Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton is the author of the Mud Crab Kingdom series, which is set in a world where “being mud-skinned is worse than murder, and being “different” is worse than being mud-skinned.”
A novel synopsis is a summary of the plot, characters, and themes of a novel. It typically provides an overview of the story without going into too much detail. A good novel synopsis should give the reader a sense of what the book is about, including the main conflict or challenge facing the characters, the setting, and any important themes or ideas explored in the story. It should be concise and engaging and should ideally make the reader want to read the book to find out more.
Aria plays the mystical instrument she discovered hidden deep within an ancient forest. Image generated using artificial intelligence.
The novel synopsis may also be used as a marketing tool to promote your book to potential readers, agents, or publishers. However, I also find it useful to write a first draft of a synopsis as part of the novel planning process.
Writing Sample
The following is a synopsis of a novel that we’ll call The Songbird’s Echo[1]which uses the Hero’s Journey story structure to move the story forward. Notice how the single sentences used in some of the previous outlines we explored have now been expanded to a couple of sentences for each section of the story’s structure. With each new assignment you complete in the planning process, you will come a little bit closer to having written your first draft!
If you’ve been following my blog the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably learned a lot about novel structure and how to outline an idea as part of the planning stage of the novel writing process. You may be wondering, what now, brown cow? Well, I hope you have a lot of notes and ideas at the ready because it is finally time to outline your novel!
Image generated using artificial intelligence.
By now, I hope you have settled on one or a couple of story structure outlines that will meet the needs of your novel or novels. I say, “or novels” because at this point, you may still have a couple of ideas that you are hashing out. While you may be tempted to narrow your focus to just one at this point, I say keep working on all those ideas for now, at least until a clear forerunner emerges. Just make sure you settle on one novel to draft at a time. Right now, you still have plenty of time to consider which novel you want to write first. For now, let’s jump into our next writing assignment.
Writing Assignment #3: Outline your novel
Outlining a novel is a personal process, and there is no one “right” way to do it. However, here are some general steps you can take to outline your novel:
The Larry Brooks story structure is one that I have used several times and find to be very useful when planning a novel. It is a structure that I will detail here in depth because – to me – it seems to be one of the more effective methods of outlining a novel.
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Brooks is a writing coach, author, and speaker known for his expertise in the craft of storytelling. He is the author of several books on writing, including Story Engineering: Mastering the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing; Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling; and Great Stories Don’t Write Themselves: Criteria-Driven Strategies for More Effective Fiction. Brooks is also the founder of Storyfix.com, a website dedicated to helping writers develop their storytelling skills. Brooks’ approach to writing emphasizes the importance of structure, character development, and genre expectations. He believes that successful stories must meet certain criteria, and that writers who understand these criteria can create stories that are more engaging, satisfying, and marketable.
ANNOUNCEMENT: ISO guest bloggers to write posts for each of the story structures listed below. Please scroll to the bottom of this post for details.
Kurt Vonnegut, the acclaimed American author known for his satirical and anti-war writings, was critical of the traditional, linear approach that dominates much of literature and popular culture. He preferred a more experimental, non-linear approach that allowed for more creativity and surprise. In a lecture on the shapes of stories, Vonnegut suggested that stories could be graphed on a simple chart, with the y-axis representing the level of happiness or unhappiness experienced by the protagonist, and the x-axis representing the progression of the story over time.
Vonnegut also identified several basic story structures that he believed were common to most stories. These structures are based on the emotional journey of the protagonist and the overall shape of the plot. Following are some examples of a few of the simple shapes of story structures identified by Vonnegut:
The three-act story structure is the most commonly used basic story structure in modern storytelling, and it consists of a setup, confrontation, and resolution. While the origins of the three-act structure are difficult to trace, it has been used in storytelling for centuries and is often attributed to Aristotle, who wrote about the importance of dramatic structure in Poetics.
The three act story structure may be as old as stories themselves! Image created with Canva Free AI Image Generator.
The basic structure of each of the three acts follows:
The Setup: This is the first act of the story, where the characters and their world are introduced. The Setup establishes the status quo and introduces the main character, their goals, and the obstacles they will need to overcome.
The Confrontation: This is the second act of the story, where the main character faces increasing obstacles and challenges on their journey toward their goal. The Confrontation is where the story’s tension and conflict typically reach their peak, as the protagonist struggles to overcome their biggest obstacles.
The Resolution: This is the final act of the story, where the main character faces the climax of the story and resolves the central conflict. The Resolution typically includes a sense of closure, as the protagonist achieves their goal or is transformed by their journey.
“Pantsing” and “plotting” are two very different approaches to novel writing. The term “pantsing” comes from the phrase, “flying by the seat of your pants,” which means to improvise or make something up as you go along. The phrase was first used in the 1930s in reference to airplane pilots who navigated without the aid of instruments.
Few writers are successful at pantsing their way to the end of a good manuscript. Those who can do it possess a certain kind of magic that most of us will never obtain. Image created with Canva Free AI Image Generator.
The term “pantsing” in the context of writing specifically refers to a technique where the author writes without a detailed plan or outline, instead relying on inspiration and improvisation to guide the story. This technique is also known as “discovery writing” or “organic writing.” It is unclear exactly when the term “pantsing” was first used in this context, but it is thought to have gained popularity in writing communities and workshops in the 1990s. It has since become a widely used term in the writing world, particularly in discussions about outlining and planning versus improvisation and discovery.
Pro Tip: Grab a notebook or your laptop and take notes while you read today’s post– just jot down ideas and plans as you review each task listed. Tomorrow, I’ll be coming at you with your first writing assignment!
The first step in the novel writing process is the planning stage. The planning stage of the writing process is crucial as it sets the foundation for the entire writing project. During this stage, a writer typically engages in several activities, all designed to prepare for the drafting stage. This step is essential because once you sit down to write the first draft, you’ll be prepared to “just do it” without getting sidetracked or bogged down in details that may never make it into your final draft. The planning stage of the novel writing process includes the following elements:
Brainstorming is one of the first steps of the novel writing process. Image created with Canva AI Image Generator.
Generate ideas: The writer starts by brainstorming and generating ideas about the novel they want to write. They may use techniques such as mind mapping, freewriting, or listing to generate ideas. There are a variety of free online story idea generators that can also be helpful. These include plot generators and name generators by genre, among others. If you don’t already have an idea for your novel, play with these resources until you have something fun that you will enjoy writing. Remember, this is a fun experiment, so feel free to be as silly as you like if it helps you stay engaged with the project.
At this point, you may be wondering if writing a novel is even something you can do, let alone writing a new one every year. Perhaps you have never taken a creative writing course or shared your writing with others. You may question whether you can even call yourself a writer without ever having written a complete work, whether it be a novel, an essay, or a poem. Maybe you believe you can’t possibly call yourself a writer until you have finished writing something. If that’s the case, you may wonder how you can justify the time you will spend writing a novel when you’re not even a “real” writer yet. These feelings of doubt are completely normal. Some would even say that this, too, is part of the writing process.
Don’t let imposter syndrome keep you from writing your novel! Image created with Canva AI Generator.
One struggle that many emerging writers battle is imposter syndrome. This is a common experience among writers and other creative professionals. It is the feeling that despite their accomplishments, skills, or expertise, they are not truly qualified or deserving of their success. There are several reasons why writers may experience imposter syndrome. For example, writers often have high standards for their work and may compare themselves unfavorably to other writers or to their own idealized vision of what their writing should be. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Writing is also a subjective art form, and writers may receive rejection or criticism from publishers, editors, or readers. Even a single negative comment or rejection letter can trigger feelings of self-doubt and insecurity.
Ayla is a successful attorney who has always had a passion for writing. Throughout her legal career, she daydreams about writing a novel and imagines the stories she would love to tell. However, due to the demands of her profession, long working hours, and other personal commitments, Ayla never finds the time or energy to fully pursue her writing aspirations.
Ayla’s desire to write a novel is a lingering dream, always at the back of her mind. She collects ideas, snippets of dialogue, and character sketches in a notebook, hoping that one day she will have the opportunity to bring them to life on paper. However, the pressures and responsibilities of her career consistently take precedence.
As the years pass, Ayla occasionally experiences moments of regret or a sense of unfulfilled potential. She may attend writing workshops or join book clubs to stay connected to her love for literature, but the time and dedication required to actually sit down and write a novel elude her.
