Snowmageddon Methodology

5 February 2010 | Filed Under Tools of the Trade 

If, like me, you are going to be snowed in this weekend, take advantage of the time and get some snow-inspired outlining and writing done. I am, of course, referring to the Snowflake Method.

The Snowflake Method helps the writer build and organize their novel from the ground up. Conceptually, the process looks something like this:

Snowflake Iteration 1 Snowflake Iteration 2 Snowflake Iteration 3 Snowflake Iteration 4






By the last step, you have a “snowflake” made up of all the information you need to get writing constructively. In this process, you start with one broad sentence, and end up with several pages of details. It takes a lot of work, and a lot of time, but which one of those do you have the most of this weekend?

I used this method for my NaNoWriMo novel and it worked so well. I went from having a vague notion of how to get from A to Z to having an outline which, while not as detailed as it could have been, provided me with a solid framework with which to write. It gave me the structure of a story arc, but allowed me the chance to embellish as I wrote. It even helped me with character developments/arcs.

Granted, it doesn’t work for everyone. But I plan on re-visiting it to help me figure out where to go with my current Project. (I finally have a beginning, but what then?) Try it, and see what happens!

[Excellent! I managed to refrain from making the joke that just as every snowflake is unique, so is every nov -

- crap.]

Comments

2 Responses to “Snowmageddon Methodology”

  1. Laureninspace on February 5th, 2010 11:03 am

    Ooh, the link goes to “Advanced Fiction Writing” techniques. I don’t know if I’m there yet!

    When you said, “the snowflake method” and before I clicked the link, I thought it would be like make a bubble chart. Where you write a characters name in one bubble, and write bubbles with descriptions all around it, and attach them with lines. (Having a hard time explaining but it looks like this – http://www.neatorama.com/2009/12/14/diagram-of-geek-culture/ That looks more like a snowflake to me.)

  2. jajohnson7 on February 5th, 2010 11:18 am

    Oh dear, I hated those diagrams!

    I have updated the post to show you what the snowflake would look like at its various stages. Hope that clears up any future confusion!

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    Hi, I'm Jenn, new grad student and old YA fantasy writer. I've long dreamed of being a novelist, and I bet you have too. I hope you find my blog helpful, inspiring, and maybe just a little bit fun. (But not too much fun. Writing is serious business, you know.)

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