Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea Into a Workable Plot
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About this ebook
Kick-start a new writing project, or breathe life into an old one!
Kick-start a new writing project, or breathe life into an old one!
Do you have a story idea but aren't sure what to do next? Have you started writing a story, but now find your plot stuck in a corner? Have you lost interest in your story idea because the plot became boring?
Whether you're a plotter who loves to outline or a pantser who prefers to hit the open road without a map, a story plan can help you avoid the pitfall of the unworkable plot.
Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea Into a Workable Plot guides you in creating a complete story plan at the "idea" stage, so you get the "big picture" of the story right away and can more easily spot and correct plot problems, such as the sagging middle or superficial conflict, before they become writing roadblocks that waste your time. If you're stuck in a story, brainstorming through the plan can help pinpoint where you might have taken a wrong turn and guide you back to the right course.
A little preparation can save you a lot of time during revisions, too. And a story plan, which hits the high points of the story to keep you on track, won't bog you down with so many details that you feel stifled. You can still write by the seat of your pants, if that's your style, but developing a broad strokes foundation before you start writing gives you some boundaries for your story that will keep you out of the weeds, and away from dead ends.
As a bonus, the work you do here over the course of eight lessons quickly translates into a brief synopsis and gives you a head start on your query letter to potential agents and publishers.
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Grow a Book - Catherine Chant
GROW A BOOK
Turning Your Story Idea into a Workable Plot
––––––––
by
Catherine Chant
Second Edition
Copyright © 2018 by Catherine Chant
All rights reserved.
First Edition
e-Book Edition ©2016
Cover Design © 2016 Catherine Chant
Except as permitted under the U. S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
––––––––
Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
––––––––
TITLE
DEDICATION
INTRODUCTION
LESSON 1 - Your Story Idea
LESSON 2 - Main Characters
LESSON 3 - Character GMC and Story Problem
LESSON 4 - Escalating Conflict
BONUS LESSON - Loglines
LESSON 5 - Inciting Incident
LESSON 6 - Black Moment
LESSON 7 - Turning Points
LESSON 8 - Resolution and Character Arc
LESSON 9 - The Brief Synopsis
ADDITIONAL TIPS
STORY IDEA TO PLOT CHECKLIST
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEDICATION
––––––––
For aspiring writers everywhere
You never know if you can write a book until you try
Introduction
Do you have a story idea but aren’t sure what to do next? Have you started writing a story, but now find your plot stuck in a corner? Have you lost interest in your story idea because the plot became boring?
Whether you’re a plotter who loves to outline or a pantser who prefers to hit the open road without a map, a broad strokes outline can help you avoid the pitfall of the unworkable plot.
Grow a Book: Turning Your Story Idea into a Workable Plot guides you in creating a broad strokes outline at the idea
stage, so you get the big picture
of the story right away and can more easily spot and correct plot problems, such as the sagging middle or superficial conflict, before they become writing roadblocks that waste your time. If you’re stuck in a story, the broad strokes outline can help pinpoint where you might have taken a wrong turn and guide you back to the right course.
You don’t necessarily need to write a bad first draft. A little planning can save you a lot of time during revisions. And a broad strokes outline, which only hits the high points of the story to keep you on track, won’t bog you down with so many details you feel stifled. You can still write by the seat of your pants, if that’s your style, but developing a broad strokes foundation before you start writing gives you some boundaries for your story that will keep you out of the weeds and away from dead ends.
As a bonus, you’re the work you do here over the course of eight lessons quickly translates into a brief synopsis and gives you a head start on your query letter.
So let’s get started!
––––––––
Lesson 1 – Your Story Idea
A story needs to start somewhere. That's where your idea comes in. Something pops into your head and gets you curious. It makes you want to explore it further. Maybe the idea is strong enough to become a story. It might be a short story, a novella or a full-length novel. Whatever form the story takes, it always starts with an idea.
How that idea becomes a plot is that you expand upon it.
First, let's talk about what a story
is so we have the gist of where our idea should lead us eventually.
In a nutshell:
Story is a character who wants something coming up against obstacles that stand in the way, with the threat of disaster if he/she fails. While fighting those obstacles, the character learns truths about him/herself that makes obtaining the something
possible when it was impossible before.
So, at the heart of every story is a character that wants something. Keep that in mind to start.
Starting with What If?
Sometimes a What if...?
question sparks your imagination and gives you the idea for a story.
What if a girl who's always been one of the guys
with the three brothers next door decides she wants one of them to notice her as a girl?
Sounds like it could be interesting. You have potential for a romance story there from the onset: Girl wants boy to notice her.
But of course if the girl wants the boy and he wants her back, that's the end of the story; and it's a little boring. Not even enough there to make a good short story.
So dig a little deeper by continuing to ask What If? Try