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This planner is based on Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method. For longer works, I recommend following his advice on the use of a spreadsheet to track scenes, which is step nine in the snowflake method. For tips on writing the perfect scene, I suggest his article, Writing the Perfect Scene.
Start with three separate word processing documents, one for design steps, another for story parts (this will be the actual story), and a third to make notes when editing in the final step.
Day one- Write a 12 Section Outline following the instructions below.
Day two- Expand each section into a paragraph, giving more details within each.
Day three – Write character synopses for the POV character and each major character.
Day four- Write Story Part One
Day five- Tweak the synopses and outline, if needed. DO NOT EDIT, REVISE, OR REWRITE.
Day six- Write Story Part Two
Day seven- Tweak the synopses and outline, if needed. DO NOT EDIT, REVISE, OR REWRITE.
Day eight- Write Story Part Three
Day nine- Tweak the synopses and outline, if needed. DO NOT EDIT, REVISE, OR REWRITE.
Day ten- Write Story Part Four
Day eleven- Write four brief paragraphs, one for each story part, to check consistency and flow. DO NOT EDIT, REVISE, OR REWRITE, just make notes. Keep your view of the story broad until you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Day twelve- Now you can edit, revise, or rewrite as needed. Check the story with a fine-tooth comb for spelling/grammar errors. At this point, you should have a decent first draft.
12 Section Outline
(1st Story Part)
1 (Goal) Which should include enough information so that the reader knows who, when, what, where and why.2 (Conflict) Which should delineate the characters, bring the world into clearer focus, and further the plot.
3 (Disaster) Which should give the reader some incentive to keep reading.
(2nd Story Part)
4 (Reaction) Which should focus on how the POV character thinks, feels, and acts about their situation.5 (Dilemma) Which should explore additional issues that arise when the POV character considers their options, focusing on both internal and external conflict on both a small scale (immediate to the POV character) and a large scale (how POV’s actions will affect the world, state, town, family, etc.
6 (Decision) Which should focus on how the POV character plans to deal with their situation and his/her reasons for doing so. This will naturally delineate the POV character further.
(3rd Story Part)
7 (Goal) Which should begin where the last part ended and show how the POV character handles their situation.8 (Conflict) Which should show how, by their actions, the POV character has unintentionally made things worse.
9 (Disaster) Which should flip the script on the POV character, and possibly the whole world, state, town, family, etc.
(4th Story Part)
10 (Reaction) Which should focus on what the POV thinks, and how they feel about their situation, as well as their instinctual reactions.11 (Dilemma) Which should explore the various options the POV character has, and what the consequences of those actions will be.
12 (Decision and Resolution) Which should show the POV character achieving their goal (saving the world, taking over the world, whatever). Dot the i’s and cross the t’s, wrapping up the story. Note: Leave a hook if you want the reader waiting for another installment, a new conflict or the prospect of one.
This formula requires approximately 1,250 words written per day for four days for a 5,000 word short story, but can easily be adjusted. For longer stories, add another story part between the second and third story parts, following the directions for the first and second story parts, and repeat as needed.
Days one, two, three, and eleven are design documents only, and as such will not be included in the story, or the final word count. Days four, six, eight, and nine are the only days that will actually be the story. Days five, seven, and nine also allow time for the writer to catch up if they get behind, take a break, or gain momentum. For longer stories, add two days between days seven and eight for each story part added. Add a minimum of four days for two additional parts, or as many as you need.
