about. It’s time to start mapping out the frame work of my story.
I start by asking and answering questions about my story.
What are the big events that will happen?
Who are my lead characters?
What kind of challenges will they have to deal with?
Will they succeed or will they fail?
If they fail do they get a second chance?
Who or what are the negative elements?
Who falls in love?
Who dies?
How much do I tell the reader and when? (This is one of the most important
questions I ask myself.)
Writing isn’t just about dumping information on the page. I needed to decide
when the reader is supposed to know something and judge how it will affect their
vision of the story. It’s about letting the Vision be seen by the reader.
Think of having a focus group. Is this the kind of story they would like to
read? You don’t have to give the plot away just a five minute pitch or a
chapter or two and listen to the feedback.
Do this a few times until you think you have a winning Vision. Write them
all down and make it orderly. For example, who are your lead characters? or how
the Story ending? You may have three different endings to your book and deciding
on which one should be used can be found by asking which one the reader would
continue to read to the end. If they can read the end and see the story from the
beginning they don’t need to read the story. So make it a vision that has to be
read.