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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Snowflake Method: Step 3 – What is important to a character story line?

Asked by: Debbie Williams

Step 3: Breathe life into your characters. Great fiction is driven by great characters, so spending time developing them is a great investment. In each summary, include: Your character’s name. The character’s motivation (what do they need?)

What are the steps of the Snowflake Method?

The 5 Steps of the Snowflake Method

  1. Choose a premise and write it up in a one-sentence summary. …
  2. Expand that one-sentence summary into a full paragraph. …
  3. Create character summaries. …
  4. Build your character summaries into full profiles. …
  5. Expand to a multi-page synopsis.

What is the Snowflake Method in writing?

The Snowflake Method of writing is based around the idea that a writer begins with a simplistic deep theme and then, over time, develops and adds complexity. In other words; you start with a simple idea and then build on this idea until it transforms from a single sentence into a full-blown novel.

How do you choose a character for a story?

How to Choose Character Names

  1. Be Realistic. There are a lot of Mary’s in the world, which is precisely why your novel may need one. …
  2. Mind the Genre. Quick! …
  3. Be Consistent. …
  4. Be Dissimilar. …
  5. Avoid Name Associations. …
  6. Choose Easy to Pronounce Names. …
  7. Reinforce the Character’s Qualities. …
  8. Re-Evaluate the Character’s Name.

How do you outline a snowflake book?

How To Plot A Novel Using The Snowflake Method:

  1. Write your story in one sentence.
  2. Decide on your protagonist.
  3. Write a paragraph on settings.
  4. Add a beginning, middle and end to your story description.
  5. Write short character summaries.
  6. Expand your story description to 2 pages.
  7. Keep adding details until you’re ready to write.

What is a snowflake theory?

“Snowflake” is a derogatory slang term for a person, implying that they have an inflated sense of uniqueness, an unwarranted sense of entitlement, or are overly-emotional, easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions. The term gained prominence in the 2010s.

How do you write Nov?

How to Write a Novel in 15 Steps

  1. Nail down the story idea.
  2. Read books in your genre.
  3. Choose your book’s point of view.
  4. Establish the setting.
  5. Develop your main characters.
  6. Establish the conflict and stakes.
  7. Create an outline.
  8. Choose your story structure.

How do you write a story outline for a novel?

How to Outline a Novel in 6 Steps

  1. Distill your novel idea into one sentence. …
  2. Decide on a story structure for your novel. …
  3. Get to know the characters in your novel. …
  4. Flesh out your novel’s plot. …
  5. Decide on the setting for your novel. …
  6. Synopsize the chapters of your novel.

How do you write a plot?

10 Tips for Plotting Your Novel: Step-by-Step Guide



  1. Generate ideas. …
  2. Start with a simple, compelling premise. …
  3. Have a clear central conflict. …
  4. Choose your structure. …
  5. Trace out general story arcs. …
  6. Build subplots. …
  7. Think about cause and effect. …
  8. Write a detailed outline.

How do you write a scene?

10 Tips for Starting Strong Scenes

  1. Start with the setting. …
  2. Use visual imagery. …
  3. Drop the reader into the middle of the action. …
  4. Write a character-driven scene opener. …
  5. Summarize past events. …
  6. Introduce a plot twist. …
  7. Keep the purpose of the scene in mind. …
  8. Rewrite until you’ve found the perfect scene opening.

What are the five elements of a scene?

Understanding (Action) Scenes

  • A scene always contains conflict. A scene is written as if the reader were watching and listening to it happen. …
  • Build it using the tools of dialogue and action. Dramatise the scene. …
  • Scenes exist for a reason. …
  • Scenes are never superfluous. …
  • Remember that something happens next.

How do you begin a story?

Starting Stories: 5 Great Beginning Strategies

  1. Strategy 1: Begin with action or dialogue. …
  2. Strategy 2: Ask a question. …
  3. Strategy 3: Describe the setting. …
  4. Strategy 4: Begin with background information. …
  5. Strategy 5: Have the main character introduce himself or herself.



What is a key scene in a story?

The key scenes in your novel such as the inciting incident, plot point 1, midpoint, plot point 2, and climax can have a longer word count and still be fast-paced. The action or key events happening in those scenes with drive the pacing.

What are the elements of a scene?

Consider, instead, the idea that by breaking down each scene to its smallest parts you retain control.

  • Essential Element #1: Time and Place. …
  • Essential Element #2: Character Emotional Development. …
  • Essential Element #3: Goal. …
  • Essential Element #4: Dramatic Action. …
  • Essential Element #5: Conflict.

Does every scene need conflict?

Every single scene in a novel must contain conflict. And that means you have to put it there. And you have to check your drafts scene by scene to make sure it’s there.

What is an example of a scene?

The definition of a scene is a place where something occurs or a setting in a story. An example of a scene is where a crime occurred. An example of a scene is the balcony episode in Romeo and Juliet.

What is the best way to put setting into a story?

How to Describe Setting in Writing



  1. Use sensory details. Use all five senses to describe the immediate surroundings to the reader to quickly immerse them in the environment of your story. …
  2. Show, don’t tell. …
  3. Use real-life locations. …
  4. Incorporate figurative language. …
  5. Keep it simple.

How do you find the beginning middle and end of a story?

Let’s start by looking at each piece individually.

  1. The beginning – it is the first part of the story. …
  2. The middle – it is where the bulk of the story rests. …
  3. The end – this is where the story comes to a close, it is the conclusion and solution to the problem.

What are the 8 elements of film?

What Are The 8 Elements Of Film?



  • Plot. “A good story well told” includes 8 core elements. …
  • Structure. …
  • Characterization. …
  • Scenes. …
  • Visuals. …
  • Dialogue. …
  • Conflict. …
  • Resolution.

Which is the most important element of film making Why?

But as filmmakers, our overriding concern should be movement. Movement also has a double meaning: 1) the physical movement of the camera or objects within the frame and 2) moving our audience emotionally.

What are the 3 elements of film?

3 Elements Of Short Film Structure You Need To Know

  • Your short film should only explore one major concept or idea. …
  • Your short film should only explore one relationship/conflict. …
  • The resolution and the plot twist.

What are the elements of a story?

Story Elements



  • Setting.
  • Characters.
  • Plot.
  • Conflict.
  • Resolution.
  • Point of View.
  • Theme.

What are the 5 essential elements of a story?

A story has five basic but important elements. These five components are: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that the reader can follow.

Who are the characters in the story?

The characters are the persons we meet in the story. A characterization is a description of the characters. The protagonist is the main character, often the hero of the story. The antagonist is the villain or enemy in the story.