Are you contemplating writing a long fiction work? Novellas and novels require planning just the same as shorter works, even more so actually, but carrying out that plan can be a real challenge. You can easily get lost in your work over time and lose track of what you are doing. One of the best things a writer can do is to take the time to actually plan out a plot that works so you have a road map for your fiction. Some writers are capable of excellent major works without a major preplan where the novel is driven just by their characters in the story. Tony Hillerman spoke of doing that, but I think it is a hard way to write. Once you have a skeleton plot plan you are on your way, but remember to keep the all the details of what I like to call “workmanship” in order.
What constitutes good workmanship in fiction? I think first and foremost is that you put together a first chapter that literally forces the reader to want to turn to chapter two (and you ought to think about hooks throughout every chapter to continue that process.) Make sure the facts of the story remain correct and consistent throughout. Doing a longer work takes time, and believe it or not, you will forget what you wrote previously in chapter three when you are all the way in chapter thirty-three. Keep track of things like that! Even though you’ve made a plot skeleton, keep thinking about whether there are ways that you could make it even more powerful as you get into writing the details (that plot isn’t set in concrete and will likely go through some revisions in the process…don’t be afraid to make the changes that make things better!) As you write you may also notice that what you envisioned in the plot outline really doesn’t seem plausible and needs to be changed. Are you writing just to fill the page? Get rid of the stuff that doesn’t advance the plot or help in strengthening character. In contrast, add more of both of those if you need to. Have you connected all the dots when the story is done with a conclusion that works and will be accepted by the reader as completing the story, or did you write yourself into a corner and opt for an easy ending? Readers hate that, so do the hard work and revision required to create an ending that is fair and believable. And lastly, keep an eye on your grammar and style. Nothing ruins a book more quickly than a failure to know how to put the words down properly.
Happy writing folks!
What constitutes good workmanship in fiction? I think first and foremost is that you put together a first chapter that literally forces the reader to want to turn to chapter two (and you ought to think about hooks throughout every chapter to continue that process.) Make sure the facts of the story remain correct and consistent throughout. Doing a longer work takes time, and believe it or not, you will forget what you wrote previously in chapter three when you are all the way in chapter thirty-three. Keep track of things like that! Even though you’ve made a plot skeleton, keep thinking about whether there are ways that you could make it even more powerful as you get into writing the details (that plot isn’t set in concrete and will likely go through some revisions in the process…don’t be afraid to make the changes that make things better!) As you write you may also notice that what you envisioned in the plot outline really doesn’t seem plausible and needs to be changed. Are you writing just to fill the page? Get rid of the stuff that doesn’t advance the plot or help in strengthening character. In contrast, add more of both of those if you need to. Have you connected all the dots when the story is done with a conclusion that works and will be accepted by the reader as completing the story, or did you write yourself into a corner and opt for an easy ending? Readers hate that, so do the hard work and revision required to create an ending that is fair and believable. And lastly, keep an eye on your grammar and style. Nothing ruins a book more quickly than a failure to know how to put the words down properly.
Happy writing folks!
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