Hello, my lovelies!
Are any of you getting geared up for NaNoWriMo next month? I
know I am! But whether you plan to write your book in a pressure-induced frenzy or on your own schedule it never hurts to have a plan. So today I wanted to talk about prewriting techniques.
What is Prewriting?
Exactly what it sounds like. Prewriting is all the things
you do before you actually sit down to write a novel.
My own prewriting routine changes depending on the book I’m
writing and what I feel I need. But there are still many tried and true methods
that I’ve used or know work for other writers and I thought I’d share them with
you.
Outlining:
This is something I could write an entire series of posts on
because there are so many different ways to outline. But there isn’t one proven
method that works so honestly you just need to find the one that works for you.
Some people find that an extensive outline makes their
writing process all the more easier and if you’re one of those people kudos to
you! I would love to know more about your methods and what exactly that looks
like for you.
Personally, outlines don’t work for me. I like to explore as
I write and an outline looks less like a map to me and more like a ball and
chain. It feels constricting and they always end up doing me more harm than
good.
That said, having some sort of direction is always good. So
even if you don’t outline, I would recommend having a clear picture in your
head of what you’re working toward- at the end of your story what does victory
look like? Keep that in mind as you write and work toward that. This will not
only help you remember what your characters want and are working toward, it
also gives you a clearer goal than “the moment when I get to type ‘the end.’”
I also like to create a separate document specifically for
random notes and ideas I have, that way I can look
back on it and remember stuff I wanted to do when I’m in the midst of the
writing process.
So whether you want to sit down and bullet point out each
and every scene and beyond or you’d rather keep most of it a mystery and explore
as you write, having some sort of direction for your story ahead of time will help
keep you focused as you write.
Character Outlines:
As a character driven writer I love having my characters
fleshed out before I start writing a single word. Character outlines help me do
this, though over the years I have yet to find one method that I like better
than others.
Sometimes I like to make basic outlines for each of my
character that follows this template. Sometimes I use Charahub’s questions and make character profiles. Sometimes I just open a word document
and type up quick summaries of each character and who they are.
Good things to know ahead of time are:
-What is each character’s physical goal? (What is the story
goal for them? Is it to find the magic talisman? Take down the evil government?
Solve the mystery?)
-What is each character’s emotional/personal goal? (While
larger story goals are great, having smaller, more personal goals for your
character makes them feel more real)
-What is their history leading up to this point? (Even if
you just have a very basic idea)
-How do they react to people in general? (Are they more
introverted or extroverted? Do they approach things from more of an analytical
perspective or an emotional one?)
-How do they react to situations in general? (Are they
optimistic or pessimistic? Serious or sarcastic?)
A Developed World/Research:
Whether you’re writing a historical fiction, a fantasy, a
sci-fi, or a contemporary novel having a clear idea of how your world works is
always a great idea.
Yes, these are things you can develop as the story progresses and if you are an exploratory writer like me you don’t plan it all
out ahead of time. But having a basic idea of things like who uses magic in
your world, what a basic day looks like for a typical high schooler, what
ancient nomads ate, or how people get from one planet to another are always good
things to know ahead of time if they’re going to pop up in your story.
This is also a good time to do any research you think you
might need to do. Start checking out some library books or searching the
internet for any information you know you’ll need but have no idea about. And make sure to take notes. You don't want to have to start all over again next time you need a piece of information.
Again, you don’t need to have it all mapped out down to the
last detail, but thinking about simple things ahead of time and having even the
smallest bit of direction is never a bad idea.
A Game Plan:
Whether your schedule is so busy it’s hard to find the time
or you just have so much time to write that it’s easy to put it off until later,
having a plan is always a good idea.
Take a look at your schedule and see if there’s some time
you can set aside to get your words written. Do you have a free afternoon each
week? Can you free up an hour or two one day by pushing yourself the day
before?
For me, I realized that as long as I make myself get all my
stuff done on Tuesday afternoons, it leaves most of Wednesday left to write. I
also like to use Saturdays to push myself to get just a little more done before
the end of the week.
Do you have an extra hour somewhere that you usually spend doing
something unnecessary? While rest and self-care are important if it’s just a
time you spend idling that you could spend doing more important things take advantage of that time (I waste a
lot of time surfing Facebook- not even interacting, just scrolling).
Having time set aside makes it more than just a desire- it
makes it a commitment. It’s a promise to yourself that you’re going to be
diligent and follow through and that this is important to you. Setting time
aside makes it a priority in a world that will always offer us another excuse
not to sit down and get it done.
Inspiration:
Before you sit down to write it’s always a good idea to have
things that inspire you on hand for when you’re feeling stuck. As I’ve
mentioned, I like making a Pinterest board and a playlist for each story to
remind me of the visuals and emotions I had in my mind when I was first excited
about this idea.
Your outlines or character outlines could also count for
this- these are great ways to remind you of who your characters are and where
you planned on going before. Even if the story outgrows these things, having
them on hand helps remind you of the heart of what you wanted for this story.
Also books and movies in the genre you’re writing can be
helpful, just so long as you’re careful not to accidentally steal elements of
them for your own story. As long as they stay as nothing more than inspiration
they can be great sources of that.
Fuel:
What you want to fuel this story? Are you a coffee drinker?
A tea lovers? Do you like to munch on celery and carrots while you write? What
about chocolate? Or if you’re weird like me, you might associate yogurt with
long stretches of writing.
While writing should never be an excuse be fall into unwise
or unhealthy habits, having things on hand that might boost your creativity can
be a good idea.
Just remember to also eat lots of food to increase brain
power and to also stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, this is your time to get prepared. You
know yourself and your book better than me and only you can determine what you’re
going to need. It can be as detailed or as sparse as you want it to be, but try
to be as prepared as you think you’re going to need.
You don’t want to look back midnovel and curse your past
self for putting stuff off that you knew you needed to do.
I hope to see you on Friday for the last Princess Tale review and a giveaway announcement! Until the next time we meet don’t forget
to live happily ever after <3
~Jennifer Sauer, the Ivory Palace Princess
P.S. Let’s Chat! What
does your prewriting routine look like? What’s something you’d like to be
better at?
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