Planning My New Novel

Рет қаралды 24,981

Күн бұрын

Yay for another Preptober video! Today, I’m showing you exactly how I map out my novel when I start something fresh. I hope you enjoy seeing the process.
Whether you're participating in NaNoWriMo or not, though, this is a good process for anyone starting a new book!
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get access to all of my free resources and workbooks, including the new “Preptober Planner” and my “Plot Your Novel” workbook. Sign up here and I’ll send you a link to all the downloads. heartbreathings.com/planning-...
Books I mentioned:
Screenwriting Tricks for Authors by Alexandra Sokoloff amz.run/3ds3
Super Structure by James Scott Bell amz.run/3ds5
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Heart Breathings - Episode 200
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About Me: My name is Sarra Cannon, and I've been indie publishing since 2010. In that time, I have published 26 books and sold well over half a million copies.
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Пікірлер: 137

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for joining me for another Preptober video!! Today we're talking about how I plot my novels. What are you writing this month?

@phoenixcabernet4969 3 жыл бұрын

And yes! Please share with us your creation method for Scene Cards. Would love to see that video!

@IndigoC4 3 жыл бұрын

I am writing a fantasy novella

@Retromoviegirl243 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video about how you do your index cards it could be very fascinating and helpful thanks again for sharing

@MissHolliday3110 3 жыл бұрын

Same. I'm starting over and outlining my Act one. I bought a trifold and am using sticky notes. I have different colors for main plot and subplots.

@BrendaEmmett 3 жыл бұрын

I would also love to see it! My current WIP has me switching the way I do things and I am curious if this would help. :)

@BonnieDragonKat 3 жыл бұрын

Same! Please!

@melgore75 3 жыл бұрын

I’d like to see a video about your index card process, too!

@SaraStPeter-lw1bn 3 жыл бұрын

Doooooo it! Give us the scene cards!!! Pleeeease!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

haha! Thank you!

@candacehardy100 3 жыл бұрын

I'm using Save the Cat! Writes a Novel for the first time. I can see from your video that there's still a danger of meandering around or having crisis points that are ho-hum. So thanks for stressing those 4 corners. 🙏

@inesjohnsonwrites 3 жыл бұрын

1. I get a new notebook and select a colored gel pen for the hero and a different one for the hero. 2. Instead of calling it a Brain Storm, I call it Spark Notes for what "sparks" my imagination and creativity about the characters and the plot. I'm a plot first kinda writer. 3. I know what happens, the whole journey, but I don't really know my characters. I go on the journey with them and see how they react to the tasks I give them in draft one. Then in draft two, it's all about touching up and weaving in their personalities and motivations. 4. I exclusively write romance, so I figure out the Set Up/Ordinary World, the Meet Cute, the Adhesion Point, a few Fun and Games Moments, the Mirror Moment, the Black Moment, the Wake Up/Resurrection, and the Grand Gesture. 5. I copy a Microsoft Word Calendar into my Scrivener document and plot out when I'll write each chapter. It makes me anxious to write by word count. 6. I create scene cards too! But I do them in Scrivener. 7. See #5 😁 That was a fun video!!!!

@chaplainfeeser 3 жыл бұрын

I keep saying I'm going to skip Nano this year, but then I see everyone prepping and I am getting a serious case of FOMO :). I really just don't have it in me to do it right now... so I'm going to follow along with others and just do as much writing as I have time to do during November.

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a good compromise!

@mgtogno 3 жыл бұрын

forget the video, LOOK AT THAT HELLO KITTY HALLOWEEN SET UP! Hhahahaah omg so cute!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Haha yessss!! 🧡🧡🧡

@jenniferevelynhayes 3 жыл бұрын

This. is. WONDERFUL!! By now I am pretty familiar with (and love) your basic plotting process, but it's wild how many new epiphanies I just had while watching this. Thank you!! YES PLEASE to a video dedicated to scene cards!

@TheKidsCookingSchool 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Scene cards! Plus your plotting wall! ❤️❤️😍

@revilinblack889 3 жыл бұрын

I'm sure I will watch this video for 10 more times 😁 I hope you reach that 70K words by the end of November. Thank you for the video.

@emilyr2836 3 жыл бұрын

I'd definitely be interested in a video on your scene cards - I'm not even an author, but I think an adaptation could be very useful for running roleplaying games to make sure the players get the information they need before they confront the villain.

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea!

@stephaniescott2880 3 жыл бұрын

This was a good review of tips I'm familiar with but don't always know how to implement. Seeing how you write it out in a notebook inspired me to pull out a notebook and prep brainstorming pages and basic plot point headers to fill in for my prep work.

@raekline763 3 жыл бұрын

omg this is my second time doing nano and last year i didn't plan enough and i could have gotten a lot more words fast if i had so this year i have been planning even more the last couple of months so i can rewrite the project all over again cu i had no idea what i was doing thanks for the tips!!!!

@amybeatty4323 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Please do a video about scene cards.

@schuylergeery-zink1923 3 жыл бұрын

I’m almost halfway through the sequel to my first novel (Blood Moon: Book 1 of the Crescent Crown Saga is releasing on Halloween eeee). So though I’m not doing nano specifically cuz I should hopefully finish Hunter Moon by the end of November and won’t have 50k words left to write at that point, this is helpful just in general. Thanks for all your tips and positivity! ♥️ Seriously you’re the best author-tuber! 📚

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

That's so sweet of you! Thank you!

@elizabethtrumble 3 жыл бұрын

Oh Sarra! Congratulations! Video#200! YAY! Woot Woot!!! Great content, as always! This is my first Preptober and first NaNoWriMo, so you are helping me tremendously. You say advanced for the plot cards and the estimating word counts, but that makes my little OCD heart go pitter-pat!!! I LOVE both ideas, and it makes sense to me, because like you said, it builds a road map to follow. I love the visuals and printables! Thanks Sarra! You Rock!!!

@jojopink5668 3 жыл бұрын

Yes please...I would love to see a video on how you use your index cards to write scenes! I love your channel. I always wanted to be a writer but never felt that I could do it- naysayers and all. Ever since I found you on youtube, I find myself getting it together when it comes to writing. Love your channel and thank you so much.

@adrianadascalu5908 3 жыл бұрын

Though the video was quite enlightening, I'd love to see a video on note cards, too. Very inspired Halloween decor!

@chrisburdick9665 3 жыл бұрын

This video was very helpful and timely as I'm currently stalling on my outline for Nano. And YES, I would love to see a video on your scene cards! Thanks

@estherstar5624 3 жыл бұрын

Big yes and a pretty please to the video on Scene Cards. Your methods kick butt. Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned from your experience in writing and business in such a palpable way, and for citing your sources where important. That alone has saved me hours and hours of seeking and finding!

@hayley1662 3 жыл бұрын

Oooh yes please I would love to see a more in-depth video on how to do your scene cards method

@melissaspencer8889 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Scene cards please. Thanks for sharing so much valuable information!

@tracy238 2 жыл бұрын

I missed this last year but having just watched it now it has given me lots of ideas on how to organise myself for Nano this year.

@jessatlife 3 жыл бұрын

Yes!! I was just reviewing your previous plotting videos last night. I'd love to see an entire video on scene cards! 🌟

@phoenixcabernet4969 3 жыл бұрын

Love all of your decorations!!!! So inspirational!!!

@brandybullockauthor3778 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for another super amazing video. I am adding it to a playlist so that I can always find it when I need to come back to.

@tiaraflyable313 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that video. It definitely helps me planning more!

@biologyboggs3885 3 жыл бұрын

You're always so helpful. 😻 I'm excited for NaNo & for your new book.

@ScarlettKol 3 жыл бұрын

Love the puzzle analogy!! Makes so much sense.

@barbsfreedman9216 3 жыл бұрын

Fascinating video Sarra - I loved listening your tips and strategies for writing - you are so organised!! I'm messy so this is such a pleasure to follow.

@AuthorCourtneyFlagg 3 жыл бұрын

Yes for scene card video!! With lots of washi

@zoeknightley 3 жыл бұрын

I’m doing Preptober for the first time with your videos and downloads as my guide. Thank you!

@patricialivangood3748 3 жыл бұрын

Yes please, I would love to see a video for scene cards it'll give me a better idea for my own writing.

@dennydonut7568 3 жыл бұрын

So much value here🥳 THANK YOU❤️ and YES to the scene card dive in video! Btw totally adore you shirt 😍 *pew pew*

@kktvt911 3 жыл бұрын

I would totally love to see how you do your scene cards. It's something that I've been hoping for!

@Jennperrywork 3 жыл бұрын

OMG Everything clicked when you said “four corners of a puzzle”, thank you Sarra

@ranafawaz1767 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this video, It always makes since when you explain it the way you do, that it makes sense. I am so excited now to start preparing. I would love to see a video on how you create your index cards. Thanks again Sarra!

@cocop5058 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this series, Serra. I love how detailed and matter-of-factly you describe the writing process. Whenever I get overwhelmed by how much there is to do when starting a new novel, I watch this video and it actually calms me down.

@freestylefun1 3 жыл бұрын

That was quite possibly the best plotting video I've ever watched! And YES, I'd love to see more about your scene cards, and anything you call 'extra.' I'm on a break from writing fiction (focused on some big art projects and writing a non-fiction book) but this kind of video makes me excited for next year, when I am allowing myself to dive back into story writing.

@heathermacdonald6404 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Sarra! Always a pleasure to find your videos in my inbox. :)

@lauriehazel141 3 жыл бұрын

YES, Please for the Scene Cards Video!

@susanring7634 3 жыл бұрын

Sarra, Thank you for all you do for writers everywhere. I loved this planning video! But, thank you more for being the real and vulnerable woman you are in sharing the very personal story on your website. It gives me hope for women everywhere to come together in fighting for our own personal justice, standing up for ourselves, and providing a safe world for our children.

@WritterElenaNicole 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video on your scene cards!! I loved today’s video!! It is so helpful!

@TheKidsCookingSchool 3 жыл бұрын

Biggest takeaway: the 4 corners of the puzzle! I do that too so I was able to actually figure out these 8 points. I’m not sure I have the sequence correct, but it’s enough fir a rough draft. Huge block lifted!!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Woohoo. So glad to hear it!

@anaerobinson 3 жыл бұрын

Love 💕 these tips Sarra!! Thank you for your assistance and I can’t wait for Nano!!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

You're so welcome!

@Jaz-R83 3 жыл бұрын

This was really helpful Sarra. Thank you for all of the hard work you do here! I would love to see a video on how you do your scene cards. I think your way of doing things pretty much suits my style when I’m on form! 😉 I’m having a go at nano for the first time this November but am a little worried about how socially inept I am as I spend most of my time on my own due to a variety of health conditions. At the moment I’m getting everything set up so that I’m as comfortable as possible whilst working and hope that I don’t have too much pain or exhaustion to get through it all. I’m also a huge procrastinator and need to get out of the habit of leaving everything to the last minute. Your videos are helping me a bit with that so thank you again. 😁💖

@SonjasMaschensalat 3 жыл бұрын

So helpful! Thank you! I would like to learn more about scene cards!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it!

@MariaBaiasHeritage 3 жыл бұрын

I'm rewriting parts of my novel and I've got so many ideas from this video on how to replot/restructure my novel based on word count and plot points. Thank you! And I would love to see a video on how to use the scene cards.

@CrystalRenfrow 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video on scene cards! Thank you for always having great writing content too! Love your videos.

@dianagarland4907 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this video! Very helpful. I made a big mug of coffee with whipped cream and sat down to watch and it is the same Hello Kitty Mug! This is my favorite writing mug since it is so big, lol, and Hello Kitty. :)

@carnelias1 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, please would love to see video on index cards 🙂

@mahvishtalib719 3 жыл бұрын

I would like to see a more detailed version of your scene cards as well. A lot of good information here! Thank you!

@tharanda 6 ай бұрын

Love this!

@railandis15 3 жыл бұрын

I love your tips and your office lol

@emmelinelovel 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video, so many useful tips! :) (Also really appreciate your pdf handouts, they're like treasure chests). I've always struggled with scene cards so would love to see a video on that.

@cynthiamarangoni5218 3 жыл бұрын

To plot I made an Act map with washi tape on the wall and used post it notes in case I changed my mind.

@jessh5194 3 жыл бұрын

Love all of your videos. You are a great teacher! Yes on an index card scene building video please! I am on video 6 of your plot your novel series, which is fantastic BTW, and now I'm trying to think about scenes. The explanation of scenes in this video has already by helpful but a dedicated video would great! Maybe one for dialogue too, unless you have that and I just haven't seen it. 😁

@tiffanydawn2953 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, to scene card video!

@JessiTheBestiGaming 3 жыл бұрын

I've been using FlowScape to SEE my world be built. It's honestly so helpful to be able to see visually what I'm imagining. Also, might help some people who are stuck!!

@tampagirl7533 Жыл бұрын

Yes please I would love to see a whole thing just on act cards

@gigartina 3 жыл бұрын

I’d love to see how you do the index cards in more detail! I have a stack of cards that i gaze at blankly. 😶

@medusa3592 3 жыл бұрын

I like the cards...I will use them for chapters though. Also, I will use the cards for the chapter/story overview. 2 cards per act, first and second sequence of each act. I will use washi tape to keep them together. I can flip them open to reveal the entire act breakdown, chapter by chapter. Also, flipping them makes it easer to write on them. And I can lay the chapter overview cards with the short chapter summaries on them next to each other by act and see the entire story. I don't have space to lay them all out on the floor or the table. Thanks again, for a very inspiring video.

@denisedodge 3 жыл бұрын

Your Halloween decor behind you is awesome! Also, I am definitely using your "Plot Your Novel" workbook for NaNoWriMo. The cards are a great idea! I might incorporate that into my routine and see how it works for me in November. Thanks for the great advice! Great video

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! Thank you!

@briannahoward3950 3 жыл бұрын

I’d love a desk tour !

@TheLadyAli 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing all your tips for preptober. I would love to see how you do your scene cards. I'm getting ready to do those for my story and I'm trying really hard not to flip out lol, but I love to be organized so I would love to see how you do yours. Thanks :)

@KJM_Writes 3 жыл бұрын

This was really helpful... I plot in a similar way but never thought of splitting each act into two! A video on index cards would be great. 👍 I also wanted to say how much I love your Halloween decor. I LOVE the witchy Hello Kitty behind you. 😁

@Zoe-uj2vu 3 жыл бұрын

Love the video !! I would absolutely love to see a scene card video : )

@jackienicholson2990 2 жыл бұрын

I am preparing for Preptober 2021, so of course, my go-to girl is where I start. I can not wait for the first day of October to start or I will be behind the first day.

@Joyindenver 3 жыл бұрын

Yes. I’d love to see how you use scene cards.

@annie_stasiaaa8982 3 жыл бұрын

Thx a lot for this... it helped me form my process better!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Great to hear!

@annpopham7642 3 жыл бұрын

I would absolutely love you to do a separate video on the scene cards.

@BethanyAtazadeh 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! Love this video! ❤️

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!!

@PHDinMeTV 3 жыл бұрын

Did you take writing ✍🏿 in school? How did you learn all this? As a new writer, it’s so cool observing what you know and do regarding your writing ✍🏿. Thanks for sharing 👍🏿🤓

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

I didn't! I actually have a Master's Degree in Opera Singing, of all things, hahaha. I just experimented with the process, paid attention to what my friends were doing, and eventually came up with something that works for me.

@PHDinMeTV 3 жыл бұрын

Heart Breathings Opera! How cool! 🎶 ☺️

@cecilywolfe4571 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to see a video on scene cards! Thank you!

@authorchristinabutrum 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video your card system! 😊

@daniad8611 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video on scene cards💕💕💕💕

@karriallen265 3 жыл бұрын

Very helpful. I’m trying to get better at prepping for nano and just in general so I can write faster. It’s embarrassing how many book covers I have for stories that aren’t written/finished. Lol

@chrisgalan3658 3 жыл бұрын

I would like to see a video on how you make your scene cards. Please do it!

@StampinDivaUK 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Sarra! A scene card video would be awesome please. I find your videos very helpful. I have tried Nano about 4 times so far, but never get very far. I think it's because I wasn't planning properly and was then left trying to make it up on the fly and getting lost/frustrated. I'm hoping to get a lot further this year as I'm taking all your advice for planning. Could I ask what that pyramid shaped thing is that you set down on your desk right at the beginning please? I'm sure I saw something like that advertised before but I can't remember what it's called! Thanks

@Heathershep1 3 жыл бұрын

Yes pls, Scene cards 🙂🎉

@annettempalmer 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see a video on tips for pansters, if you have any. Thanks 🤗

@mgtogno 3 жыл бұрын

Sarra have u read "The Story Grid" by Shawn Coyne as someone who quit plotting because i never follow, I found that the story grid quenches my thirst for control and organization. So i can write into the dark (also a great book fyi) and after my first draft or first act, I do what I call a "sanity check" which is something we often do at work with projects using Agile method. So I use the technique of the story grid to check my story, to see if I can "lapidate" it better. I feel like I finally found my pace with that style. =D

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

I haven't, but I'm going to check it out, THank you!

@hollycortelyou1575 3 жыл бұрын

I love the idea of making a list of all the worst things that might happen to your heroine...upping the stakes is where I need more inspiration. TY

@Raelana66 3 жыл бұрын

Would live to see video on index cards. I'm using your Preptober and Plot Your Novel workbooks for Nano this year.

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

That's great! And the video on scene cards will be coming soon!

@pamelahatheway4119 3 жыл бұрын

OMG!!!!!!Please do a video on scene cards.

@JuliaNBlack-kw4iv 3 жыл бұрын

I love your Plot cheat sheet Index Cards. How do you have made them and what is written on them? How can i Made them for myself? Please can you show us this on screen how you create them? Thx for this Video.

@doll17200 3 жыл бұрын

Do you find that having multiple points of views makes your word count higher / story longer? That’s the problem I’m having currently with all my stories. Even what was to be a stand alone that I’m currently working on for this NaNoWriMo. I’m over 100k words in and still find myself somewhere in my act 2 part 1.😅 love these types of step by step process videos. Splitting the 3 / 4 acts in half is decently something I have to try. Splitting my acts by word counts is hard for me but that’s likely because I’m definitely an over writer. Thanks for the video!

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

My multiple POV books are definitely higher in word count! 100k for still in the first half is really long, but it's not unheard of, especially if you're writing fantasy!

@doll17200 3 жыл бұрын

Heart Breathings Right thank you . And I know I’m likely going to cut a lot of words during edits and I’m hoping to finish this zero / first draft this month so I can do just that for NaNoWriMo. I have a hard time knowing if I’m just over writing and reiterating things or if this book should be split in 2. 🤔

@DogWalkerBill 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, ad d video on scene cards.

@FM-xe4oi 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing these tips... I have question if I may ask... Have you ever fell out of love with writing? I'm going through this currently... I want to but when I sit down to write whether through laptop or pen and paper, I just can't... I don't know why, even though I know what is my story... I can't trasfer my ideas into written words, which made me not enjoying what I love the most. Btw, I don't write to get published (if it ever happened, it is a bonus), I write because I want to spend time with my characters and live the adventures with them. Any advice is highly appreciated 🙏. Ps. Sorry for my English, it's not my first language.

@clcaughie 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Sarra, Is that a Timeular on your table with your tools? Do you have any feedback on how useful it is?

@dividdivid8919 Жыл бұрын

I'm only new to this novel writing stuff. How did you do on your first book? I'm only a teenager, and I would like some tips. Thanks

@IndigoC4 3 жыл бұрын

I would like to see a video for scene index cards

@dianagarland4907 3 жыл бұрын

I forgot to add, yes, I would love to see a video on scene cards!

@emielou 3 жыл бұрын

Hey! I love your Preptober workbook but how do I get it to print on both sides. I selected two sides- Long edge on my printer but it still just prints 1 sided x

@SaraLea 3 жыл бұрын

I don’t plot in this detail but thank you for sharing! Always good to have extra tips

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

I'll have to talk to you more about your process, because your genre has so many twists and turns! How do you write it without plotting it out? Do you have a rough sketch outline or what do you use? We should talk!

@SaraLea 3 жыл бұрын

Heart Breathings yes! I have a rough outline of basic scenes. I revise it as I’m writing and realize different things need to be “set-up”, but I definitely don’t just sit down and write open ended- I have an idea of the sequence of things that need to happen and write them all on sticky notes.

@HeartBreathings 3 жыл бұрын

@@SaraLea awesome! I'm so excited to read your book! I downloaded your story and can't wait to check it out this weekend when I have some me time!