FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS
by Karen S. Wiesner
However, it's equally important that you see the method used on a single book, the way you'll start out using it yourself. From this page, you'll be able to click to find examples of each step in the process using a single book--my paranormal romance novel SWEET DREAMS. All the examples here (used in FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS from a variety of popular novels for each step in the process) are performed using examples from SWEET DREAMS. All the worksheets in Appendix C of FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS are filled out here using SWEET DREAMS. You'll also find the full outline of SWEET DREAMS, including an excerpt from the novel to show you how the bones of the outline took on flesh.
Wherever you see a hot link in the table of contents below, you'll find examples by clicking on that link.
Unless you've read that, much of what you'll read on these example pages won't make much sense.
I highly recommend reading FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS first.
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who knows the great enthusiasm and knows the great devotion,
who spends himself on a worthy cause,
who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement.
And who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...."
Teddy Roosevelt
In order to open the excerpt, you must have Adobe Acrobat (preferably Version 6.0) installed on your computer.
The program is available as a free download here: http://www.adobe.com.
If you have trouble opening the file, it may be that your browser is timing out or that the Adobe Browser plug-in isn't installed on your computer.
Try right-clicking on the link (for Windows users) and choose "save target as" to save the file to your hard drive.
Then open Adobe Acrobat on your computer and locate the file. It should open from there.
***This excerpt is copyrighted. It is illegal to distribute or put it on a website for any reason. The excerpt may only be printed or viewed on your personal computer for individual use.***
Introduction: Making the 30-Day Method Work for You
The Goal of the 30-Day Method
Chapter One: Brainstorming Before You Outline
The Creative Coffeepot
Brewing (and Performing an Exorcism) Brainstorming Productively
Verbal Brainstorming
Chapter Two: Days 1-6: Your Preliminary Outline Day 1: Character Sketches Day 3: Plot Sketches
Understanding Story Threads
Weaving Threads Into Your Plot Sketch
Days 4 and 5: The Summary Outline Day 6: Miscellaneous Scene Notes and Closing Scene Notes
Chapter Three: Days 7-13: Researching Your Idea When to Research Dialogue Worksheets
Fact Sheets
Timeline Sheets
Motives and Alibis for Mystery and Suspense Novels
Chapter Four: Days 14 and 15: The Evolution of Your Story Conflict
Chapter Five: Days 16-24: Your Formatted Outline Consolidating Your Information Day 17: Incorporating Story Evolution Elements Day 18: Incorporating Character and Setting Sketches Day 19: Incorporating Research Days 20-23: Brainstorming Roadblocks
Outlining and Writing in Tandem
Day 24: Creating a Day Sheet and Table of Contents Turning Your Day Sheet Into a Table of Contents
Chapter Six: Days 25-28: Evaluating the Strength of Your Formatted Outline
Day 25 and 26: Tagging and Tracing
Tagging and Tracing Your Story Goal
Tagging and Tracing Subplot Threads
Tagging and Tracing Tension
Day 27: Isolating Plot Threads
Chapter Seven: Days 29 and 30: Revising Your Formatted Outline
Day 29: Filling In the Final Holes
Incorporating Last-Minute Research
Starting the Revision Process
Revising the Outline Instead of the Manuscript
Day 30: Putting It on a Shelf
Chapter Eight: Creating an Outline for a Project Already in Development or Re-Outlining a Stalled Project
Creating an Outline for a Project Already in Development
Days 1-3: Evaluate the Previous Draft
Days 4-10: Re-Outline
Days 11 and 12: Miscellaneous and Closing Scene Notes
Days 13 and 14: Character Sketches
Days 15 and 16: Setting Sketches
Days 17-20: Plot Sketch and Story Evolution Worksheets
Days 21 and 22: Research
Days 23 and 24: Outline Aid Worksheets
Day 25: Day Sheet and Table of Contents
Days 26 and 27: Evaluate the Formatted Outline
Days 28 and 29: Revision
Day 30: Finishing Touches
Revising an Outlined Novel Without Starting From Scratch
Chapter Nine: Getting the Most From Your Formatted Outline
A Snapshot of Your Novel Tweaking Your Outline as You Write
Purging
Final Editing Sheets
Avoiding Writer's Block
Revising Not Allowed!
Editing and Polishing: Absolutely the Final Step
Getting Critical Reads
Putting It Back on the Shelf
Chapter Ten: Outlining Your Career
Yearly Goals Writing Goals
Editing Goals
Getting Ahead and Staying There
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: 30-Day Method Schedules
Appendix C: 30-Day Method Worksheets
Your Commitment to the 30-Day Method
How to Use This Book
Understanding the 30-Day Method Schedule
What You'll Need
Creativity and Outlines
Improving Your Productivity
See the 30-Day Method in Action
Getting Started
Day 2: Setting Sketches and Research Strategies
Why Research in the Outline Stage
Additional Outline Aids
Day 16: Starting and Organizing Your Formatted Outline
Day 28: Shoring Up Weak Elements in Your Formatted Outline
Re-Outlining After at Least One Outline and Manuscript Draft
Using Your Outline to Write the Book
Multiyear Goals
Promotional Goals
Project Goals
Please note that those in Microsoft Word format (.doc) will open in another window.
Those in printable PDF format will also open in a separate window using Adobe Acrobat.
In order to open PDF files, you must have Adobe Acrobat (preferably Version 6.0) installed on your computer.
The program is available as a free download here: http://www.adobe.com.
If you have trouble opening the PDF files, it may be that your browser is timing out or that the Adobe Browser plug-in isn't installed on your computer.
Try right-clicking on the link (for Windows users) and choose "save target as" to save the file to your hard drive.
Then open Adobe Acrobat on your computer and locate the file. It should open from there.
***These worksheets are copyrighted. It is illegal to distribute or put them on a website for any reason. The worksheets may only be printed for individual use, or viewed on your personal computer for your own use.***
Worksheet 1: Character Sketch
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
Worksheet 2A: General Setting Sketch
Worksheet 2B: Character Setting Sketch
Worksheet 3: Research List
Worksheet 4: Plot Sketch
Worksheet 5: Summary Outline
Worksheet 6: Miscellaneous Scene Notes
Worksheet 7: Closing Scene Notes
Worksheet 8: Interview Questions
Worksheet 9: Dialogue Sheet
Worksheet 10: Fact Sheet
Worksheet 11: Background Timeline
Worksheet 12: Miscellaneous Timeline
Worksheet 13: Crime Timeline
Worksheet 14: Motives and Alibis
Worksheet 15: Story Evolution
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
Worksheet 16: Formatted Outline Capsule
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
Worksheet 17: Day Sheet
Worksheet 18: Supplemental Outline
Worksheet 19: Final Editing
Appendix D: 30-Day Method Goal Sheets
Worksheet 20: Yearly Goals
Worksheet 21: MultiYear Goals
Worksheet 22: Promotional Goals
Worksheet 23: Writing Goals
Worksheet 24: Editing Goals
Index
Work Log for SWEET DREAMS
Full Outline of SWEET DREAMS
Order SWEET DREAMS
Frequently Asked Questions About the FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS Method
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