Pre-Writing: The Spine of a Story
The spine answers the question: What are you going to write next? Writing out a spine helps you discover what your story is about and what you should cut from it. Art, after all, is just a series of decisions on what to include as well as what to exclude.
HOOK/ENTHUSIASM: The hook is what keeps the reader on their couches reading. Vice Versa enthusiasm is why you wanted to write this in the first place. (And no, plot alone is not a good enough excuse.) Often the hook is a theme, subject matter, or genre that interests the reader. Make sure to deliver on your story’s hook/promise with every scene. Enthusiasm is a must, if it’s like pulling teeth writing a scene then it’ll be just as bad reading it.
HERO: The hero is usually the main character and who the story is centered around.
GOAL: The goal is what the hero must attain or overcome in order to at least be happy, get the girl or win the big game.
WHY: The why is, well, the real reason your hero wants to achieve his/her goal. Characters have beliefs about how the world should be. And about their actions and the actions of others—justifying or condemning those actions and choices accordingly. Why does your character really want what he/she wants? The answer is almost always rooted in emotion.
CENTRAL QUESTION: The central question is what the reader is asking themselves during the story and what keeps them in their seats reading to find out. Will he defuse the bomb in time?
CENTRAL CONFLICT: The central conflict is usually between the hero and the main villain or it can be between two lovers, in any case it’s the main “battle” between the hero and anyone keeping him/her from his/her goal.
ANTAGONIST GOAL/WHY: Like with the hero but now with the villain/opposing character.
STAKES: What your character/s have to lose if they fail. Can be anything from a job promotion to the entire human race.
POV: Point of View—Choose whose perspective you will tell your scene from. Pick a head.
CHARACTER LIST: List all the characters in your scene and cut those you don’t need as too many cooks in a kitchen is never a good thing.
SETTING: Where is your scene set? Find the time and place—what kind of environment do your characters find themselves in?
LIGHTING: Lighting often dictates where the Mind’s Eye Camera will be placed in a scene. (One can’t see in the dark after all.) Make sure to utilize light and shadows/darkness for extra dramatic effect whenever possible.
SET PIECES: Dress your set with objects, furniture, food, trees, buildings, ponds, sand, games, animals, and much more… This gives your characters something to interact with, something to do. Avoid talking heads floating in a void at all costs.
NEW INFORMATION: What new information will your readers learn about the story and characters that they didn’t already know? What answers will you reveal and what mysteries will you pose? Every scene must provide the reader with new information.
Can you find the answer to/fill out each one of these bullet points below for your next novel/chapter/scene?
SPINE
Circle One: Novel / Chapter / Scene
TITLE:
HOOK/ENTHUSIASM:
HERO:
GOAL:
WHY:
ANTAGONIST, GOAL, AND WHY:
STAKES:
CENTRAL QUESTION:
CENTRAL CONFLICT:
POV:
CHARACTER LIST:
SETTING:
LIGHTING:
SET PIECES:
NEW INFORMATION:
The spine answers the question: What are you going to write next? Writing out a spine helps you discover what your story is about and what you should cut from it. Art, after all, is just a series of decisions on what to include as well as what to exclude.
HOOK/ENTHUSIASM: The hook is what keeps the reader on their couches reading. Vice Versa enthusiasm is why you wanted to write this in the first place. (And no, plot alone is not a good enough excuse.) Often the hook is a theme, subject matter, or genre that interests the reader. Make sure to deliver on your story’s hook/promise with every scene. Enthusiasm is a must, if it’s like pulling teeth writing a scene then it’ll be just as bad reading it.
HERO: The hero is usually the main character and who the story is centered around.
GOAL: The goal is what the hero must attain or overcome in order to at least be happy, get the girl or win the big game.
WHY: The why is, well, the real reason your hero wants to achieve his/her goal. Characters have beliefs about how the world should be. And about their actions and the actions of others—justifying or condemning those actions and choices accordingly. Why does your character really want what he/she wants? The answer is almost always rooted in emotion.
CENTRAL QUESTION: The central question is what the reader is asking themselves during the story and what keeps them in their seats reading to find out. Will he defuse the bomb in time?
CENTRAL CONFLICT: The central conflict is usually between the hero and the main villain or it can be between two lovers, in any case it’s the main “battle” between the hero and anyone keeping him/her from his/her goal.
ANTAGONIST GOAL/WHY: Like with the hero but now with the villain/opposing character.
STAKES: What your character/s have to lose if they fail. Can be anything from a job promotion to the entire human race.
POV: Point of View—Choose whose perspective you will tell your scene from. Pick a head.
CHARACTER LIST: List all the characters in your scene and cut those you don’t need as too many cooks in a kitchen is never a good thing.
SETTING: Where is your scene set? Find the time and place—what kind of environment do your characters find themselves in?
LIGHTING: Lighting often dictates where the Mind’s Eye Camera will be placed in a scene. (One can’t see in the dark after all.) Make sure to utilize light and shadows/darkness for extra dramatic effect whenever possible.
SET PIECES: Dress your set with objects, furniture, food, trees, buildings, ponds, sand, games, animals, and much more… This gives your characters something to interact with, something to do. Avoid talking heads floating in a void at all costs.
NEW INFORMATION: What new information will your readers learn about the story and characters that they didn’t already know? What answers will you reveal and what mysteries will you pose? Every scene must provide the reader with new information.
Can you find the answer to/fill out each one of these bullet points below for your next novel/chapter/scene?
SPINE
Circle One: Novel / Chapter / Scene
TITLE:
HOOK/ENTHUSIASM:
HERO:
GOAL:
WHY:
ANTAGONIST, GOAL, AND WHY:
STAKES:
CENTRAL QUESTION:
CENTRAL CONFLICT:
POV:
CHARACTER LIST:
SETTING:
LIGHTING:
SET PIECES:
NEW INFORMATION: