The first draft of my middle grade novel
came from a story idea following “the hero’s journey” (Vogler), “vein of gold” (Cameron)
inspiration, and sitting down every day for about three months and writing
almost nonstop. “In flow” while writing the novel, I allowed surprises to
surface. After letting story simmer for a
couple of years, I used the “almost nonstop” method again to complete a rewrite
this fall. My manuscript required new sections for subplot, deleting of some
passages, and all chapters to undergo an intensive, thoughtful reworking.
The nonstop experience allows all of the
story points and details to be at the tip of a writer’s tongue, mind, and fingertips.
A writer can zip throughout the manuscript in continuity changes with the speed
of fingers on caffeine.
How to begin was the gigantic problem. I
started at my gold vein to ponder story. I considered story structure and the
hero’s journey. I found edge and hope. After a struggle worthy of the words
“writer’s block,” I developed story deconstruction notes. This is my one step
at a time way to focus on story.
First, write what the story is about in one
sentence. Example of a major conflict
sentence: Dorothy journeys through Oz to overcome challenges and get home.
Note to writer: expect to revise every few days.
Next, make a list of these words and your
response after each: title, genre, setting (time and place), narrator,
point of view (be precise), tone, tense. Note to writer: expect to revise the title every few weeks.
Now, list these thought-provoking story
concepts: themes, motifs, symbols, keywords. These
seem to be the similar, but list nuanced responses for each. The goal is to
deconstruct your story in a concise manner.
Finally, state the plot in a few words. Under plot, outline problems, solution tools,
and resolutions with responses for
each. Next, list or outline subplot conflicts
and resolutions. Remember to be concise by limiting yourself to a line (a small
font works for this exercise) or so.
Remember the saying, real writing arises
during the rewriting.
More story deconstruction notes will be in
the next Story Map post, Story Deconstruction Notes II.
FINDING
FLOW: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH EVERYDAY LIFE by Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi (Basic Books/Perseus, 1997).
In addition, on story
structure mapping:
YA
author (Faithful is my favorite) Janet
Fox posted (December 2013) a great summary of well-known plot structures on her
blog, Through the Wardrobe. It is
perfect for the writer trying to map visually. Thanks, Janet!
Janet’s
Through the Wardrobe post:
Or download Janet’s Plot
Paradigm Compilation in pdf from her website;
Note
earlier LIN posts:
Story
Map: Gold Vein, September 2013
Story
Map: Edge and Hope, November 2011
Story
Map: The Journey, March 2011
