It is too easy to get lost in the weeds when you’re writing a novel. Today I want to step back and take a look at the big picture.
When I’m writing I focus on my characters immediate feelings, their movements, their goal for the scene I’m working on. But when the writing is done, it’s time to step back and look at the big picture.
As a plotter, some of the questions I’m about to share I ask before I even begin writing. They are part of my plotting process. If you’re a pantser, all of these will be asked in your editing process.
The Really Big Questions:
- What is the story question?
All novels must have one question that the reader needs answered by the end of the book. For The Wizard of Oz (movie) it was” will Dorothy ever get home?” For a mystery it might be as simple as “who did it?” or something more specific as in” how will this death affect the main character/detective?” For a romance it’s not “will they get together?” because if they don’t it’s not a romance. A better question is “how will they get together?” To answer that, I have some even more specific questions that the author must answer (more on that later).
- What’s at stake?
There needs to be the possibility of failure in your novel. If there isn’t, you don’t have a strong enough conflict. With the possible failure, there need to be consequences. What will or won’t happen if Dorothy doesn’t get home, if the murderer isn’t caught, if the couple don’t commit to each? You need to know what is at stake and make that clear to the reader.
- Where’s the sense of urgency?
There needs to be a deadline in your story. If Dorothy doesn’t get home quickly Aunt Em is going to die. If the murderer isn’t caught he may kill again. If the couple doesn’t get together… you get the picture. There needs to be a deadline by which time something catastrophic will happen if the main conflict is not resolved.
These are the really big picture questions. In the coming weeks I’ll share some more specific questions dealing with Characters, World Building, Romance, and Writing Craft. Stay tuned!