*Have you checked out The Love Letters To Literary Crushes Blog Fest Yet? Coming this Wednesday show your love for your fave YA boy (or girl--and adult love interests are welcome too) before you head out to see Eclipse and drool over watch Edward and Jacob (but mostly Jacob because he has abs)*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So this weekend I turned in what I believe to be my final draft of revision to Agent Laura...*fingers crossed* but we shall see. Despite the fact that I'm at the point in revising (or rather post revising) where I can't really take my book anymore--I have a really good feeling about it.
And...I have a really good feeling about book 2! I was def having a struggle-fest trying to start it, and as popular as the alien abduction theory was--I'm now pretty positive my earlier anxiety and struggling came from not having completed book 1.
I started drafting the plot of STOLEN: The SEQUEL...tentatively titled BOUND and the ideas are pouring out of me.
I've gone back to working in my usual structure--habit--which is outlining by chapter aka The Chapter Summary.
Each chapter is well...a summary of what happens in that chapter--some have lots of details and even dialogue (like chapter 1 which is over 2 pages long single spaced) while others are a little more mysterious (chapter 2, one page).
But here's how I roll.
When writing my summaries/plotting I might not know EVERYTHING that happens, but I know this much:
A) The Setting--what location is this chapter taking place in/are there multiple locations if my characters are on the move
B) Characters--which characters are making an appearance in this chapter and how? A really helps since I'm telling a school story I know that a dining hall scene allows for a TON of characters to make cameos, but a classroom scene takes out a lot of possibilities--depending on each character's class schedule/curriculum.
C) The Tone--I know if my MC is happy, sad, distraught, pissed...or if she starts off as one thing and ends up another...she's bored and then she's pissed, or she's happy and then she's anxious
D) Events--The things that happen that kind of shift my MC's mood around and make her happy or sad or pissed off (sorry, I'm having too much fun saying pissed--because I am 5). I don't necessarily know every event, but I have a pretty good main idea and....
E) End--I know where it ends--usually on a cliffhanger involving some type of revelation or posing of a new question. These ends also work double duty because they are very good at telling me where the next chapter starts....so I know that too.
And then as I'm writing, the majority of the book is already there for me in pretty detailed outline form.
So all in all, things are going well this week :)
Do any of you guys use chapter summaries? And how detailed do you get?
I've never done much before writing the novel, with the exception of a minor outline. I did do chapter ones on note cards from my first draft of the novel I am rewriting. Doing the chapter notes can help with writing the synopsis too.
ReplyDeleteYay for progress and the sequel!
I've tried using chapter summaries in the past and for some reason, they completely mess me up. I never stay true to what I wrote after that... I am a panster through and through. xD
ReplyDeleteAnd YAY SEQUEL. How exciting! (it's something new to think about after focusing on Stolen for so long!) I hope Agent Laura loves your final draft. *crosses fingers with you*
My new system that I've decided on is to come up with a basic premise then write until I start to freak out. When this happens I write a rough outline for the rest of the book. It seems to be working.
ReplyDeleteOn my current WiP I made it to 25k before I needed the outline. With the last one, I made it to about 10k. I've yet to try it on a 3rd book though.
I did do chapter summaries for my last book but not very detailed. One or two paragraphs was enough for me. Usually its all in my head. Which, when I think about it, isn't a very safe place for my story.
I've never tried this. Sounds like an interesting system. I may try it on a future idea.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on progress!
Yup. Chapter summaries for the win! Though, as my WIP gets more complicated, I think I'm going to have to delve a bit deeper and sketch out character/group motivation arcs too.
ReplyDeleteWTH? Why won't this novel write itself!? :)
This is always so fascinating to me because I don't think in chapters, I think in scenes.
ReplyDeleteI'll make similar notes about scenes, and usually there will be some dialogue, info on setting and characters but I never know how many scenes will be in a chapter until I'm done.
I do know how the book begins and ends though.
Love the new look of the blog! Congrats on sending off your revision. We actually just wrapped up the first draft of Liar Society 2 and were feeling a little antsy, so we're outlining the first book in a brand new series. We use chapter by chapter outlines too and we tend to get pretty detailed about what happens. Of course it almost completely changes once we start writing, but it helps us to at least have a rough frame work for the story.
ReplyDeleteHappy outlining!
Thanks for posting about how you go about each chapter. This has really helped me to see (written out) what you mean. Do you usually sit down and do chapters summaries for the whole book at once or do you do beginning, middle, end type thing? I think I'm gonna try this for my book 2 (LOL!). I know what I want to happen (I think) but that's about it.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me there's going to be a gym or a classroom scene with just Lil and Ryan...please....please!! swoon.
I like that method, might have to try it myself. Hopefully the words keep flowing effortlessly!
ReplyDelete