With less than a month away, I plan to take some time this week to choose an idea for my NaNovel. I may revisit an old idea, or brainstorm a new one. But as a plotter (rather than a pantser) I like to have a roadmap.
My favorite technique is Salvadore-Mora's Instant Dramatica, because I find it lets me get a synopsis in less than an hour, and an outline in a day.
Anyone else have a favorite idea-generating technique?
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Okt 2, 2007 - 06 18
For the past 3 NaNos, I've had ideas come to me in June, or the summer and had that time to sort of flesh them out (not that that helped me finish them). I guess maybe I wasn't planning on doing NaNo this year (but I'm back) and have no clue.
Right now I'm perusing the Adopt a Plot thread and maybe will get an idea I can change around a bit there
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Okt 4, 2007 - 10 41
What is Salvadore-Mora's Instant Dramatica? I did a search for it and came up nil.
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Large and Lovely, BellaOnline
Big Girl Blue Blog
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Okt 8, 2007 - 00 17
http://www.dramatica.com/theory/addl_materials/instant_dramatica.html
It appears to require expensive software.
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Okt 9, 2007 - 17 22
Actually, there's a really easy way to use Instant Dramatica. Let me know if you'd like details.
Also, Salvadore has a book out, Dramatica for Screenwriters with an updated version of the technique.
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Okt 9, 2007 - 21 34
Do you mean, without buying the expensive software?
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Okt 10, 2007 - 10 47
Yes. Essentially, by answering six questions, you get a brief but fairly complete synopsis of a story (brief as in 4 to 8 sentences).
You can literally do this in a few minutes.
If you want to create a complete 40-step outline of a story in a matter of a few hours, that's a slightly more involved process for which you may need the software, or at least a thorough understanding of the theory. The great thing is that the finished outline will not only be a consistent plot but it will have a consistent theme that is well fleshed out, and clearly defined arcs for your two most important characters. The "heart" line and the "plot" line will be in sync.
Obviously, if you are a "pantser" you may prefer to go into wrimo with just a brief synopsis -- just enough so you know what direction to head in -- or maybe no direction at all. If you're a plotter, like me, you may want a more detailed outline to fall back on.
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Okt 11, 2007 - 19 17
Well, then, I'd like to know about it. Are the questions online somewhere?
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Okt 11, 2007 - 20 01
The 7 questions are...
1. Goal: What are your characters seeking, what problem do they want solved (e.g. destroy the Death Star, find true love)?
2. Consequences: What will happen if they fail (they get enslaved by the Empire, become spinsters, etc)?
3. Requirements: What must happen for them to reach the goal (study the Death Star blueprints, meet Mr. Right)?
4. Forewarnings: What signs foretell the consequence is approaching (Alderan destroyed, Mr. Right turns out to have a wife)?
5. Outcome: Do they succeed in reaching the goal, solving the problem?
6. Driver: is the story driven by actions or decisions? (Action stories begin with an action, that forces a decision, that forces a new action etc. until the final action at the end. Decision stories begin with a decision that forces an action, that forces another decision, until the final decision at the end.)
7. Limit: Are the characters in danger of running out of time or running out of options?
Armed with your answers, you combine them in this order ...
1. Initial driver + consequence.
2. Goal + requirements
3. Forewarnings + limit
4. Final driver + outcome
E.g.
Middle-aged single woman decides she has had enough of the corporate world. To avoid becoming a lonely old woman she sets out to find the perfect man to marry. In order to do this, she stops working late and joins a singles club. However, when she goes to events, all the other women are younger than her except for one other woman who tells her that at their age, all the decent men are already married. Our hero tries dating various guys, but each one has unforgivable flaws (such as a wife). Finally, having exhausted all other possibilities, she decides to buy a cat from her next door neighbour who she has always ignored. He turns out to be a nice guy who has had a crush on her all along.
Or ...
The evil empire attacks Princess Leia's shuttle, proving that the emperor is determined to rule with an iron fist and wipe away all traces of democracy. In order to prevent this, the rebels must destroy the Death Star. But that means first analyzing the blueprints to find its weakness. The empire destroys Alderan, which foretells what may soon happen to all freedom loving people. With the Death Star approaching the rebel base, the rebels have only so much time to drop a bomb at the right spot on the Death Star. Luke Skywalker manages to do it in time, and the Death Star is destroyed.
Of course, this is just a brief synopsis of the overall plot. You'd need to add an arc for your main character, and other elements. But it's a place to begin.