Efriend Sacha Black interviewed author Jillian Davis and asked about the tools she used to build her story. Sacha wasn’t asking whether she used a computer or pen-and-paper, rather what literary tools-such as character profiles and timelines. I found myself nodding my head over every one Jillian mentioned.
But I wonder how many people use the sort of tools I do. When you Google pictures of writers, you often get something like this:
…or this:
I’m more this:
Let me share my writer’s tools and tell me if you do the same:
Pre-draft
I pre-draft in a spreadsheet. It’s about a dozen columns and hundreds of rows. I often rearrange the rows as a plot point changes and add rows to enhance detail. When I’m done with this pre-draft, I convert the spreadsheet to text and start the editing process.
Here’s what it looks like:
Character profiles
I fill out an extensive questionnaire on each character. I want to get to know the traits, motivations, interests that each of their friends or family would know about them. Invariably, it proves inadequate as the story unfolds and I end up looking at events through their eyes to answer the question, “What would my character really do in this situation?”
Here’s an example:
Timeline
I build this in Excel/Google Sheets so I can make it as detailed as possible. When I’m trying to find a character’s activity, I Ctrl+F (see my yellow highlights for ‘Zeke’) to find their name! Truth,it’s most beneficial when I’m setting it up as it clarifies actions and points out temporal problems. Once it’s established, it almost becomes cumbersome to use.
Support Materials
This is information I’ve collected while researching for my story. Sometimes, it’s the entire bit; other times, just a link. For my current story, it’s so long, I had to add a Table of Contents with internal links to the sections so I could find what I was looking for. A simple Ctrl+F search returned too long a list.
Here’s what it looks like for To Hunt a Sub:
Google Earth map
This was to track my character around the world as the story progressed. Often, I needed detail like:
- How long did it take to get from Point A to Point B (I measured with Google Earth’s ruler
- What’s around Point C (I zoomed in on Google Earth)
- Where was a geographic location that fits the needs of the story (for example, I was looking for a North Korean sub base–found it, thankfully in a spot that worked for my story)
- Needed the latitude and longitude of a location (Google Earth grid lines provide that
Here’s a screenshot of the Korea geographic activity in my story, mapped in Google Earth:
Pictures
So I can visualize what’s going on. Here are some I’ve used:
Cuts
I keep all the cuts from my story in case I change my mind. That happens more than I’ll admit to. For To Hunt a Sub, it’s 11 pages, size 10 font:
How about you? How do you plan and write your story?
More on writing a novel:
7 Reasons For and Three Against Critique Groups
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is the author/editor of dozens of books on integrating tech into education, webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics.
Pingback: 7 Tools I Use to Organize My Stories | Assorted of Interest and Interesting
Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
Everyone has their own technique.It’s helpful to see what works for others. It’s possible something they’re doing might help you also. I’m still working on the outline for my class assignment. Since I have the whole story in my head, an outline should be easy. Then why am I stuck on it?
LikeLike
Jacqui, I am more than impressed with your organizational abilities. I did a lot of outlining with my first novel, but now I’m finding I prefer pantsing for the sequel. What I wonder though, is if I should have stuck with the former plan. Hmmm, time will tell!
LikeLike
It’s so hard to tell. I’ve tried both ways I find I forget to follow through on little details if I don’t organize my thoughts. For me, that’s horrid. I hate novels that leave me hanging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow I am amazed at the work you do Jacqui. I am taking the Holly Lysle course on editing a novel I can understand why we need to do all this now and have learned some great tips. I also wrote a contract and posted it near my laptop. My contract with my reader, Holly has a great list of points to remind me what I have promised my them, it helps to look at it when I am editing.
LikeLike
I need to at least get to another writer conference, with lots of seminars. They are so motivating. I’ll go look at Holly Lysle. The idea of a promise list is interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She has an interesting coding system for when you put your draft through triage. We are not allowed to touch the manuscript through most of the course. I love it but I can’t compare it to anything because it is the first editing course I have ever done Jacqui.
LikeLike
All those details! I would be a basket case if I worked like you do. The feeling of being overwhelmed would do me in. Obviously, I don’t use spreadsheets. I make summaries and questionnaires.
LikeLike
I know what you mean, Glynis. I’d be a basket case without all this! As a teacher, I am constantly reminded that there are so many means to an end.
LikeLike
Fascinating 🙂
I do much the same, but with the help of a writer’s program (Liquid Story Binder, in my case). Some authors I know have question these programs are of any use, soem told me they couldn’t use them.
Well, i suppose this is different for each one of us, and of course, it depends a lot on how you use the tool, but for me it’s invaluable. I have all my info in one place, organised in a easy-to-use fashion. And yeah, years ago I probably would have not use one of these either, but now that I’m working on a trilogy and I have tons of material to organise, LSB has been a time saver for me. And above all an invaluable organisational tool.
LikeLike
I haven’t heard of Liquid Story Binder. It sounds excellent. Mine has too many disparate parts. I know that. I’m just used to it.
LikeLike
This is very detailed. I tend to put everything on a Word doc as an outline in a chart with additional notes typed at the bottom. Your tools looks great.
LikeLike
I used to do that, but the outline got too detailed. I tried color coding plot points I needed to follow up, but it got too colorful. I find myself forgetting things if I don’t get them down on paper!
LikeLike
WHOA!!!! Thanks for the heads up. Now that I know I’m sticking to flash fiction and haiku.
LikeLike
I love Haiku. Good choices.
LikeLike
Wow. Just wow! I bow to your organisational skills 😀 I’m not much of a planner, so don’t do much of the pre-stuff. I do the character profiles, but I still have stuff pinned to my notice board, scribbled on my whiteboard. I’m trying to use the PC – for writing as well as organising. I’ll find my balance sooner or later!
LikeLike
I need a greater measure of creativity. When my mind bogs down, I start organizing and that’s not necessarily effective for creative problems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes nothing is, and at least it’s productive! I’ve been having creative problems of my own. But watching marathon episodes of Suits isn’t going to help my funk! 😀
LikeLike
I finally joined Netflix so I can start marathons. I’m way behind on Suits because my husband doesn’t like it and I don’t watch a lot of TV except with him.
LikeLike
Oh My ..the mind boggles..mine anyway…I just write…I was starting to think maybe I should be writing some thoughts down but this…I am in awe..will I ever ..be as organised or plan like this who knows ..not me…It’s a great article but scary ..for me… 🙂
LikeLike
And you don’t have to be this organized. At times, it appalls me that I need this much to write the story. If I’d known I would, I wouldn’t have started writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha Ha I’m sure you would have because it’s something we just do ..but all that still freaks out just thinking of it! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow – you have a great bunch of tools. I tend to make notes on old bank statement envelopes. But most often if you mention tools, I think of my woodshop where I’ve got lots of tools.
LikeLike
I like that–notes on old bank statement envelopes. My husband does that and it drives me nuts!
LikeLike
🙂 drives my wife nuts too.
LikeLike
Wonderful organizational system. I do much the same, only I use Scrivener. I like how it’s all in one place there, even my research files and links. I also love the screenshot option so I can take a ‘picture’ of my scene and then rewrite it without having to worry I’ve typed over the earlier version. The snapshot saves it in a side panel for me so I can refer back to it if necessary.
LikeLike
There are a lot of amazing features in Scrivener. Most of them–because I’m geeky–I’ve figured out how to do in Word, but I almost always lose people when I try to explain the how of a process. Scrivener sounds much simpler.
LikeLike
I took an online course in it, and that helped even more. I love the software.
LikeLike
Wow that is thorough! I shamefully sit at my laptop and wait for something to happen. Eeek!
LikeLike
Usually when that happens to me, I research. That always sparks my imagination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leaping lizards, Miss Jacqui! I think you’ve got a book in your spreadsheet strategy! A how-to-write organizational model and tool. This is unique and 21st century.
LikeLike
It IS unique, though probably works for very few. The important part is I’ve tried other methods and always come back to this. I bet most people (with the exception of D.Wallace above) would find it cumbersome and unworkable. And I probably would fail using their method. Sigh.
LikeLike
Which is why we peculiarly unique people all find our own way – and our own writer’s voice. Otherwise, we might just as well all read – and write – nuttin but dictionaries.
LikeLike
Oh my! I’m such an amateur! Stories often come in dreams, in the meditative state that comes with painting walls, or out of a conversation on a news item. (or an combination of the above) I hand write it up quickly in a journal book. In the back of that same book I describe the ‘props’ needed for the story–often the characters artwork, sometimes the layout for significant locations, or even backstory on the characters. Then I wait for November (NaNoWriMo) and I write like hell for a month–doing internet research as needed along the way. By the end of November, whether I’ve reached the 50,000 word goal or not, I have enough of a story down and care enough for the characters that I will finish, later, at a saner, more leisurely pace.(with internet research and chapter outlines dashed off, identifying chapter objectives and “things to prove” along the way.
LikeLike
The way you find your stories and plots is how I imagined I would, before I started writing. You have a good process–with a beginning, middle, and ending. Mine never ends. I just keep editing.
LikeLike
Editing is a necessary evil. Nothing is ready, the first time through. In fact, the known fact of editing frees me up to write, pell mell, knowing I’ll catch the junk later. I go through it a few times more after the draft and then hand it to my editor. I am blessed with an editor who changes my words without ever undermining my meaning. Editing for the sake of it (or being stuck in it) looks like an anxiety disorder to me–the fear of releasing the story to the unforgiving hordes. Admittedly, in the middle of editing, it feels never-ending. It may be that the stand-alone act of editing is a form of mental illness–the crazy pond into which we all must take a dip, but don’t want to do laps there.
LikeLike
That’s a great analogy–‘the crazy pond into which we all must take a dip but don’t want to do laps there’.
LikeLike
Wow, Jacqui! This was validating to read. When I tell people that I outline and build timelines in spreadsheets, they think I’m crazy. It seems so antithetical to the creative process. I do all your steps except Google Maps. Since I write fantasy, I don’t need to accurately locate places on Earth. However, I do make a detailed map with a map-making program in order to get a good sense of topography and distances. I answer my character profile questions in Word, but then keep a spreadsheet summary for quick reference (I forget which hand is missing a finger). Finally, I keep an active spreadsheet for general details – words I make up, magical powers, names of horses, ships, taverns – all the little details that I need to refer back to. I enjoyed the post – Thanks.
LikeLike
I laughed about ‘antithetical to the creative process’. I even think that as I’m doing it! But, it works so I continue.
What map making program do you use? I’d love to check it out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Campaign Cartographer. I love the program and there are some great tutorials, but it doesn’t translate well into printed text (could be my old laptop).
LikeLike
Reblogged this on H.K. Rowe and commented:
This is amazing! I’m definitely going to save this and revisit it so I can adapt it in my own writing process. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks for the reblog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Charles Ray's Ramblings.
LikeLike
Thanks for the reblog, Charlie!
LikeLike
Well, I’m amazed and impressed at the work behind your writing, and the grasp of various tools and platforms it implies. I can see I’m badly out of the loop here. My system is either to wake up in the middle of the night and go “Ah yes” or walk along the tow path in the morning and mutter something very similar before getting down to tapping at the keyboard. I’m sure this is not the only method, and the sales figures on my books suggest it may not be the most effective one, but given my lack of technical expertise, it is probably all I’m up to at the moment 🙂
LikeLike
I use your method also, Peter, for those times when mine doesn’t work. There’s something primal about it that appeals to the writer in me.
LikeLike
This is excellent. I work much like you but with about one tenth of the organisation you bring to it. Like you, I use spreadsheets. What I’m not good at is converting them into a word document. I also find that the few screenshots I have used have poor resolution, but that may be down to me. For research I use Evernote to store relevant webpages.
LikeLike
It’s a tad tricky. You copy the cells; paste into a Word doc. They become a Word table. Then select the table and go to Layout>Convert to text.
Now all I do is clean up the result.
I like Evernote, too, though I find a simple Word doc easier because it’s more accessible. I think that’s because I haven’t used Evernote enough for that purpose.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jacqui. I have been copying cell by cell!
LikeLike
Oh–this is much easier. I get it done in less than 30 seconds. Of course, the ‘clean up’ takes longer, but it’s a simple ‘delete’ of words from columns I don’t want.
LikeLike
Very helpful advice here, Jacqui! I struggle with the tools, so these suggestions are appreciated. Regarding the plotting sheet, do you manage to complete this prior to starting your first draft, or do you keep updating it as you go along?
LikeLike
I complete it as thoroughly as possible prior to a first draft. Once I convert it to text, I never use it again.
LikeLiked by 1 person