Novel Shortcuts: Ten Techniques that Ensure a Great First Draft

Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 3
Copyrights......Page 4
Dedication......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 6
Table of Contents......Page 7
Introduction......Page 11
1. Finding the Core of Your Novel......Page 13
Why this Story?......Page 15
Clarifying the Premise......Page 17
Who are We?......Page 18
Where are We?......Page 20
What's Wrong?......Page 22
The Problem Checklist......Page 23
Beefing Up Your Problem......Page 25
You Know Your Premise Is a Dud When.........Page 29
You'll Know You are Failing Your Good Premise When .........Page 31
Writing Your Jacket Copy as Revelation......Page 35
More Tips for Writing Your Jacket Copy......Page 46
A Note about Titles......Page 48
What to Do if You Can't Get Focused......Page 50
2. Deciding how to Tell Your Story......Page 52
POV: Who Should Tell the Story?......Page 53
Recommended Reading......Page 57
Developing the Narrative Voice......Page 58
Creating a Distinct Voice......Page 62
Tone......Page 70
The Device......Page 73
Fun Stuff......Page 78
3. Crosshairs Moments......Page 84
Identifying the Story Crosshairs Moment......Page 85
Building to the Story Crosshairs Moment......Page 86
Echoing the Story Crosshairs Moment......Page 88
Writing Your Own Overarching Crosshairs Moment......Page 89
Creating the Pinpoint of the Story Crosshairs Moment......Page 92
Identifying Chapter Crosshairs Moments......Page 95
The Influence of Turning Points......Page 97
Filtering Keepers from Tossers......Page 101
Turning all Crosshairs Moments into Great Moments......Page 102
Fun Stuff......Page 106
4. Shortcut to the Scene......Page 107
Step 1: The Scene Outline......Page 111
Recommended Reading......Page 113
Distillation......Page 114
Character-Specific Dialogue......Page 116
Shortcut to the Scene: Dialogue Exercise......Page 119
Step 3: The Ten-Minute Heartstorm......Page 121
Culling the Poetry......Page 123
Step 4: Putting it Together......Page 128
5. Balancing Scene, Summary, and Reflection......Page 136
Summary......Page 138
Tips for Writing Summary......Page 141
Reflection......Page 144
Tips for Writing Reflection......Page 150
Reflection Exercise......Page 151
Recommended Reading......Page 152
Finding Your Rhythm: What Affects Balance......Page 153
Rhythm Exercises......Page 156
Fun Stuff......Page 158
6. Planning Your Plot......Page 159
Plot Web......Page 160
Timelines......Page 164
Plot Menu......Page 169
7. Stealing Tricks from the Best......Page 173
The Emotional Crack......Page 174
The Sex Scene......Page 178
Recommended Reading......Page 183
The Awe-Inspiring Entrance......Page 184
Fun Stuff......Page 188
Mixed Perception......Page 189
Foreshadowing......Page 194
Chilling Moments......Page 196
Listening to Your Ghosts......Page 199
Borrowing the Rhythm and Emotion......Page 200
Borrowing the Language and Mood......Page 201
8. Fast Track to the Deeper Emotion......Page 204
Using Art......Page 206
Making a Soundtrack......Page 209
Recommended Listening......Page 212
Additional Inspirations......Page 213
Fun Stuff......Page 214
9. What to do When it Stinks......Page 215
Honor the Instinct that Something's Off......Page 216
How the Previous Chapters can Assist You......Page 217
Character......Page 218
Plot......Page 219
Setting......Page 220
Backstory & Exposition......Page 221
Pacing & Structure......Page 222
Character......Page 223
Plot......Page 228
Setting......Page 233
Theme......Page 236
Backstory & Exposition......Page 237
Language......Page 240
Voice/Tone......Page 242
Pace & Structure......Page 245
The Device......Page 247
Exercise: Why it Works/Why it Doesn't......Page 250
Fun Stuff......Page 251
10. Goals and Miracles......Page 252
Self-Imposed Deadlines......Page 253
Recommended Reading......Page 255
Writers Support......Page 256
Inspiration......Page 259
Finishing the Draft......Page 264
Blessings to the Happy Few......Page 266
Fun Stuff......Page 267
Index......Page 268
About the Author......Page 272
Back Cover......Page 273