Someone asked me to repeat the
homework assignment for my Write Start at Monday's meeting. Since there may be others who want this information, I've decided to post instructions here. It's better this way, anyway. The logical homework is, of course, to plot your own novel using the method I taught. I'll break it down for you, and let you decide the pace at which to proceed. You could complete one task per day, week or whatever time you set aside to write your novel. If anyone wants a digital copy of the handout, I'd be happy to email one to you.
Contact me.
Task 1: Determine your word count: Make sure your novel length fits within your given genre. Here's a link to a list agent Terry Burns maintains:
http://terryburns.net/Word_count.htm. Research your desired publisher(s) requirements as well.
Task 2: Estimate your average word count per scene. If you don't know, use 1,500 words.
Task 3: Divide your estimated word count per scene into your desired manuscript length. The total is the number of scenes to plot.
Task 5: Brainstorm scenes and adjust the number. If you come up short or go a little long, don't worry but come as close as you can.
Task 6: Using your brainstormed scenes, analyze your story to determine where your six key scenes fall. This should show you where you need to fill in or places to consider combining or cutting scenes before you write them. Remember to build the connecting scenes using the Reaction-Response-Consequence Cycles on the handout. Now do the math to discover your plot's pacing. Try to match your scenes to the percentages on the pictograph I supplied on my handout, but remember this is only a guide. Use your best instincts to pace your plot.
Task 7: Describe each of your scenes in two or three sentences.
Best wishes on your success!