Posts Tagged ‘writing method’
Writing a Novel: the chapter table
I have a tool I have used to help my writing process. I have used it for years, so I know it works. I think of it as ‘my chapter table.’
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After I have finished my first draft and have done at least one edit of the entire draft, I create a table. I usually do this before I choose my chapter beginnings and endings. Part of the purpose of the table is to determine those beginnings and endings.
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The table records information about many aspects of the novel: chapters, chapter title, chapter length (page numbers), includes characters, settings, and (because I illustrate my books) possible topics for illustration.
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Here is a sample table, used for my in-progress Rural Mystery, The Road. The Road is an adventure/mystery about a woman on vacation who visits the places marked on a map, left by her Aunt Beth when she died.
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| chapter | title | pages | vacation day | characters | drawings |
| Prologue | — | 1 | 0 | Aunt Beth | none |
| 1 | vacation | 5 | 0 | ChelseaMason | Karmann Ghia |
| 2 | the plan | 5 | 0-1 | Chelsea Mason | Map and red dot |
| 3 | the chimney | 9 | 2 | Chelsea MasonJed | The chimney in the woods |
| 4 | cemetery | 9 | 3,4 | Chelsea | Cemetery |
| 5 | Money Point Road | 9 | 5 | Chelsea Mason | Lily of the valley Glamping dome Trail and mountain Soldier lichen |
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I can put the table to almost any use. So, for example, if I want to track a symbol used throughout the novel, I can indicate the occurrences here. I can also insert dates, if those are important to my story. As I think about changes to the action or characters, the table helps me find particular areas of the novel, without searching the entire draft.
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When you work at your next story, try my table method of keeping track of chapters, characters and action. I know there are many uses for such a table.
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All my best!
Jane (a.k.a. Alexandra)
nichepoetryandprose 