Layer 4 – Writing the First Draft – Read First Chapter.com

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Peek Behind the Novel – Writing the First Draft – Layer 4

LAYER 4 - WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT

PBN-SM-Layer4-Scivener

  • Use the Scene outlines to write the individual scenes.
  • Split Scrivener Binder into Four Parts representing the Four Part Structure.
  • I copy each scene outline into one document under the Part it belongs in.
  • I set up all of my scene documents in the proper sections.  I don't worry if certain parts are 'heavy'.  The clues are recorded but the rest of the drama of the story is not.

THE MIND IS ALWAYS WORKING:

  • This process will give you a bird's eye view of the scenes.
  • I usually decide to move a scene or two closer to the mid-section of the story.   Because it's only an outline, it's easy-peasy.
  • By seeing the scenes with the timings and a one to three word prompt, I start to see the story from above.

I DON'T FORGET MY LANDMARKS - PART 1

  • The Hook (Which we haven't talked about yet)
  • The crime scene or the acknowledgement of the mystery
  • The Inciting Incident - When the detectives start off to solve the crime.
  • By the end of Part 1, I want there to be at least 2 suspects or even 3.
  • By the end of Part 1, more than one person looks guilty.

LANDMARKS OF PART 2:

  • Interviews begin - they point to different people
  • Clues begin to trickle in - they may seem to clear one or another
  • One of two secrets are exposed in Part 2.
  • The end of Part 2 is the midway point.  There could be a big surprise or shock

LANDMARKS OF PART 3:

  • More interviews
  • More clues
  • Even the rise of another suspect, an unusual suspect.
  • This rise of an unusual suspect can twist the story into another direction.
  • This midway point could also be a Dark Night of the Soul where it may seem that the culprit may get away with it or it won't be solved or solved in time.

LANDMARKS OF PART 4:

  • The first part of this section will be a big reveal.
  • The crime will be solved between the start of Part 4 up to 2/3 of the part.
  • There needs to be time to wrap up the crime and show how it affects everyone involved.
  • The last part of the story is for the 'wrap up' where you tie up all the loose ends.

ABOUT WRITING THE WRAP UP:

  • Reveal the guilty party and solve the mystery.
  • Reveal why the red herring couldn't be guilty.
  • Do a quick review of the whole crime to confirm for the readers
  • Show a 'new normal' for the main characters, showing their character arcs completing.
  • In a series, you need to drop a clue that this crime is finished but their story continues.


TIPS ON WRITING A FIRST DRAFT:

  • Write forward only.  Don't look back.
  • Don't worry about spelling, grammar, verb tense, too many over-used words.
  • The goal of the first draft is to get it down on paper and make sure you put everything into the story from your scene outlines.
  • Think of it as 'blurting out the story'.

I'LL BE BUSY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WRITING:

  • I've reached Layer 4 in my present novel.  This layer takes time to get it all down on paper.
  • By not worrying about prose or grammar, I'm free to just be creative about the story and whatever dialogue pops into my head.
  • The first draft will be just that -- a first draft.
  • Rest assured that the first draft is important, but by the time I get all the way to Layer 8, it will be polished and not look anything like it looks in the first draft.

I HOPE THIS SPURS SHARING

  • I hope my revelations of my writing techniques will prompt other authors to reveal their process.
  • I love to learn new techniques and when I was brand new, learning from experienced authors was so very helpful.
  • Be sure to sign up at ReadFirstChapter.com to get on my mailing list.  I send book promotions once a week and notices of new books and notices of when my books go "free" on Amazon.

Here is the YouTube video that goes along with this blog post.  I have the timestamps below in case you want to watch a certain part over or just skip to the relevant part.

00:01 - How I set up Scrivener into the Four Part Story Structure 01:15 - This process gives you a bird's eye view of the entire story
02:00 - Showing in Scrivener how I set up the Binder, the documents, the Title and Synopsis sections and how I can use the Outline view to see a bird's eye view of the entire manuscript as it comes together.
03:00 - Tracking case time and personal time in order to weave in the subplots
03:36 - How I use the screen outlines, moving the scene outline into the Notes section to keep it safe
04:25 - The Corkboard vs. Outline View 06:10 - Keeping the writing landmarks of Part 1 in mind: The hook, inciting incident, etc.
07:15 - Landmarks of Part 2, how the evidence trickles in - middle of the book
08:20 - Landmarks of Part 3 - Names the suspects and a dark night of the soul.
09:20 - First half of Part 4 - The big reveal and the wrap up of the mystery. 11:03 - Tying up all loose ends and the subplots. Showing the new normal. Ending the character arcs for this story.
12:00 - Writing series and letting the reader know the crime has been solved but their personal lives continue.
12:37 - Five tips to Beginner Writers 13:30 - The story crafter vs. the story author.