NAKED WRITING: Step Sheets

 

The longer the book, the more pieces to keep track of. Did I reveal the heroine’s former lover in chapter 6 or 8? What color was that horse?

One of the most useful tools I’ve developed for writing and editing is a simple chart that tracks my scenes. Not only does it provide an index for revisions later, it also helps me visualize the scenes yet to come.

I use a table or spreadsheet with nine columns, assigning a row for each scene. Rarely do I know in advance how every scene will play out. Some writers do. Ridley Pearson (author of the Lou Bolt series) creates all his scenes on 3”x5” cards before starting to write. For me, noodling too much plot detail dilutes my energy for the story.

What works for me is to project my Big Scenes onto separate rows… then I might sketch in a few scenes leading up to and away from the Big Scenes, but mostly I look at the scenes just ahead of wherever I’m writing at the moment.

• Column 1 is where I put the scene number for that row.

• Column 2 is for the characters present in that scene, with the POV character in bold.

• Column 3 is location.

• Column 4 is my purpose for writing that scene. Introduce a character? Show a particular conflict? Insert a clue?

• Column 5 is the POV character’s goal in the scene.

• Column 6 Indicates the conflict.

• Column 7 briefly describes the action that will take place.

• Column 8 indicates the disaster or reversal:

• Column 9 is the decision the character will make in reaction to what happens in the scene.

This decision directs the next Dramatic Unit in the POV character’s goal.

Start with just a few scenes, then build as you go. Or if you reach a sticking point and don’t have a stepsheet, scan your story scenes for the pertinent details and start one. Trust me, this makes writing and editing easier going forward.