Writing

[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