Writing

Aug. 13th, 2019 02:03 pm
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[personal profile] totchipanda
I got a new set up for my monitors at work, and I think I like it. I've flipped one monitor to be portrait, which is taking some getting used to (its a loooot narrower now!).

Last week I was doing some research about writing novellas, as 6 bajillion years ago I had started a fanfic, most of which I wrote during NaNoWriMo, and then started posting before it was finished. I never did finish it, so it's been languishing for 10+ years. A part of me wants to pull it and redo it because there's things I vaguely remember that I would change now. It was intended to be novel-length (because NaNo) but I feel like there was a lot of fluff that wasn't and isn't necessary. Hence, novella-length research. So, here is a bunch of bits and bobs that I collected.



Short Stories ~10k words
Collected ahead of Camp NaNo

Character (Who): must show growth and development
Setting (When/Where): Time and place
Plot (What): Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement
Conflict (Why): Man vs man, man vs nature, man vs himself, man vs society
Theme (Icing): controlling idea or insight
POV: first, third, limited omniscient

Novellas 30-60k words
gleaned from various internet sites

Architecture
  • Fewer chartacters
  • Fewer settings
  • Clear central idea
    • Limit subplots


3 Acts with central idea
  • Set-up questions and tension in acts 1 and 2 to answer in act 3
  • Introduces additional characters who drive the plot forward in the middle
  • constantly gravitate towards the outcome of the central idea



Use characters economically

  • Identify crucial contribution of each character
  • Give each character just enough dialogue and description to further the plot and create the world
Single central conflict
  • Satisfyingly complex yet can be resolved within 40-60k
  • Interesting enough to sustain with no subplots
  • Rise in stakes and action
Increased pace
  • No subplots
  • Kind of like an outline
Focus on unities
  • Time (limited time frame)
  • Place (limited locations; don't get caught up in travel)
  • Action (simple and easily resolved)
EDIT RUTHLESSLY




3 Act Structure

Act 1

Exposition
  • Roughly 1/4 of plot/length
  • Introduce characters, their world and relationships
  • Mid-point of Act 1: dynamic on-screen incident that MC tries to deal with, that leads to the 2nd, more dramatic, incident that leads to Act 2
  • Plot point 1 (PP1)
    • Signals end of Act 1
    • Ensures life will never be the same
    • Raises the dramatic question that will be answered in the climax. Should be framed in terms of MC's Call to Action (ex: will X ever recover the diamond)

  • By end of Act 1, set up secondary relationships and introduce the antagonist


Act 2

Rising Action
  • Roughly 1/2 of plot/length
  • MC's attempts to solve the problem intiatied by PP1, only to end up in deeper trouble
  • MC does not currently have the skills to deal with the antagonistic forces
  • Cannot be achieved alone
  • Mid point of Act 2: false peak or false collapse
  • End of Act 2 should end with the MC appearing defeated and having no chance of success


Act 3

Resolution
  • Roughly 1/4 of plot/length
  • As described: Resolution
  • Climax is the scene where major tensions are brought to the most intense point and the dramatic question is answered
  • Leaves the MC and other characters with a new sense of who they are





The One Page Plot (from eadeverell.com)

Plot out of order, beginning with the end

  • 8: End: Opposite of the beginning
  • 1: Beginning: MC lacks something
  • 5: Shift: MC realizes they can transition from their old ways to new ones
  • 2: Trigger: what sets MC off on their journey
  • 3: Quest: MC gets sucked in deeper (weak plan)
  • 7: Power: Counter to quest, character realizes they had the power all along
  • 4: Bolt: something derails the (weak) Quest plan, MC makes new plans
  • 6: Defeat: All hope is lost, all the plans from #4 fall apart


Outline:

  • 1: Beginning & 2: Trigger
    • 2-3 scenes
    • Intoduces MC, their struggle, and sets off onto adventure


  • 3: Quest
    • 10-15 scenes
    • MC heads deeper into adventure
    • introduces new characters, new places, new problems
    • show the MC making a plan and implementing it
    • include at least 2 try/fail cycles


  • 4: Bolt
    • 2-5 scenes
    • event that throws the plan off course


  • 5: Shift
    • 1-3 scenes
    • MC understands how to change from 1 to 8, and alters their plan


  • 6: Defeat
    • 1-3 scenes
    • Force MC to make the ultimate sacrifice
    • Lead everyone to think there's no hope of success


  • 7: Power
    • 1-3 scenes
    • MC finds strength, ability, or knowledge from inside to help overcome obstacles, succeed and reach their goal


  • 8: End
    • 1-3 scenes
    • MC reaps the benefits of their learned lessons
    • teaches others
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