TECH: Layering your story

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting 27 Dec. 2013

All right. Let's take a look at the process that Mary Robinette Kowal uses to write her stories, as described in two podcasts:

http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/12/12/writing-excuses-7-51-brainstorming-with-mary/
http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/12/09/writing-excuses-7-50-outlining-the-mary-way/

Oddly enough, 7-51 should come first, with 7-50 second, but that's a peculiarity of the release process.

Basically, Mary starts with an quick thumbnail and brainstorming step. This first step, described in 7-51, Brainstorming with Mary, starts with making several thumbnail sketches of ideas. These are just short descriptions of some ideas, a sentence or two long, a paragraph at the most. Make them up, then take a look at them and decide which one grabs you the most, which one interests you, excites you. Take this one, and brainstorm it a little. What are the key elements in the idea? What is the conflict in it? Ending, beginning? What about the stakes involved? Who are the characters, and what is the setting? All right?

The second step is to develop a synopsis, based on the brainstorming. This is where 7-50 picks up. Put the idea together again, and get set for the next step.

Third, draw up an outline. This is mostly a list of the scenes you need to get from here to there. Use bullet points, sentences, a paragraph here and there. Think of this as sketching in the under painting ready for you to expand later.

Fourth, review this. Does each scene move the plot forward? Does it build characters and setting? Ad specifics where needed. Combine, remove, and split up scenes to make it work.

Fifth, if you have multiple POVs, stop and consider who has the most at stake in each scene. Adjust motivations and stakes to suit.

Now, if you are ready, start writing. When you need to make changes, drop back to the outline and consider what changes are need to make it work. Adjust the outline, then write it!

Simple, right? So write!