The Mapping Experiment
In my initial post, I talked about trying to figure out how to structure my second novel, and using as a model a bestselling novel I had read recently that was structured similarly. I said I was going to map the book and see what I learned, and I did.
I took a 17×24 piece of posterboard and a pencil and sat down with the book. On the left half of the posterboard, lengthwise, I did a chapter list. For chapter one — who gets introduced? How much backstory? Is that character’s problem presented or merely set up? How much dialogue? How many characters are introduced that are ultimately central to the story, and how many peripheral? And so on through all the chapters, and a pattern really did emerge.
The structure was fairly simple but well organized. On the righthand side of the poster, I diagrammed it a little — this chunk intro, this chunk bringing the characters together, this chunk problems, this chunk planning a solution, a little diagram of who helps solve whose problem showing the interconnectivity of the characters, this chunk additional setbacks, this chunk resolutions, this chunk setup for the next book (it’s the first in a series).
I walked away with a very clear picture of the novel’s structure and it has helped considerably in my own planning. It was a useful exercise — I recommend it!
It sounds like a pretty great exercise!
I’ll try it myself. Sometime. Because your mapping experiment does require one thing: to know exactly what happens throughout the whole story. It probably does help organize ideas and come up with new ones, but the basic structure has to be in your head.
And I sure don’t have that right now!
Well, I’ll agree it helps to have some idea where your own work is going. But what it actually gave me is a picture of something else that worked, which means, of course, that I can either follow that, or break away from it as my ideas develop. What’s that old saw about knowing the rules before you break them? Anyhow I hope you’ll let me know if/when you try it and what you discovered!! I get the feeling that you are more of a seat of the pants kind of writer than I am — you like to see where it takes you. Is that correct? I admire that but have never been able to do it. So I’m really curious about your process!
Yes, knowing the rules before breaking them does make sense.
A seat of the pants kind of writer… lol. Maybe. Though I begin writing once I have the beginning, middle and end clear in my head. It has happened to me before that the ending degenerates into something completely unexpected, or the end isn’t so realistic after writing the first part so I change it.
I guess I do like to see where it takes me
If I work out a process to it, I’ll let you know.