You’ve settled on a premise, you have an idea of your characters and the setting of your story. The next step is planning your novel.

There are many ways to go about this, and no method is necessarily superior to the other – it’s all about finding what works best for you and for the particular project you’re working on at the moment. Some writers will have one method that works well for them and stick with it from novel to novel – but for most, the process will look a little different each time. Here are some methods commonly used by novelists to plot and plan a novel (or in the case of discovery writing, not plan a novel!).

The Three-Act Structure

The three-act structure is a classic approach that divides your novel into three acts:

• Act I (Setup): Introduce your characters and establish the world of the story before setting in motion an inciting incident that disrupts the status quo and propels your protagonist into action (and the first major plot point).
• Act II (Confrontation): The main conflict should be developed through rising action, followed by a turning point that raises the stakes for your protagonist. This act will end with the second major plot point – often a crisis of some sort.
• Act III (Resolution): The climax of your novel begins the third act. This is followed by falling action that resolves the conflict before the novel concludes with a satisfying resolution.

The Snowflake Method

The Snowflake Method was developed by author Randy Ingermanson, and begins with writing a one-sentence summary of your novel, before gradually expanding and adding more and more detail systematically.

You’ll expand your one-sentence summary into a paragraph, giving you the basic plot of your novel. After this, you’ll do some detailed character work and write a one-page synopsis. This one-page synopsis will then be expanded upon further: giving each paragraph its own page. Characters will be further developed and scenes mapped out. Some might find this approach too structured and detailed, but others might find it leaves them with a satisfactory roadmap to writing their novel. You can read all ten steps of the process here.

The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey is a universal story pattern that was popularised by Joseph Campbell and can be applied to a wide range of novels. There are 17 steps in Campbell’s version, but they can be condensed into three main stages: departure, initiation and return. In the departure stage, the hero is called to adventure and leaves their ordinary world behind. This stage will also often include a refusal of the call before the hero’s departure. During the initiation phase, the hero will undergo transformational growth through facing trials and enemies. Lastly, in the return stage, the hero will return to their ordinary world – only now they are forever changed by their experience.

Chapter-by-chapter outline

The chapter-by-chapter outline method is exactly how it sounds: it involves dividing your story into individual chapters and planning each one out accordingly. A similar scene-by-scene approach can also be used. When planning each chapter, aim to summarise the key events that will happen and how the characters and plot will develop by the end of each one. Keep in mind your overall story arc while using this method – you might want to even combine it with one of the other methods discussed. Planning out each chapter can help keep your plot flowing and ensure adequate character development.

Save the Cat

The Save the Cat Beat Sheet was created by screenwriter Blake Snyder, and though originally formulated for writing screenplays, is now often used by novelists. This method involves 15-beats that help to form a blueprint for your novel and guide your plot. They are:

1. Opening Image
2. Theme State
3. Set-Up
4. Catalyst
5. Debate
6. Break into Two
7. B Story
8. Fun and Games
9. Midpoint
10. Bad Guys Close In
11. All Is Lost
12. Dark Night of the Soul
13. Break into Three
14. Finale
15. Final Image

Read more about each individual beat here.

Discovery/Exploratory Writing

Often referred to as the ‘pantsing’ approach, ie. literally writing by the seat of your pants, this method can be useful if you prefer to find out what happens as you write. There are different extremes to this – you might have a vague idea of key milestones throughout the novel and write towards each of those, or you might just have a kernel of an idea or a character that you start with, and find the story through writing. This can be a good exercise in listening to your story, and not trying to arbitrarily fit things things into a pre-defined narrative. Some novelists might also use the bookend method alongside this approach, where they know at the outset what happens at the beginning and end of their story, and the rest is discovered through writing.

Writing a Novel is designed to support aspiring fiction writers to develop their craft over six months, with courses in London (at Faber’s HQ in Hatton Garden), Newcastle and online.

A six-month programme of seminars, sessions will cover all the essentials of novel writing – including character, story, structure, plotting, voice, dialogue, conflict and more.

Find out more about the next iterations of Writing a Novel here.