scene.  Ex: The small alarm clock he kept next to his bed, was cracked on the top.  You could see it from the doorway and he hated showing his room to guests, thinking others would notice it too. He hit it constantly, every morning.... Later in the story we find -  that's where he got the gash on his finger.  That cut could be the difference between freedom and a murder charge.  Note: There's no reason to know about the crack on the clock if it doesn't pertain to your story ie. showing person is sloppy or having some other agenda)

 

There should be a reason for everything your character does, make sure that reason is known, so when they make a choice in your story, it's understandable why they made the choice they did.

• 2.a. What sets this book apart from everyone else's? 
  • Your writing is going to be key here.  Is your plot believable? Do you have a moral question or dilemma that must be resolved?  Your conflict and resolution must be there even if the novel is "to be continued".  People want to read a story they can;

1. understand
2. see happening/ logical (even if it's mythical or science fiction it just can't be so out of touch with reality that it can't be imagined) 
3. see themselves in the shoes of the character, in the plot or at least be empathetic/intrigued enough to want to continue reading.

• Your moral dilemma or conflict has to be worthwhile.
  • Remember Johnny's story from part one? 
     
  • Was his moral conflict worthwhile?
  • How could you make it so?
  • Moral question?- if someone is screaming for help - are you obligated to help them? Would you be a bad person if you didn't help?
    
  This is all for our challenge today. Make sure you get started on those cheat sheets . You should have a book, written in the same genre you're writing in for the reading to write portion (part one). Then for this portion (part two) you should have downloaded the Framework for your book. There's also a guide to understanding point of view here.

Until next time, happy writing!

Myka

XOXO