Gravy's Tips for Novel Writing - Part 1

#1 - It's okay to be a pantser AND plotter. For years, I wrote novels with NO guide at all. But, that led me to rambling and veering off to focus on character development instead of plot development. In the last few years though, I got frustrated with my lack of ability of complete a story, because I was always veering off into a side-plot.

That's when I decided to give plotting a chance. I read the book Outlining Your Novel by K. M. Weiland it changed the way I viewed at plotting. I used to think about it as a strict structure that had no room for creativity. But, when I viewed it like the Pirate Code; more like a guideline, I was in love. Now, I even outline my fanfictions! But as I am writing, the plot points I have outlined are the only things that MUST happen in the story. Everything else, like character reactions, backstories, etc. are up for grabs.

So, when I am writing, I can still experience that shock when a character does something unpredictable, without letting the character derail the plot. (Looking at you, Kyle! King of Plot Derailment!) So, now, I use both plotting and pantsing. For the first draft, when it's a NEW story, I let myself pants the first draft, because what I find might add more to later drafts.

#2 - The THIRD draft is not your finished product. The third draft is STILL a giant outline. Revise it at least 3 more times! Because a story changes and so do characters. The thing that I always worry about is missed opportunities in a story. One of my works, Dark Caverns, is on Draft 8 and I am NOT sorry. Because I have had time to figure out the world, the characters, etc. If I had gone with draft 3, the story would be so different. Characters that were not added until draft 6 would not exist. If one believes this to be excessive, that's fine. But just learn what works for you. I am a perfectionist and am always on the quest to turn over every stone. I always feel I am MISSING something and when I find it, it's like a puzzle piece clicking into place.

#3 - Write until you stop. If the characters still have things to say, the story is not finished. It's hard to explain, but like people, characters have a lot of thoughts. So, let them talk until they sit back in the interview chair and thank you. I have been writing novels where it just doesn't FEEL like the end- so it's not. Not until you're staring at the blank page, feeling there is nothing left to say. It's hard to explain, but it just FEELS like the end. You can always edit later, but let the story conclude on its own, don't cut it off due to word count, or some arbitrary outline/what you thought it would be. Let the characters tell you when they are finished being interviewed.

#4 - Ring that bell - I have said this before around here on the forum. If you're going to write something dark and scary, don't shy away from it. Understand what you are writing and lean into it. The term, 'ring the bell' comes from Mel Brooks and his experience on the movie Blazing Saddles where someone told him to just 'ring the bell'. Don't walk up to a subject and dance around it. Write it. Before that, understand it to the best of your imagination. Then, see where the topic takes you.

#5 - Using your imagination is okay - Because that's what writing is all about. Yet, there seems to be a current thought that says one must 'visit the location', read all the history books, learn what kind of tablecloths they used in the 1800s. To an extent, do what works for you, but again, remember the book you are most likely writing is fiction. You don't HAVE to be perfect and it's OKAY to use your imagination for things you don't want to research. (For me, rainforests because of all the mushrooms and bugs.) Will it be as accurate? Maybe not- but also, when do we think the Haunted Mansion has to be actually haunted for us to enjoy it?