So. Back these many years ago (I decline to say how many), I had a story turn into a novel. The preceding stories had been kind enough to be *shorter*, but no. No, this one was a novel. :sighs:
This was... '98? (Fine, I just admitted how long ago.) Web resources were not as good, I didn't have time to take a class on this, what with work, and honestly, I'd been learning everything as I went -- including HTML and a tiny bit of CSS -- so I thought, fine, I'll manage.
I did. For a while.
The problem is, plot likes me. A lot. At novel length, this started to become a problem. So, I decided to organize it as best I could and, since I was explaining this a while ago to some friends who're also developing novels, I mention it here as well. if only so I can just post a link instead of explaining it again.
What I do when I realize I'm staring at a fic and chanting, 'oh fuck oh fuck it's a novel isn't it?'
Go to the end of the story portion. Not any endnotes I've been making for AO3 chapter end notes, questions I need to research, deleted scenes I may yet salvage. Those all go at the end of the file. What I need is the current stopping point of the story so far.
Once I'm there, I set up a table.
I use the following column headings:
Scene:
Pages (so I can find it if I have to print to edit or am skimming):
Main plot points:
Characters involved:
Written: Y/N
Then I go back and start summarizing every scene so far into my table, because then I have a quick summary. It lets me track plot threads and see who's gotten too much on-screen time or not enough. It shows me what's already done and where to find the detail I need to know made it in. It also gives me a place to keep adding the next few scenes I need to write, which is usually about as far ahead as I know for sure how it goes. This is also where I put in notes for things that *must* happen, or charactes who need to appear. Or die.
(Sometimes I have the final scene, but it doesn't always work out the way I expect.).
If it's a really wildly complicated story, I'll put in 'date in fic' as well. But this usually lets me keep roughly organized, it's flexible, and it's right where I can get to it as needed.
I hope this helps someone, but oh, yeah. I currently have two damn fanfic novels in progress. If you needed this advice, please be assured that I sympathize so MUCH.
And now the gym has caught up, thus bed, but at least I'm posting more often? Around, you know, writing bloody novels again.
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