I have an idea/a full story I need to write. The problem is that it can't get out of my head. I live with it everyday, but I need it on paper to be enjoyed the same way I do. My title is: Going to the grave. How?
I have an idea/a full story I need to write. The problem is that it can't get out of my head. I live with it everyday, but I need it on paper to be enjoyed the same way I do. My title is: Going to the grave. How?
I think Adrian has hit the nail on the head there. I hope you don't mind that I am stealing your checklist.
How to Start a Novel
Simon is right. Steam straight into the action. Introduce your protagonist early. A brief description of him/her and flesh out some details about the protagonist.
No more than 5 or 6 round characters. Use Flat characters to help move the story along.
Below is my personal guide that readers are free to copy. I hope it is as clear to you, as it is to me. You can edit it in your own particular style.
ADRIAN’S - WRITING / REVISION AND EDITING GUIDE
WRITING TIPS
One main storyline: keep the storyline as straight and clear as you can make it.
Plot / Chain of events.
Central themes, Eg : Revenge, Love, Hate, Life, Death, Greed, Betrayal, Adversity.
Be careful that there are not too many changes of geographical settings or locations. When you change, have a strong reason for doing so.
One main character: not too many characters, a maximum of five or six is best.
Focus the readers like and dislike in your characters. How do the characters function: Elianor is sensible, Marianne is over-emotional, Macbeth is ambitious, etc.
Round characters are key and very important.
Flat characters play minor roles.
OPENING TO THE NOVEL
Your opening should be dramatic, straight Into the Action.
Frame by frame continuity.
What are the functions of your characters?
What makes each character uniquely different from each other?
SHOW DON’T TELL
Define your characters by their actions, and by what they think and say about
SENTENCES
Sign-Posting is Very Important.
Each Sentence : What is My Basic Point Subject? What Am I Saying About It?
If in doubt over a choice of words, opt for the simple word over the longer more complicated word.
Keep sentences short, use simple vocabulary.
Sentences should be visual and speakable.
One thought one sentence.
Build sentence round a person or solid object.
CHAPTERS
Chapters should be short: no more than eight to twelve pages. They can be as short as half a page, or two, three, four pages in length. But three pages should be the minimum guide.
Chapters should have broad themes, yet be strong as a unit.
A chapter should link with the preceding and following chapter.
Chapters should have a dramatic opening. A landmark signpost and end with a cliff-hanger or a hook.
Who or what is the chapter about?
Where is the chapter set/location?
Each chapter should be a water-tight, self-contained episode.
PARAGRAPHS
A paragraph should contain one main topic.
The topic should be clearly signalled by the opening sentence, which is called a topic sentence.
You should be able to get an overview of the content of a paragraph by just by scanning the opening (topic) sentence of each paragraph.
The topic is then developed, either by further explanation, an example, or by a contrast of opinion.
You may occasionally need a linking sentence to the next paragraph.
Short paragraphs are best – long paragraphs only if it is necessary.
A break in the text occurs at a change of, Subject, Time, Place and Viewpoint, indicated by asterisks or a white space between sections.
DIALOGUE
Half to two-thirds of your novel your novel should consist of dialogue. Only use stream-of-thought for secret, or private, or highly individual experience.
It is vitally important to have your characters talk to each other.
Use characters’ streams of thought to let people know their inner world; perhaps reveal things that would not be revealed in any other way.
What did your characters, think, see, hear, smell, taste or feel.
Is your dialogue speakable?
Does your dialogue make sense when spoken aloud?
CAN I SEE IT
Use your imagination to picture the scene you are writing about.
Write descriptions of your characters’ surroundings. What they see, hear, touch, taste, smell.
Use vivid descriptions.
Use real life experiences to describe characters, scenes and locations.
FAMOUS AUTHOR’S ADVICE
Henry James : Dramatise, Dramatise, Dramatise. Add as much credible drama and suspense as possible.
Ruth Padell : Show Don’t Tell. Do not narrate when your characters can explain themselves and each other, by what they say, think and do.
Walter Allen : Settings are centrally important and should be generally motivated.
What is the purpose of the setting?
What is its role in the novel?
Raleigh : Good novelists are great novel readers.
James Patterson : Outline, outline, outline. Plan you novel. Have the beginning, middle and end. List your chapters before you start writing.
FR and QD Leavis : The Function of characters, their roles in the novel should be made clear.
What is unique to each individual character.
Alain : ( French Philosopher ) An abstract style is always bad. Your sentences should be full of stones, metals, chairs, tables, animals, men and women.
SEVEN TESTS OF A NOVEL
MEMORIZE - TCPSSSD
T = Themes / Concepts - Eg, Conflict between Love and Duty
C = Characters / Character Driven Novel
P = Plot / Linked Cause and Effect Storyline
S = Structure / Chapters to end with a Hook or Cliffhanger and to be resolved in next chapters opening paragraphs.
S = Style / Speakable – Visual – Does it Flow – Is the Style as Simple as Possible, but No Simpler.
S = Setting / Reason for the Setting – Setting to be Generally Motivated
Drama = Show don’t Tell / Dramatise Dramatise Dramatise
Editing Checklist
1) Plot - Linked Cause and Effect throughout my novel.
2) Storyine - Check for Weaknesses, Repetition and 'Shoes and Socks'
problems.
3) Characters - Their Function and Actions. Eg. Are they Always Acting in Character.
4) Sign-Posting - In my chapters have I Indicated to the reader where there next part of my story is leading.
5) Topic Sentences - Do my Paragraphs have a Topic Sentences to indicate to the reader what the next section is about.
6) Chapter Titles - Are my Chapter Titles suitable.
7) Chapters - Do my Chapters have a Dramatic Opening, A Landmark Signpost, and End with a Cliffhanger, or a Hook.
8) Dialogue - Does it make Sense when Spoken Aloud.
9) Streams of Thought - Does it make Sense when Spoken Aloud.
10) Descriptions - Are they Vivid and not too long.
11) Settings - Do my Settings have a Strong Purpose. Are they Generally Motivated.
12) Prose - Does my Prose Flow. Does it have Pace.
13) Keep my sentences as short as possible.
14) Fix clunky sentences.
15) Cutting Superfluous Text - Every-Word-Must-Earn-Its-Keep.
George Orwell:
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active. (Use short sentences for pace, and write in the Active Voice)
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
16) Grammar.
17) Punctuation.
You cannot hope to edit everything in one go. It has taken me numerous edits before the exhausting process began to reduce to a manageable level. I hope I am on the penultimate edit.
Readers are free to copy my checklist.
I hope that helps.
Good luck.
Well, I will write based on my own experience.
I had an idea for about 6 months but couldn't write it down on paper. I began to make bits of notes, a word here and there. In all my school notebooks there were certain diagrams or short words. Then one week, I sat down, noted down all the words and started writing the story! Hope it helps!
By the way, your title is intriguing!!!