While it is easy enough to erase and replan on a paper grid, I have found using index cards or sticky notes on a grid allows even more creative planning. My plan is to average 2800 words per chapter to get a complete length of 85,000 words. In this example, I have laid out 30 chapters for a historical romance. Fill in the squares with the actions that will be happening in your story.Most genre novels range between 25 and 30, but the number is up to you and can be changed at any time. You can get an idea of how many you need by checking novels to similar to yours. Fold or rule off the paper into the number of squares closest to the number of scenes and/or chapters you plan on having.First decide if you will be laying out scenes or chapters.To try out this tool, all you need is pencil and paper.
#STORYBOARD FOR WRITERS HOW TO#
How to Make a Basic StoryboardĪ storyboard does not need to be fancy. Because the parts are moveable, it is easy to try out different arrangements of the story action before committing words to paper.Īfter you start writing, the storyboard can be consulted as a way to stay on track, or it can be changed to match new twists and turns as they occur to you. Like brainstorming and mind mapping, a storyboard allows one’s creativity to flourish at the same time that it gives an overall picture of the entire work. It is a way to see how your story events flow together, how they match up with the plotting template you choose to use, and where there are plot holes. Storyboards are a quick, fluid way to plan a novel. Writers can also benefit from planning out their story using this visual tool. Screenwriters rely on storyboards to plan out the order of their scenes and make sure the crux moments fall in the right locations. A drawing or photograph that captures the essence of the scene is placed in each space with minimal summary text. Each block on the board represents a scene or event.
The idea of storyboards comes from the film industry. A storyboard is the compact, visual telling of a story. Brainstorming and mind mapping are two powerful ones. Writers need every tool possible in their repertoire.