2. Step 1: Planning Before you can begin work on plotting your
novel,you must first start with the basics of your story.(Or else,
mid-way through the book, you will looklike this guy.) 3. The
Kernel Idea What is a Kernel Idea? This is the idea that sends
shivers up your spine. The ah-ha moment when a plot is born and the
writing begins. What happens if I dont really have a Kernel
Idea?(i.e. I only have the lifelong desire to become a writer, but
I dontknow where to start.) Thats Okay. You dont have to start with
a novel in mind. Start with something simple. A man. A woman. Then
ask yourself if I could go anywhere where would I go? What troubles
would I find? And there is a perfect kernel. 4. It Cant be That
Simple. Okay, for some of us its not always that easy. Sowhat next?
What are you interests? What is your passion? In order to write a
book that others will want to read you must write what you LOVE. I
must stress LOVE. You are going to be working on your novel for at
least a few months if not years. If you dont love your characters,
your premise, or your genre you are going to walk away and never
come back. 5. Your Characters The best way to get to know your
character is to develop them (at least the basics)before you ever
start writing your book. How?Character InterviewsTake the place of
your character and have a conversation (a little bit like method
acting)Character QuestionnairesMyers Briggs Personality Test (this
is a great tool once you know a bit the basics of your character)
What other type of character would create tension/conflict. Could
you make themwork to your advantage in the book?The Beauty vs. the
BeastThe workaholic vs. the drifterThe cop vs. the reporterThe
aristocrat vs. the bar owner (Revenge) From the character
information, what type of Goal would my Characters want
toachieve?You dont need to know every turn in your book, but you do
need an overall driving GOAL. 6. More on Characters We all are
defined (at some level) by our WOUND. What is each of your
characters emotional wounds? 7. The three Key Steps Goal,
Motivation and Conflict must be present in every aspect of your
novel. Take a moment and draw this:(Character)External
InternalGoalMotivationConflict 8. What is a Goal? A goal is a
desired result, a purpose or an objective.A goal is the prize or
reward that your characterwants to obtain or achieve. Everybody
likes awinner, and readers are no exception to the rule. Debra
Dixon (GMC Goal Motivation Conflict, 1996) 9. What is a GOOD Goal?
Your characters goal must be urgent. Examples: They need to: Find
the cure for cancer before their husband passes away. Rescue their
long lost sister from a band of pirates. Give an injured jockey the
ride hes been waiting his whole life toattain, but must prove to
the world he can ride again. Give a work driven maniac a chance at
a job that will risk his family,but give him the job satisfaction
hes always wanted. Remember* We dont always achieve our goals and
neithershould our characters. There are two types of Goals:
External: The man wants the Job. Internal: The man wants to be
Satisfied. 10. What Motivates your Character? What is Motivation?
(i.e. WHY?) Why do your characters want to achieve their goal so
badly? Motivation is what drives your character to obtain or
achieve his goal Keep it simple. Keep it strong. Keep it focused.
Debra Dixon (GMC Goal Motivation Conflict, 1996) Again, there are
external and internal motivations: Why does the man want the job?
External: It will make him the CEO of the largest Techcompany in
the world. Who wouldnt want to be allpowerful in the information
age, right? Internal: He is unhappy. 11. Conflict What is conflict?
(i.e. Why not?) Conflict is the reason your character cant have
what he wants. If you character could have what he wanted, then you
have no book! Conflict is the obstacle or impediment your character
must face in obtaining or achieving his goal. Conflict is not an
optional element. Debra Dixon (GMC Goal Motivation Conflict, 1996)
12. Lets Make a Chart for Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Oz Debra Dixon
(GMC Goal Motivation Conflict, 1996)DorothyExternal InternalGoal
Get Home (for the book)To find her hearts desire and a place Get to
Emerald City with no trouble. See the Wizard Get the
BroomstickMotivation Auntie Em is Sick. She is Unhappy. The Wizard
is there. Trouble follows her everywhere. He has the power tosend
her home. The price for sendingher home.Conflict The Witch She
doesnt know what she wants. The balloon lifts off without her. 13.
Step 2: Plotting There are two main types of authors: Type 1: The
Plotter This is the author who sits down and plans each step of the
bookevery goal, motivation and conflict, every plot twist, every
blackmoment and even the ending. This is great and usually when you
sitdown to approach your book it easy simple. You know what you
wantand how you will be getting there. Every author secretly wants
to be this type, but the honest truth is that this is a very hard
thing to do without an enormous amount of writing under your belt.
Type 2: The Panster This is the more common of the two types of
writers. This is a personwho has either only a vague idea of what
they will be writing, or themajor plot points. These types must get
to know their characters as thestory evolves. It must be said that
there can be a combination of the two. I.e. the In- betweener. This
is the author who knows the characters and most of the plot points,
but lets the story flow naturally. If it strays from the plan so be
it. 14. The Heros Journey This is Joseph Campbells basic pattern
that is found inmany books and is wonderful place for all writers
tobegin when they start plotting their novel. 15. Hero Introduction
Where your novel begins. Introduce your hero/heroine in his/her
ordinary world. This does NOT mean writing ten pages of backstory.
This is simply the chance a writer has to quickly introduce the
readers to the main character, the setting and the introduction to
the plot. I Strongly Recommend that you begin the story with
anattention grabbing first paragraph. Warning* You can use
dialogue, but this is a challenge for any writer as you are dumping
a reader straight into the book with no forewarning. 16. The Call
to Adventure This should be your GOAL. This is the major eventthat
will cause the story to begin and keep it drivingforward. Examples:
Shrek: (External Goal:) Must find Fiona and bring her back to
Prince Farquaad so that he can get his swamp back. Revenge:
(External Goal:) She must get Revenge for her fathers death. 17.
The Hero is Reluctant This is where your hero is stuck in their
Identity andis afraid to step outside of their comfort zone to
acton the call to adventure. What is Identity? This is how the hero
sees themselves. Example: Shrek believes he is a monster. Is he
really? No. 18. The Hero is Encouraged The hero is encouraged by
the Wise Old Man orWoman to pursue their call to action. The push
the character outside their comfort zone(slightly out of identity).
Example: Donkeys role in Shrek. 19. The Hero Passes the First
Threshold This is the point in the story that threatens the
heroesidentity. Are they really the person they think theyare? Or
are they something more? The hero has begun moving into his true
character, his essence. Essence: The deep characteristic of a
person. For example Shrek believes that he is a monster, he has
bought into other peoples opinions of what and who he is. In
reality, he is caring, loving (once you get through his layers) and
desperately wants to be prince charming (internal motivation). 20.
Hero EncountersTests and Helpers This is the stage in the narrative
when thetransformation between identity and essence reallystarts to
take place. The character is put through a series of pitfalls
thathe must use his inner-most nature in order tosucceed. He shows
his willingness to succeed. Example: This is when, in Shrek, the
men attack him because he is an ogre and he must turn into Prince
Charming or Fionas hero in order to save her. 21. The Hero Reaches
the Innermost Cave The Point Of No Return. They are almost
completely engrossed in their essence.No longer are they the person
that they were at thebeginning of the story. Example: Shrek and
Fiona on the date in the forest. He is fully invested in his
relationship with both Donkey and Fiona. He is no longer the loner
or emotional isolated person. 22. Hero Endures the Supreme Ordeal
All hope is lost. The hero is facing the death of theiridentity and
the rebirth of their new character(essence). Example: Shrek hands
over Fionna to King Farquaad after their fight (his characters
identity wins). He then realizes that he has changed and. 23. The
Hero Seizes theSword Shrek understands that he has fallen in love
withFiona. Metamorphosed into level of Essence. i.e. He can have
love. He is a caring, warm and worthy of her love. This is the
place in the story in which the herosurvives the ordeal and
reclaims whatever they havebeen fighting for (Fiona). 24. The Road
Back Headed back, but first must face one more challenge. Has dealt
with the bad guy but there are more people/events that must be
dealt with. Example: Shrek and Fiona kiss and she changes intoher
essence (an ogre). He must face that she is likehim (he loves it of
course) and the mob that wants toattack them. 25. Hero Emerges From
theSpecial World Shrek and Fiona return to the swamp. 26. The Hero
Returns withthe Elixir The (internal) Goal is achieved. Character
is firmly in their essence. Identity is a thing of the past.
Example: Shrek marries Fiona. 27. My Books:Coming Soon:Montana
Mustangs (May 2013)Winter Swans (Fall 2013) If there are any
questions please feel free to ask! I love working with fellow
authors.Thank you for coming!
