Collection of Musings

Musing - The difference some structure makes

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘structure’? Buildings? Plans? Routines? Rules? How something is made? Structure is all those things, and more. Although, in life, it’s not usually a thing I feel the need for. I am a flexibility fiend, through and through.

And yet, did you know, structure is critical for a novel?

When I started writing my first novel, I had no idea of how to go about it, so I just started. A few ideas, a plot line or two, a bunch of characters and I was away. I gave very little thought (approximately none) to structure.

On and off, for several years, whenever I had any spare time, I worked on this story. (Let’s just ignore 2020.) It didn’t feel like work, it was fun. I was enjoying myself. Having a disciplined military and government background, and having been through some serious rule-following through Covid, I was loving what writing this book was giving me – no rules, no guidelines, no processes, no mandates.

I was feeling a tremendous sense of freedom.

Which was fine for a while. Until it wasn’t.

My ideas were good, but my novel had no structure – because I didn’t know what structure (for writing a novel) was, at that point. It was like trying to build a house without putting the frame up first. It got to a stage where nothing was really working. I found myself having to go back and retrofit my structure into and around my story.

Lesson learned.

Fast-forward to writing my second* novel. I am finding starting a new book SO much easier this time around. Because now I know what good structure looks like, and I can start out that way.

As with building a house, it makes sense to start with a plan, build the framework, then fill in the blanks as you go. Groundwork, footings, plumbing, wiring, framing, roofing – only when all these things are in place can you really go to town on putting in walls, flooring, ceilings, and all the tiny details that make a house liveable.

Turns out it is the same with writing a novel. Some structure is required to keep the whole thing together. Luckily that lesson stuck.

This time, I’m putting in the groundwork early. I’m developing my characters sooner – deciding on their state of mind, their inner life, and how it changes based on what happens to them or in their relationships with others. A bit like real people. I’m developing my Logline to really hone my story, to get to the heart of what story it is I’m trying to tell. (Loglines - a story for another time).

I’m working earlier on the stakes (not the steaks), particularly what it means at the individual, character level. I’m getting it clearer in my mind, and on the page.

I didn’t even know such a thing as a Beat Sheet existed when I started writing my first novel. I wrote 90% of my second over the course of two days – as opposed to many weeks first go around.

All of this is to say, it’s a lot easier working out your structure from a clean slate, (or a blank page) than it is to have to go back through a half-written book, only to find you have to throw large chunks of it away.

The verdict? Structure hasn’t killed any synapses, hasn’t smothered any creativity and in fact, has made it a whole lot easier to start writing a novel.

Surprisingly, it’s structure for the win.

Yours, structurally converted,

Red

*Yes, I’ve started writing a new novel – unrelated to the first. No, I haven’t had my first published yet – this all happened in the ‘waiting’ period before starting the next revision.  Now it’s happening in between revising the first.

Musing – On Writing a novel when one has never published a novel before.

Do you think you could write a novel? If you have, kudos to you! It’s a big deal. Of the many who start out wanting to write one, not everyone finishes. I’d hazard a guess the percentage of finishers is pretty low[i].

So, what makes me think I can write a novel when so many others have tried and failed? Writing and re-writing in an eternal loop of ‘it’s not perfect therefore I can’t publish’?

It’s a reasonable question.

I’ve done many things in my life.

Sorry. Let me clarify. I’ve STARTED many things. But I’ve not always finished many things. Indeed, my life for many of the early years, was a litany of trying and failing at different things. Piano? Sure! Let me have a crack at that. Play by ear but not mastered in a year? Moving right along. Flute? Tried it. No good. But I know exactly why.

Lack of commitment and lack of consistency. I was a kid. And there was fun to be had. Outside, mostly. Sport? Same deal. The first thing I pursued in a semi-serious manner (target pistol shooting) I became semi-successful at. Why? Because I put my mind to it and practiced. (Why only semi-successful you ask? Because there was only so much time and so many other things to try! Besides, I had enough trophies.)

So, back to my original question.

Why do I think I can write a novel?

Because I have already done so. I have a completed and revised (several times) manuscript which has been beta-reader critiqued and development editor analysed. Did I shake in nervous anticipation when I sent it to be read by others? Yes, of course! Did I have my moments wondering what the hell I was doing to myself? Oh, most definitely.

Is it perfect? Hell, no!

I have more work ahead of me to get it to the copy- and line-editing stage.

But it’s close. I’m claiming it as a win.

And then, hopefully, soon after, my publishing plans will come to fruition, and you will be able to be the judge.

I’ll keep you posted.

Yours, in the quest to be published,

Red Ferne

[i] Google says 30 out of 1000 writers who start, actually complete their book. And that’s not getting it published. The numbers for being published drop even lower.