How I Plan my Novels/WIPs
- Jaz
- Sep 29, 2024
- 2 min read
When I first started writing (I don't even want to think about how long ago that was now), planning was the bane of my existence. Over the years though, I have grown to appreciate the process. It makes drafting much easier when you have an outline to follow. Below is a step-by-step guide to how I plan my projects. It should be noted that everyone has their methods; this is just what works for me.
Brainstorm! Write down anything and everything that comes to mind for your idea. This can be initial thoughts, themes, tropes, vibes, songs - anything!
Flesh out the initial brainstorm: add extra details and note how different things connect.
Start putting together a playlist and Pinterest board for inspiration: gather any songs and images that relate to your idea and that you can draw from. I often find that songs can spark ideas for individual scenes. Images can also help build foundations for your settings and characters.
Start filling out your character chart for your main characters (see the file share link at the end of the post). This will allow you to have all your MC information in one place in an easy-to-read format.
Make notes on the world and key settings - for stories set in a completely fictional world, this can take longer than any other step. Worldbuilding should be as thorough as possible so that details remain the same throughout the story.
Make notes about any key scenes that immediately come to mind. This can be major events, character introductions, plot twists etc.
Fill in the gaps: add scene transitions and minor scenes to the notes made in step 6 to start forming a rough scene outline.
Start filling out the more detailed scene outline (also found in the file share link at the bottom). This will give you a clear vision for each scene as you're writing as it includes involved characters, setting, scene goals, and scene conflicts.
Freewrite anything that immediately comes to mind. I find this can help get the ball rolling. If you have a major scene with lots of inspiration, start writing as much as possible without stopping. (If you'd like a post about 'freewriting' in the future, let me know in the comments)
Start drafting!
I hope you found this post useful and good luck on your novel-writing journey!
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