When I first began writing novels, I tried to pants my way through the novel, and invariably I’d quickly run out of ideas. Sometimes I’d do well and get it done up to page twenty, but I couldn’t seem to figure out where to go next.
When I revisited novel writing years later, I made sure to get Dramatica as the planning tool for my novel. It took me through the planning process of my first three novels, forcing my novels to go a particular way. It made my novels stronger, although I didn’t want to go that way. Now I’m thankful for what I’ve learned.
The Secret process explained
What was different between my first attempts at novels and my completed three novels? Was it Dramatica? Could it be planning my novel? Was it the reluctant bowing to the Dramatica process that tried to force a relationship between characters? Or was it a part of the process in Dramatica that spelled the difference?
In the Dramatica process, step one was to write out a one sentence summary of what the novel was about. Known among novelists as the elevator pitch and screenwriters as the Logline, it forces you to ask – what is my story? Once you have it in front of you, part of your writing process evaluates – am I still telling this story, or has it changed? This change from the story you intended to write and the one that is developing is often detrimental to the story.
Keep To Your Story
Writing a novel from a logline ensures you’re still involved in telling the story you mean to. Even if the details of the story change (the further planning phases of Save The Cat, 21 point and 60 point), you should still be telling the essential story. If the essential story itself changes in the process, the story was weak in planning from the get go, or you executed it poorly. The solution is ALWAYS to go back to our logline and ask – “Do I want to tell this story?” If the story essence itself is still strong and exciting, you know it was in the execution of it in your planning phase.
A boy watches a UFO bury itself behind his house and has to alert the authorities that Mars is invading – but the only one who believes him is a police officer and an army major who stop the Martians barely in time.
Logline for Invaders From Mars
Always a favorite movie of mine. You have the entire plot – protagonist, situation, need, conflict, and resolution all in one or two sentences. It’s best to think of it as how you’d pitch the story in the length of an elevator ride.
The most important consideration is to tell the story from start to finish – short enough to last a three floor ride, enough detail to sell your novel.
Conclusion
As with anything else, writing loglines takes practice. “Did it evoke interest? Did it tell the complete story including ending? Could I keep it to one or two sentences?” Practice with books you’ve read or movies you’ve seen. Once you get the hang of it, work it in as the first step in planning your novel!
