Save the Cat!

February 26, 2019 Facebook post

I’m nearing the end of the set-up in the first draft of “The Crystal Sword.”
Jessica Brody’s book was most helpful by applying the beats of a screenplay to those of a novel.
Pantsers (those who write by the seat of the pants) tend to feel confined by an outline. For them, outlining the beats of the story drains the creativity from the writing process.
I tried writing with only a nominal outline for 2018 NaNoWriMo and it did not work for me.
Using “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” and notes from conference workshops, I worked out character motivations and relevant backstories. From there I considered what the plot points might look like for the major characters. And then I created 3×5 scene cards.
I’m only 67 pages into the first draft and I’ve already added scenes that I hadn’t pre-planned, plus I added a character that was originally just a walk-on and off.
My novel outlines are more like the driving directions from a map app. The app usually offers alternate routes, and often provides businesses of interest and places to eat near the destination. My outlines guide me toward the intended destination (climactic scene) but allow for detours and stops at local attractions. Writing a novel is almost like reading one. I never quite know where I’ll end up going even though I’m working from scene cards.