Authors vary a great deal in how they prepare to write their books. Some plot carefully using rolls of wallpaper to display their story line with different coloured post-it notes denoting different characters and events. At the other end of the spectrum there are those who sit down in front of a blank piece of paper and write the story off the top of their head.
In between these two extremes, however, there is a form of drafting that may work for those who do not want to plot in detail, but aren't brave enough to start with nothing. Let's think about the skeleton draft.
When preparing a skeleton draft of a novel the writer needs to be confident about three elements:
The main characters
The conflict
The ending
When you have worked out these three points you can also prepare the hook for your book. This will comprise of the main characters confronting their conflict and confirmation of your genre. This in turn leads to the end and will allow your story to flow in a smoother fashion.
Every author needs to discover if they have a cohesive tale to tell. This can be done through brainstorming, preparing a story arc or working through some key scenes. Creating a framework for your book can be done relatively quickly and allows you to have an outline to work from, that can be changed as necessary when the story develops.
The development will come as the author creates dynamic opening scenes, realistic world building, conflict between their characters, and a satisfying ending. It is important to create an immersive and interesting place with a cast of gripping characters, all with their own story lines.
Therefore, if writing a series, authors should be deliberate in their choices about which characters their going to make most prominent in the series with. Initially they should choose less risky options for both their characters and story lines. Over the course of a few books the author can be bolder in their choices after they have gained the reader's trust but the first book is going to set the tone and feel of the series, and the characters that are going to be a major part of the series' going forward.
Val Penny
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