What separates a good story from one that falls flat? Is this a question you often ask yourself? The answer is not luck or a publisher’s whim. It’s an expertly crafted story that began with preparation.

Does your mind spin with characterization, plot, emotion, dialogue, setting, point of view, and all the literary techniques—thinking one must be dominant to achieve bestseller status? 

Prewriting the novel using methods that match how the writer processes information that can transport an ordinary story into an unforgettable one.

Many writers skip novel-preparation altogether, but knowledge about novel prep paves the way for success.

Understanding the different layers of preparation helps create a story that blends our unique personalities with carefully crafted art. The result keeps readers asking for more.

Mental

Each one of us develops writing tendencies and preferences according to how our minds are wired through life experiences and our innate nature. No writer ever feels confident using another writer’s method of novel prep. We take valuable information and tailor it to fit our needs. The outcome is the same, but the method of achieving it differs. 

Study your personality type to discover how you learn best and find ways to strengthen your craft. Overcome challenges with methods designed specifically for you.

Research

Researching our stories tends to never end. Granted, we want more information, history, and culture for credibility and our characters’ points of view, but the time comes when we need to apply that research to our story. 

If you are looking for a research checklist and resources, please email me at [email protected]

Structure

• Some writers are outliners who spend hours and days outlining every facet of their stories.
• Some writers are seat-of-the-pants writers, also termed discovery writers or character-driven storytellers. 
• Some writers are a hybrid of both.
• Some writers respond well to writing sprints.
• Some writers embrace flexibility.

Your structure doesn’t determine the value of your story, but the method dictates the best way for your story to unfold. Structure is valuable and weaves your story into one exquisite piece of art.

Environmental

Setting is the often-forgotten literary technique that subtly shows how a behind-the-scenes environment shapes and strengthens character.

PPS – Practical Preparation Strategies

Preparing to write your novel allows you to expand on the power of your imagination. Composing a treasured novel is like weaving a tapestry of colorful threads to create a stunning story. Each thread highlights the others, with none having dominance, but always beginning with character. 

Character is who the story is about. The hero has a goal to reach or a problem to solve and is met with obstacles along the way. The antagonist’s goal is to stop the protagonist. Period. The reader loses their hold on reality and becomes the character, vicariously living the story with the hero.

The plot or storyline is the hero’s journey. The scenes build on each other while working their way to a dark moment when everything is lost, except for what the hero learned in each prior scene.

Emotion, dialogue, setting, symbolism, sensory perception, and point of view weave through each scene, enhancing and showcasing character. 

August is a time of preparation for fall and then, begin. I encourage you to set aside time to determine the best way to prepare for your next novel.