by Nori J. Muster, 1990
I. Ideas for the story
A. Give a capsule description of the story you want to write. What emotions do you feel about the subject? Would others have an emotional response? Why? How will the story create reader identification? Write about an emotional period of your own life. Was it a turning point? Write a brief description of that event and time. Describe how you felt then and how you feel now about what happened. Try to recapture the emotion.
B. Describe briefly the important characters in the story: the hero or heroine (protagonist), the main opposition character (antagonist), and any other character who is a supporting player for the main character. Where does the story take place? In what time period (past, present, or future)? What is the major problem facing the main character?
C. Where would the story fit? Mainstream? Category?
D. What aspects of the story would give it universal appeal? A fresh approach?
E. Why do you want to write this particular story? Why do you think this idea would make a good book you could write?
II. Background
A. Background, or back story are the events that happened before the beginning of the story you want to tell. Write a summary of the story's background. Give more details on the place in which the story occurs; more about the time in which it set; any major historical events or present-day events that would affect the characters and actions in the story. Explain why you chose this particular place and time as background for the story. Tell why you'll be able to write about this with credibility. Is it because of a personal experience or the experience of a person close to you? Is the background inspired by an absorbing interest in the place, time, and events? Why is this particular background relevant to this story ideal?
B. Write a five-page sample of how you will weave background into the telling of the story.
III. Viewpoint/Characters and Their Motivations
A. Make a character analysis for each major character, including the following:
(Editor's Note: This character analysis is written and provided by fiction writer Vincent Arcuri. All other parts of this workshop are written by Nori J. Muster, based on her Writers Digest Novel Writing Workshop notes.)
Character Chart
Name of character:
Date of birth:
Time frame: this is important because when we know the time frame of our story. It better tells what our characters age is. Age is important because if our character is 40. he will be responsible than someone who is 15. And so.
Primary Goal (this is where I describe what my hero wants to accomplish in the novel. I usually expand on this)
Conflict (this is where I include what prevents my character from achieving the primary goal.
Resolution (this is where I record how the character achieves his primary goal)
Character change (this where I describe how my main character's change in the course of the novel)
Character decisions (what is this character's new plan, new goal in the novel?)
Inner strength (what makes the character who he is in the novel?)
Character motivation (what does this character want and why?)
Conflicting values and objectives (this is where I decide what conflicts with his values and objectives)
Also, I add Conflicting emotions and beliefs (this is where I decide what conflicts with his emotions and beliefs)
Emotional outline (this is where I record what emotional changes my character goes through in the novel)
Also, I create my characters Self-Concept (I like to know how my character describes himself) because how we view ourselves is different that what others describe us.
Once I create all this for my main characters, I expand on each one. Besides that I will create the characters physical appearance. Any background details that relate to either my story idea or my characters. I also add notes to my character charts to add more depth to them. Characters need to come alive for us. I add all this for my hero, heroine, and my antagonist. The secondary characters get the same treatment. But most of all I like to describe what each characters relationship is to the protagonist, followed by their roles they play in the novel. This is mainly how I draw on my characters. When I create three or four characters, I notice that a story begins to take off for me. I look at this as brainstorming my characters. I feel specific details are important when creating characters. Because it helps us see them in a better light. It brings the character to life. By giving each important character each of the top elements. Sometimes I find a story in everything I created. Physical appearance is also important as well as speech and mannerisms. Because these will also help us know who he is. Habits and hobbies are good to in order to know our fictional people. So, here we have it. A character chart. Character is motivation. Character is also attitude and emotion.
(Editor's Note: Here are some further considerations when developing a character)
1. Surface characteristics: character's name, gender, age, physical appearance (body type, hair, eyes, facial features, dress, posture, movements, mannerisms, speech, first impression). Does any physical characteristic suggest what's going on inside?
2. Background: education, religion, family, early childhood experiences, financial situation, profession, marital status, other relationships, habits, surroundings/ environment, health.
3. The inner person: distinctive traits, self-image, yearnings/ dreams, fears/apprehensions, sense of humor, code of ethics, attitude, outlook on life. Other details: hobbies, favorite foods, colors, books, music, art. Positive traits and negative traits (character flaws). Why do you want this character to have these traits/attitudes as related to the story idea?
4. Motivation (ie., survival, search for identity; need for love, recognition, spiritual identity, acceptance, affiliation, achievement, growth, etc.). How will this motivation lead to a believable character change during course of the story? Basic motivations, drives--how will blocking these basic drives cause conflict? Explore your own motivations. Describe any early childhood experience you think influenced your adult thoughts, feelings, and actions (memories of teachers, relatives, friends who left a lasting impression). Many of your own experiences can be used to motivate the fictional character's inner traits.
5. What two opposing character traits would cause conflict in the character? What is the rationale for this particular character in this particular story?
B. Read this article on point of view: click here, then answer the following questions: Which point of view will you use to tell this story? Why did you choose that approach? Which character will be the main protagonist, the character who stands to win or lose with the resolution of the story problem?
IV: Plot Development
A. Answer the following questions:
1. Who are the most important characters in the story? Describe the protagonist and the main antagonists (may be impersonal entity, ie. "the system" or a destructive force within the protagonist).
2. What is the primarily problem facing the protagonist(s)? The problem must seem big enough to last throughout the story. It must cause endless complications as the protagonist struggles to overcome it. The protagonist must be prepared to go to any lengths to solve the problem; only by solving it may the character find peace of mind.
3. Why is the solution to the problem so important to the main character(s)? Consider the character's inner traits, motivations--these are the "why" of human behavior. When you've answered the "why" question, you've come a long, long way in plotting the story.
4. Where does the story take place? Be more specific about the background, setting, as discussed in assignment two. Is the story set primarily in one place or in several locations? How much does setting figure in the conflict, plot?
5. When does the story take place? The story begins on a certain day and ends on a certain day in the life of the characters. Plot steps push the story forward by moving the characters to a different time and a different situation. The place, the "where" might remain the same, or it might change.
6. How does it all turn out? If the protagonist doesn't get what he or she wanted, then how does he or she come to terms with the loss?
B. Conflict comes in many different forms: person against person; person against him or herself; person against nature, technology, evil leaders, the system, etc. Which of the conflicts will predominate in the story? Will there be a second conflict? If so, what will it be? What is the first conflict situation to occur in the story? When and where does it take place? Why does the character feel so strongly about the situation? What action does he or she take? What decision does he or she make? What is the crisis point, or the biggest complication of all? What is the climax point? What character traits allow the protagonist to win out over the antagonist? Or, what traits cause the protagonist to fail?
C. Make a list of all obstacles that could possibly arise:
V: Subplot and Theme
A. Subplot. Relationships between major characters and secondary characters can be used as subplots. Historical events may figure into the plot. Subplots must be resolved before the primary problem. An emotional involvement between protagonists and secondary characters binds the primary plot and the subplots together.
B. How do the subordinate events and situations contribute to the protagonist's character change? How do they complicate the resolution of the primary plot by creating added obstacles for the protagonist? How do they contribute additional events and problems, thereby adding texture and substance to the story?
C. Choose a secondary character in the story. What is this character's problem? Is the problem related to a personal situation? To a political/economic event? To a historical event? How does this event involve the protagonist(s)? How will the problem in the subplot relate to the primary problem? In what way will the protagonist be affected by what happens in the subplot?
D. What are some of the other subplots in the story? Make a list of possible subplots.
E. Theme--What do you want the story to say to the reader about life as dramatized by the characters in the book? What does the story say about human nature? About life? Where will you present the theme? In one final scene? In many scenes throughout the story? How will you express this scene? In character thoughts? In character dialogue? What are you trying to say through the characters and through the plot? Why are you writing this story? What are your own conclusions about human nature and the mysteries of life?
F. Type in simple narrative format, a three to four page synopsis of the story's primary plot and one or two subplots. Explain the sequence of what will happen to the main character as you have expanded or revised the original story idea.
G. State the theme as simply as possible.
VI: Writing the Scenes
A. In writing each scene of the story, consider: what is the overall emotional tone of the scene? How will the characters change because of the confrontation within the dramatic scene? How does the situation change by the end of the scene? What is the place; time; conflict (external or internal)? The purpose or logical reason for the scene? What is the final thought or action that concludes the scene and leads to the next scene? Consider whether a particular scene is written to be an opening, a flashback, a plot step, a crisis point, or a major crisis point.
B. Write two non-dramatic scenes that might occur in the story. First, a one-character scene, using the character's thoughts to show how they feel about the problem facing them. Second, show the feelings and thoughts of the main character through dialogue with another character.
C. Write the first ten pages of the story. Establish clear identification of the central character.
Publishing Your Work
There are two ways to go. First, self-publishing (costs money).
Second, sell your manuscript to a publisher. They produce the book and agree to give you a percentage of the sales. It's usually 5-15%. So if the book is $20 retail, the author gets about $1 to $3 per book. It doesn't seem possible, but that's how it is for all authors. Nowadays they give you even less because they sell your books at a "discount" to places like Amazon.com.
The best way to find a publisher is to look through directories (click on these links):
Writers Market Primary directory, lists agents, magazines, small and large book publishers.
There are also online directories. If you want to find one, click on this link: http://www.writelinks.com/toc.htm
http://www.authorlink.com/
http://www.booktalk.com/
http://www.writers-free-reference.com/
When you prepare your book proposal, be SURE to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. No SASE, no reply. Include an SASE big enough and with enough postage to return everything you send. Other things to include in the book proposal: a short cover letter, a synopsis, table of contents, author's bio, and sample chapters.
Click here to read How to Find a Publisher.
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