Using the Novel Diagram described in Plotting a Novel, I figured I would need to accomplish the following during my revision of Dragonborn:
For a 125K novel:
00-30K: Put MC into motion; lock the confict; build up to the first major turning point; all major players have to be introduced
30-60K: Deepen conflict by presenting first major turning point; expose true nature of plot; play out consequences of first plot point
60-90K: Reversal of conflict; give advantage to "other side"; deal with consequences of giving advantage to "other side"
90-125K: Introduce second plot point; deal with consequences (a.k.a. "agony of choice"); confirm premise by allowing one side to "win"; denouement.
Well, seeing it laid out like this, it doesn't seem so bad. Breaks it down into manageable components. The challenge will be taking the events from a proposed trilogy and condensing them down into one stand-alone novel. I believe a lot of extraneous things will have to be excised.
I also believe this means a complete and total rewrite.
From scratch.
For a 125K novel:
00-30K: Put MC into motion; lock the confict; build up to the first major turning point; all major players have to be introduced
30-60K: Deepen conflict by presenting first major turning point; expose true nature of plot; play out consequences of first plot point
60-90K: Reversal of conflict; give advantage to "other side"; deal with consequences of giving advantage to "other side"
90-125K: Introduce second plot point; deal with consequences (a.k.a. "agony of choice"); confirm premise by allowing one side to "win"; denouement.
Well, seeing it laid out like this, it doesn't seem so bad. Breaks it down into manageable components. The challenge will be taking the events from a proposed trilogy and condensing them down into one stand-alone novel. I believe a lot of extraneous things will have to be excised.
I also believe this means a complete and total rewrite.
From scratch.
Holy bananas, batman. I hope you know what you're doing. (Condense? whatever for?)
ReplyDeleteThat said, I have faith you'll figure it out.
*blinks*
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure i like that way of looking at novel plotting. I mean, each story has a different flow - what if you need to deepen the conflict earlier? Or reverse the conflict later?
Stuff like this make me glad I figured out my NPB method. It allows me to develop my plot without such arbitrary goal points.
But, you know, whatever works for you! ;)
(btw, you have an opening italics tag and didn't quite close it. ;))