It’s the time of year when NaNoWriMo are the syllables on everyone’s lips. Even James Scott Bell’s. In this post over at Kill Zone, Bell talks about how to get ready for NaNoWriMo by deciding what’s at stake for your protagonist—and then writing every scene to reflect it.
Every plot can be rendered in this [one-sentence, is-about] fashion,* and it’s important that you know this much about yours.
Now, once you have that, add a “because” sentence that explains what the stakes are. Don’t worry about the form of the sentence, just pack into it the reasons the Lead character in your novel has to succeed. Turn it into a paragraph if you want to. It’s all for you.
Remember, he’s talking about doing your homework to prepare for NaNoWriMo. But this is good advice anytime you need a fresh way to think about plot and theme—because surely you are sick of hearing me say Every scene must advance the plot!
I’ve run a piece about NaNoWriMo before. But read this from James Scott Bell, then dash over to Chuck Wendig’s website for this one—“25 Things You Should Know About NaNoWriMo.” (As always: language warning.)
There’s more than just a plot at stake here. Think about that, do your homework, and decide what’s at stake for you. I think you’ll be prepared then.
* Bell’s example: Gone With the Wind is about a Southern belle who has to fight to save her home during the Civil War.
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