Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Using the M.I.C.E. Quotient to evaluate your novel draft

The M.I.C.E. Quotient is a method of categorizing stories based on the four core narrative elements of Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event. This method was developed by science fiction writer Orson Scott Card and is used by many writers and editors to help identify and refine the central focus of a story.

Image generated using artificial intelligence (which, for some reason, left out “idea” and gave me “emausle.” Playing with A.I. is so much fun!

The M.I.C.E. Quotient is an excellent place to start when evaluating the focal point of a novel manuscript. It helps the writer determine whether the first draft concentrates on the appropriate element or elements that will most effectively achieve their creative vision. The following is a breakdown of each element:

Continue reading “Using the M.I.C.E. Quotient to evaluate your novel draft”