It's the beginning of October, and you know what that means!
Right?
What? Wait...you don't?
Oh.
Well, it means that it's only 30 days until that wonder of wonders, National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known to all participants as NaNoWriMo!
GASP!
That also means that now is the time to get all your outlining done. As your president, it is my duty not only to get you super excited and freaked out about November, but also to give you some helpful (DOUBLE GASP!) tips on outlining.
Here are the most important things to know about your novel before you start writing:
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NOVEL BEFORE YOU START WRITING:
1. Know your main character. This doesn't mean that you should know all about your main character, although that's important, too. It means you should know who your main character is. This may seem trivial, but it's bigger than you might think. The official definition of the main character is whoever makes the big decision that either saves the day, or loses it. The main character is the person who ultimately decides the outcome in the climax. (See below.) Remember, you can have lots of characters, but only one main character.
2. Know your conflict. The conflict is the big problem of your story. What's the main problem your main character is trying to solve? It could be hard to figure out, and it could be debatable, but the main problem or conflict should drive everything in the book. Maybe Red Riding Hood is trying to get cookies to her grandma's house. Maybe Berry Blue istrying to rid the world of fleas. In the first one, the conflict is "Will Grandma get her cookies?" In the second, the conflict is "Will fleas conquer the world?" Hint: If you're having trouble stating your main conflict, remember that it can often be stated as a question.
3. Know your climax. Remember this? The climax is the big decision your main character makes that saves the day, or loses it. So if Berry Blue suddenly decides to create a flea spray, and the flea spray rids the world of fleas, the moment in which he decided to create the flea spray is the climax. It can also be defined as the turning point. You know that part in a movie where the hero says some heroic phrase, makes some decision, and the music suddenly changes -- becomes more dramatic? That's the climax. Imagine your climax as the moment where the music changes.
4. Know your resolution. This is pretty easy. Resolution just means how stuff turns out. What happens to Berry Blue? Does the flea spray really work? Does he get rich off the flea spray and live happily ever after? Do the fleas die out forever? That's what the resolution answers. Your resolution might not say much, but it should exist. The story shouldn't end with the climax.
And that's it! I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, please tell me in a comment below! And...have fun getting ready for a wild ride this November! You'll have lots of fun, I guarantee it.
-President Fantasy
Right?
What? Wait...you don't?
Oh.
Well, it means that it's only 30 days until that wonder of wonders, National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known to all participants as NaNoWriMo!
GASP!
That also means that now is the time to get all your outlining done. As your president, it is my duty not only to get you super excited and freaked out about November, but also to give you some helpful (DOUBLE GASP!) tips on outlining.
Here are the most important things to know about your novel before you start writing:
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NOVEL BEFORE YOU START WRITING:
1. Know your main character. This doesn't mean that you should know all about your main character, although that's important, too. It means you should know who your main character is. This may seem trivial, but it's bigger than you might think. The official definition of the main character is whoever makes the big decision that either saves the day, or loses it. The main character is the person who ultimately decides the outcome in the climax. (See below.) Remember, you can have lots of characters, but only one main character.
2. Know your conflict. The conflict is the big problem of your story. What's the main problem your main character is trying to solve? It could be hard to figure out, and it could be debatable, but the main problem or conflict should drive everything in the book. Maybe Red Riding Hood is trying to get cookies to her grandma's house. Maybe Berry Blue istrying to rid the world of fleas. In the first one, the conflict is "Will Grandma get her cookies?" In the second, the conflict is "Will fleas conquer the world?" Hint: If you're having trouble stating your main conflict, remember that it can often be stated as a question.
3. Know your climax. Remember this? The climax is the big decision your main character makes that saves the day, or loses it. So if Berry Blue suddenly decides to create a flea spray, and the flea spray rids the world of fleas, the moment in which he decided to create the flea spray is the climax. It can also be defined as the turning point. You know that part in a movie where the hero says some heroic phrase, makes some decision, and the music suddenly changes -- becomes more dramatic? That's the climax. Imagine your climax as the moment where the music changes.
4. Know your resolution. This is pretty easy. Resolution just means how stuff turns out. What happens to Berry Blue? Does the flea spray really work? Does he get rich off the flea spray and live happily ever after? Do the fleas die out forever? That's what the resolution answers. Your resolution might not say much, but it should exist. The story shouldn't end with the climax.
And that's it! I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, please tell me in a comment below! And...have fun getting ready for a wild ride this November! You'll have lots of fun, I guarantee it.
-President Fantasy
Ahhhh! I haven't figured out what to do yet... These will help a bunch though! Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete-Poppy Red
This will help me too. I will need to think this out. I know mine is kind of a fairy tale, but different.
ReplyDelete-Tigerr