Introducing Write Better Fiction

~ Kristina Stanley

Introducing Write Better Fiction- Give Yourself Feedback On Your Manuscript

Feedback is an important part of the writing process. There are some elements of your novel you’ll need human feedback for, but there are others you can analyze on your own. Today, I’m kicking off a series called WRITE BETTER FICTION. Every Wednesday, I’ll post on the topic of self-critiquing.

Whether you’re a panster or a plotter, the thrilling moment will arrive when you’ve written a first draft.

Are you ready for beta readers to see your work for the first time?

How do you know when it’s time for an editor and a proofreader?

Are you thinking of hitting the publish button?

If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to share your writing with anyone until you’ve done your best to perfect it. Maybe you’ve read hundreds of writing books, maybe you’ve taken courses and information is spinning in your head, but how do you keep track of the knowledge and ensure you’re using what you’ve learned? With a spreadsheet, of course.

Writing Books
Some of my books

 

A novel is made of of scenes, and scenes are made up of elements. Over the years, I’ve created a spreadsheet, and every time I learned about a scene element, I added that element to my spreadsheet.

My spreadsheet consists of  65 columns. That may seem like a lot, but each element needs to be considered if you’re writing a scene for maximum reader engagement.

Screen Shot 2015-11-30 at 5.06.20 PM

To make analyzing easier, I’ve broken the spreadsheet into three categories.

  1. PLOT
  2. CHARACTER
  3. SETTING

To quote James Scott Bell in his book, PLOT & STRUCTURE, he says,“Plot happens.” To me that means it’s the action of the story. So every element not included under CHARACTER or SETTING is grouped under PLOT.

Each of these categories has a set of elements, meaning when I work on a scene I can work on more than one element at a time. Over the next 65 weeks or so, I’m going to explain how I use each element in the spreadsheet to strengthen scenes, and thereby strengthen the novel. Hence this is the first in a series of blogs I’ll tag, “Write Better Fiction.”

WHERE TO START WHEN THERE ARE 65 CHOICES

Once I have a completed draft, I look at the most important element of each category. Today I’ll start with PLOT.

The first element under PLOT I evaluate is the purpose of the scene. The purpose of the scene must relate to the overall story. If it’s not driving the story forward, then ask yourself what is the point of including the scene in your novel.

Here are some examples of the way the purpose of a scene can drive the story forward. You can choose one of these to define your purpose or come up with your own definitions.

  • Is the inciting incident
  • Introduces characters
  • Creates an emotional connection between characters and reader
  • Provides character development
  • Establishes setting
  • Introduces or intensifies conflict
  • Builds suspense
  • Establishes mood
  • Reveals a clue
  • Shows a red herring
  • Is the climax
  • Provides resolution

HOW PURPOSE OF A SCENE HELPS WITH THE OTHER ELEMENTS

I articulate the purpose of the scene first, so I can address other elements of the scene and test if they are in line with the purpose.

Let’s say you fill out the list of objects in a scene. You can weigh the objects against the purpose of the scene and see if there is a way to use them to further the purpose. This goes for revelations, tension, conflict, weather, etc. Basically, every scene element can be tested against the scene purpose.

After you whittle down the purpose of a scene to a few words, one of three things will happen.

  1. You’ve got the purpose nailed, and you understand why this scene is included in your novel.
  2. You have a weak purpose, but there is still some value in the scene.
  3. You have no idea what the purpose is.

Screen Shot 2015-11-30 at 4.56.40 PMIf you landed on number 1, give yourself a gold star and move on to the next scene.

Number 2:  consider rewriting the scene, keeping the parts in the scene that further the plot. Or take the important bits and place them in another scene which has a strong purpose. You could also take two scenes with a weak purpose and combine them into one scene to create stronger purpose.

Number 3: consider removing the scene. We all end of with scenes that seemed relevant when we wrote them, but might not work within the novel as a whole. However, don’t delete the scene. Remember to store it somewhere. You’re next novel might have a place for it.

WHAT I DON’T USE THE SPREADSHEET FOR

I don’t use my spreadsheet to evaluate voice, dialogue, balance, style, consistency, etc. For that, I think another human is the best source for feedback.

Using a spreadsheet to force yourself to critique your own writing and give yourself feedback will enable you to write better fiction.

Next week I’ll share with you the #1 question to ask yourself about CHARACTER.

Please comment below and let me know what you think of the advice. Do you agree, disagree or do something different for the purpose of a scene? Do you group elements of a scene in a different way?

Thanks for reading…

 

 

21 thoughts on “Introducing Write Better Fiction”

  1. Kristina,
    This is probably the best gift I will receive this season and for many, many weeks to come. Thank you so much! I am so excited that I’ll have a chance to make this journey with you. Would you be willing to share the template in a link or email with credit to yourself, of course? If not, I have the blog post to refer to. Thanks again!

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    1. HI Linda, Thanks for the wonderful words and your excitement about this process. Can you send me a personal message through my contacts Information page ( you can find it under about me above)?

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  2. You might find this interesting…

    When you buy a book, you establish a property right in it, just as you do in clothes or furniture when you buy and pay for them.

    But the act of purchase is actually only the prelude to possession in the case of a book.

    Full ownership of a book only comes when you have made it a part of yourself, and the best way to make yourself a part of it- which comes to the same thing- is by writing in it.

    Why is marking a book indispensable to reading it?

    First, it keeps you awake- not merely conscious, but wide awake.

    Second, reading, if it is active, is thinking, and thinking tends to express itself in words, spoken or written. The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks.

    Third, writing your reactions down helps you to remember the thoughts of the author.

    Reading a book should be a conversation between you and the author. Presumably he knows more about the subject than you do; if not, you probably should not be bothering with his book.

    But understanding is a two-way operation; the learner has to question himself and question the teacher. He even has to be willing to argue with the teacher, once he understands what the teacher is saying.

    Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author.

    It is the highest respect you can pay him.
    Mortimer Adler

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  3. I am in awe of your process. I don’t use any sort of spreadsheet and I’m a complete pantser. What I do, however, is after I finish a chapter, I will add a 2 or 3 sentence outline on a word doc of what’s in that chapter and/or who is in it/introduced. That document becomes my outline after my first draft.

    What I’ve learned from this is that we are all very different in the way we approach writing. Whatever works! I’m going to send this to my friend, Larry. He will LOVE the way you do things!

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    1. You’re so right. We do all do things our own way. I think my degree in Computer Mathematics had made me do everything in an analytical way. The creative part of writing the novel was a joy for me, but I just couldn’t help myself and created a spreadsheet for the analytical part. Happy Writing.

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  4. I love hearing everyone’s approach. I guess I.m oldd school/ new school. Cue cards on a cork board and notes, dialogue etc in work. The cue cards have all the characters and their characteristics listed. But, I think everyone has a way. I think your’s is admirable, but it would intimidate me lol.

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    1. HI Jason, I was sort of forced into the spreadsheet. I wrote four novels while living on my sailboat. There was no space for anything other than my computer. No cork board or printed copies. I guess we all adapt when we have to. Now I love my spreadsheet and can’t imagine the analytical phase without one.

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    1. We are all driven insane by autocorrect. I don’t even notice anymore. I had to go back and read the post to see them 🙂 As long as I’m not working on my novels, I figure it’s part of the process. Just laugh and smile about it.

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  6. Dear Kristina,
    Your method is another way to internalize the structure of your novel. That’s the good thing about writing – there are many great ways to get to the published manuscript!

    Your posts are top-quality ideas.

    Never Give Up
    Joan

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