How I Plan my Chapters

Everyone has a method, and some no method at all. How you write your chapters is subjective, but with a little thought, you could save yourself those writer block moments.

Recently I’ve been on a roll with regards to Novel 7 (started last week). SInce starting, I’ve used 21 hours and amassed 22k worth of words, putting me approximately 27% through the first draft of potentially 80k.

I feel good. But how am I getting down those words and not falling back onto my seat trying to ensure that all of the pieces add up?

I plan.

And when I say I plan – I mean – I PLAN.

Below is my method:

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Stage 1 – List the Order of Events per Chapter

Keep it brief. There’s no need to go into details other than what happen in ultra Chapter Snippet mode. Treat it like the scene selector of a Blu Ray/DVD movie.

For the 26 Chapters of Novel 7, I’ve put descriptions like:

Ch 1 = Protagonist doesn’t do XXX because he is afraid and XXX

Ch 2 = Receptionist teases Protagonist about XXX. She isn’t XXX because of XXX. Protagonist’s brother reminds him of XXX

Ch 3 = Protagonist heads home. Reveals thoughts of XXX

Etc… Keep it simple. I do this at least 3 weeks prior to writing the novel. Also the best way to do this is on an Excel Spreadsheet, as you can move a chapter or rearrange to suit you.

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Stage 2 – Add 3 Key Elements to each Chapter

For Ch 1 – I will do one sentences for:

a) Who – Who’s in the scene? Who will we be introduced to or converse with?

b) Where – The scene, location, movement within the chapter. Do we start outside and then move to a room in a house?

c) What – Are there implications from the previous chapter that must be considered, and what is the hook/cliffhanger for where we end up? Does it lead onto the next chapter?

This is the point when you’re now acting like the producer of what must be in place. I do this a week before starting the novel.

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Stage 3 – Bullet-point the Chapter

This is the stage that could save you from writer’s block

Stage 1 and 2 have given you a template for what happens to who, why, when, where and what. Now flesh it out with quick bullet points.

ie: Chapter 1 = Protagonist doesn’t do XXX because he is afraid and XXX

Who = Protagonist (Protag) and Sub Character 1 (SC1)

Where = 4 metre by 4 metre room. No windows. Gun metal surroundings.

What = Protag prepares to face shameful consequences of nor performing a task.

…. Now come the bullet points:

Protag can’t do XXX
Feels sick, but doesn’t puke up
Tries again, but his mind considers the changes from the XXX
Panic attack
Drops XXX but doesn’t care
Studies himself in mirror to justify why XXX isn’t needed
Worried that he will have to have XXX in three days because everyone at XXX has to or face XXX
SC1 appears to question his judgement
Protag tells SC1 to leave but is then bombarded by XXX
His fear of XXX heightens when he sees how it changes someone else
Makes his mind up to stand up to XXX and XXX
Leaves room knowing that XXX will be waiting for him outside.

That is my blueprint. I am the director. I just have to fill in the gaps, and by doing the bullets I kind of already have in my mind.

You can make the bullets as detailed as you want – or not. And toy don’t have to stick to it. Sometimes I deviate, but I always try to come back to the final bullet point, because that will lead onto Chapter 2.

Give it a go.