I was going to do another critique tonight, but I read through all your comments and maybe I’ll just answer those. For anyone just joining us, we’re discussing my Snowflake method of designing and writing a novel:
Venessa asked:
I understand that characters are the most important part of the story and are essential in moving the plot forward. But I have a problem with this: “It is OK to have the first disaster be caused by external circumstances, but I think that the second and third disasters should be caused by the protagonist’s attempts to “fix things”. Things just get worse and worse.”
Do the second and third disasters HAVE to be caused by the protagonist’s attempts to fix things? Is it okay to have all the disasters external?
Randy sez: Yes, it’s OK. Do whatever the story demands. The rules are just there to guide you–kind of like that pesky Pirate’s Code, which as we found out is actually more of . . . guidelines.
Rob asked:
In one of your newsletters you mentioned something about a Snowflake computer program. Is this still in the works? Any updates on the progress? I think this would be really helpful, so I’m anxious to try it.
Randy sez: That has been shelved for the moment. The programmer who had contacted me about doing it has gotten sidetracked on other things that are making him tons of money. (Jon Leger, the guy who started the $7 Report craze.) So he’s just not able to do it. I could write the program myself, but I’m not great at user-interfaces, so it might not be all that good. And I’ve been really busy lately. I have a friend who might tackle it–he’s a star at writing user-interfaces. On the other hand, there is apparently a program called Avenir that has a Snowflake option built in. I just heard about it today. Here’s a link. The catch is that it’s Mac only. I hope that somehow, someway, we can get a good Snowflake program.
Rachel wrote:
My Snowflake problem is that with one particular novel I’m plotting out, the back-story is taking over my Snowflake.
Step 2 of the Snowflake is: “Ideally, your paragraph will have about five sentences. One sentence to give me the backdrop and story setup. Then one sentence each for your three disasters. Then one more sentence to tell the ending.”
The back-story is that my heroine runs away from her failings by undertaking volunteer work overseas, but her work to help the people there is thwarted by corruption. She traces the source back to her own country, and returns home to expose those responsible. On page 1 as she puts her plan into action she discovers she must work against, and potentially harm, the hero (whom she has failed in the past) if she is to achieve her goal. The three disasters and the HEA come after all this.
However, when I start by describing the back-story as the first sentence in Step 2, it becomes a whole paragraph by Step 4, and makes up a fair proportion of the four page synopsis in Step 6. It is a large part of what the story is about, but it is not what happens on-stage.
I’m wondering if (a) the back-story is not the “backdrop and setup” as I had interpreted it, and (b) if it isn’t, where does the back-story, which is a vital part of this story, get included in the design documents?
Randy sez: No, the backstory IS all that “backdrop and setup”. However, you do NOT want to spend all of Part 1 of your book explaining the backstory. If it’s that interesting, then it might be wise to make this a series and tell the backstory as a novel in its own right. If the backstory isn’t enough for a full novel, then you’re going to have to find a way to tame it.
I typically write the backstory (a lot of it) in my Snowflake in the character sketches and character charts. This is a good place for it. Write all you want! Get it out of your system. Then tell as LITTLE of it as you can get away with when you start writing. If you can’t help yourself and you must put the backstory into the story, then go ahead–type it all out in the first three chapters. But when the novel’s done, throw away the first three chapters because the story begins in Chapter 4.
Backstory is good! (In your preparation work). It deepens your characters. But treat it like your tax returns or your diary–keep it private and only reveal what you have to.
Doraine wrote:
I can’t figure out how you write the disasters, when you’re not really sure where you’re going. I’ve been a Pantser for most of my writing life. However, I’m finding that with the novel, I need a little more structure. I just can’t figure out how to think that far ahead. Any suggestions anyone?
Randy sez: If you’re a pantser, you’re a pantser. Don’t fight that. Write the story first and THEN write the Snowflake as a way of analyzing your first draft. Then use the Snowflake to rewrite it in the second draft.
Darcie wrote:
How do you focus it towards moving the plot forward? I’m @ 27K words and need another 25-20K more. I’m not sure where to take my plot and would like to use the snowflake for the plot advancemen
Randy sez: The Snowflake is an analytic tool, not a creative tool. So don’t use it to create the plot, use it to analyze the plot you’ve already created. I call the early creative part “composting”. If you have a critique group, you might want to consider an all-day session where you all brainstorm each other’s novels. This often unlocks the creativity.
Darcie wrote: Do you have a printer-friendly version of the snowflake steps?
Randy sez: Alas, not for free. There is one as part of the Snowflake Lecture and Goodies Package, for the outrageously cheap price of $10. :):):)
Paul wrote:
Randy! You need a forum for us to hang out on! Posting comments to blogs just ain’t it.
How about it? Open up a forum!
Randy sez: I’m open to that idea, but don’t know where to start. I’m kind of new to blogging–only been doing it a few weeks, and I’m finally getting the hang of it. I use WordPress, which is GREAT. But I have no idea what’s good software to use for running a forum. Any suggestions anyone?
Oh good. External disasters – here I come!
Randy sez: Backstory is good! (In your preparation work).
Absolutely. Recently I needed to sort out some backstory hiccups. Most of the current action revolves around a murder ten years prior. I was backing myself into a corner plot wise and had no idea how to work it. I eventually booked a motel for two nights, ran away from the family, and sorted out my plot by sitting down and writing out the backstory plotline in a sequenced format from each of my three characters POV’s. It worked a charm. Now I know what I need to add into my wip, and what can be ditched.
Randy sez: But I have no idea what’s good software to use for running a forum. Any suggestions anyone?
Two popular forums are http://www.ezboard.com/ and http://www.simplemachines.org/
Thank you SO much for answering my Snowflake back-story question, Randy! It’s been on my mind for months, but I never imagined I’d be able to ask you about it.
(Have I mentioned how much I LOVE your blog?)
I have to say it seems so much better to get all that back-story out in the snowflake, than to spend the time writing it into the first few chapters, only to have to chop them off later.
It’s good to know back-story does belong in the setup, though when I expand that one paragraph into the one-page and then the four-page synopsis, I just won’t expand the back-story to the same degree.
And … while others are throwing in requests, may I make a suggestion? How about having a “Questions?” post on a regular basis, where we can add our questions to the comments column (or by email?), and any questions you feel like answering over the following days will probably be very helpful to many readers.
Thank you again for all your help and encouragement through your site, e-zine and now this blog!
I’m trying to not take this personally, but why is my previous comment listed as “Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
Have I been blackballed for some reason?
Thanks, Randy. Yes. That makes sense to use the snowflake method as the analyzing tool for rewriting. I think I wish I weren’t a pantser. I use outlines extensively in non-fiction. I wish for that wonderful outline that would make the fiction writing more direct. But it just ain’t there, at least not right now.
I agree with Doraine- I use outlines in nonfiction but can’t seem to make the transition into fiction. It did help when you wrote “The Snowflake is an analytic tool, not a creative tool”. I guess I was looking for the magic creative tool, trying to make the Snowflake something it’s not.
On software used for the snowflake.
I use an outliner program (of my own creation) to follow the snowflake.
**WARNING:SHAMELESS SELF-PLUG AHEAD.
If it’s a problem, Randy, feel free to edit this comment…**
I’ve got a flash presentation on how to use my outliner with the snowflake method. It would work with pretty much any outliner, though.
http://www.babykatiemedia.com/texttree/tutorial.php
Randy,
You might want to check with Jeff Gerke at Where the Map Ends for the forum idea (http://www.wherethemapends.com/forums/forums.htm). He’s just recently started his and may be able to offer some tips.
Oh, and one more thing. PhpBB is a pretty good open source forum package.
On the topic of forums: if you start one, be willing to tag a few faithful members as additional moderators. The forum spammers are really inventive, and open forums attract them like cows attract flies. It’s wise to have other members helping you keep the spam deleted, since some of it can be very explicit, and you don’t want that kind of stuff lingering where everyone can see it. But as a member of two other writing forums, I find it very valuable to join such a community, and I’d definitely sign up if such a thing were available.
Randy: I have frequented another (non writing related) forum for many years, and it uses http://www.simplemachines.org/. It’s free and it is very good. The administrator of that forum is a good guy that would be an excellent person to learn from. I would be willing to help if you want someone to dive in and make it happen.
This is off the topic (sort of) but I love your blog as well. I’d love to be part of the forum, and it looks like you may have gotten more help than you wished for! Unfortunately (for you) it may mean more work coming your way…
I’ve just found your site and am fascinated. Trying out your snowflake right now!
I’d be interested in a forum, and as it happens, my husband has written free forum software for WordPress. It’s available at http://www.yellowswordfish.com/my-wordpress-plugin-library/simple-forum-wordpress-plugin/
Check out Joomla! for a forum. It’s fairly easy to setup and admin.
Randy, I could set up a forum for you in few minutes. Pretty much depends on who is hosting your domain, and what kind of access I can get to your domain. Fortunately (and unfortunately) there’s about a billion options. Drop me an email if you’re interested.
Hi Randy, Hope its okay to comment on the snowflake method at this late date. I was really busy, and didn’t even check my email for a few days.
I am enjoying the process and find that in analyzing what I once thought was a logical, detailed, well-thought-out plot, there are actually gaps and gaffs! It is fun to sort all those things out and now I have a structure to plug everything into. I have discovered that I cannot work though the steps linearly, because I keep getting ideas for other characters, say, or a great bit of dialogue, when working on the details for my hero. What I did to take advantage of this tendency instead of fighting it was make pages for each character(character files), and sections for notes on setting, and other aspects of the novel. So I can jump to any one of them in a snap and not lose the thought.
I have begun condensing little portions of the plot as bedtime stories for my daughter. This helps me to see the bare structure and make connections, while staying aware of entertainment value. Fortunately, I have a curious, quizzical critic for an audience.
My question is how important is it to be able to encapsulate the entire plot in a single sentence? Is this a requisite skill for a novelist?
I just finished listening to your Snowflake lecture and going over the character sketch template that came in the Goodies file. One of the character sketch points is “character’s paradox” but I don’t remember you discussing that in the lecture. Can you explain that?