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How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method
A Magical Key to Unlock Your Creative Wizard
Are you writing a novel, but having trouble getting your first draft written? You’ve heard of “outlining,” but that sounds too rigid for you. You’ve heard of “organic writing,” but that seems a bit squishy to you.
Take a look at the wildly popular Snowflake Method—a battle-tested series of ten steps that jump-start your creativity and help you quickly map out your story. All around the world, novelists are using the Snowflake Method right now to ignite their imaginations and get their first drafts down on paper.
In this book, you’ll follow the story of a fictitious novelist as she learns to tap into the amazing power of the Snowflake Method. Almost magically, she finds her story growing from a simple idea into a deep and powerful novel. And she finds her novel changing her—turning her into a stronger, more courageous person.
Zany, Over the Top, and Just Plain Fun
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method is a “business parable”—a how-to guide written in story form. It’s zany. It’s over the top. It’s just plain fun. Most important, it’s effective, because it shows you, rather than telling you.
You’ll learn by example how to grow your story idea into a sizzling first draft.
You’ll discover:
* How to define your “target audience” the right way, so you know exactly how your ideal readers think and feel. Forget what the experts tell you about “demographics.”
* How to create a dynamite selling tool that will instantly tell people whether they’ll love your story or hate it. And you want them to either love it or hate it.
* How to get inside the skin of every one of your characters—even your villain. Especially your villain.
* How to find a deep, emotively powerful theme for your story. Do you know the one best point in your novel to unveil your theme—when your reader is most eager to hear it?
* How to know when to backtrack, and why backtracking is essential to writing great fiction.
* How to fire-test each scene to guarantee it’ll be high-impact—before you write it.
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
Goldilocks had always wanted to write a novel.
She learned to read before she went to kindergarten.
In grade school, she always had her nose in a book.
In junior high, the other kids thought she was weird, because she actually liked reading those dusty old novels in literature class.
All through high school, Goldilocks dreamed of writing a book of her own someday.
But when she went to college, her parents persuaded her to study something practical.
Goldilocks hated practical, and secretly she kept reading novels. But she was a very obedient girl, so she did what her parents told her. She got a very practical degree in marketing.
After college, she got a job that bored her to tears—but at least it was practical.
Then she got married, and within a few years, she had two children, a girl and then a boy. She quit her job to devote full time to them.
As the children grew, Goldilocks took great joy in introducing them to the stories she had loved as a child.
When her son went off to kindergarten, Goldilocks thought about looking for a job. But her resume now had a seven-year hole in it, and her practical skills were long out of date.
The only jobs Goldilocks could qualify for were minimum wage.
She suddenly realized that being practical had made her horribly unhappy.
On a whim, Goldilocks decided to do the one thing she had always wanted more than anything else—she was finally going to write a novel.
She didn’t care if it was impractical.
She didn’t care if nobody would ever read her novel.
She was going to do it just because she wanted to.
For the first time in years, she was going to do something just for herself.
And nobody was going to stop her.
Are you writing a novel, but having trouble getting your first draft written? You’ve heard of “outlining,” but that sounds too rigid for you. You’ve heard of “organic writing,” but that seems a bit squishy to you.
Take a look at the wildly popular Snowflake Method—a battle-tested series of ten steps that jump-start your creativity and help you quickly map out your story. All around the world, novelists are using the Snowflake Method right now to ignite their imaginations and get their first drafts down on paper.
In this book, you’ll follow the story of a fictitious novelist as she learns to tap into the amazing power of the Snowflake Method. Almost magically, she finds her story growing from a simple idea into a deep and powerful novel. And she finds her novel changing her—turning her into a stronger, more courageous person.
Zany, Over the Top, and Just Plain Fun
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method is a “business parable”—a how-to guide written in story form. It’s zany. It’s over the top. It’s just plain fun. Most important, it’s effective, because it shows you, rather than telling you.
You’ll learn by example how to grow your story idea into a sizzling first draft.
You’ll discover:
* How to define your “target audience” the right way, so you know exactly how your ideal readers think and feel. Forget what the experts tell you about “demographics.”
* How to create a dynamite selling tool that will instantly tell people whether they’ll love your story or hate it. And you want them to either love it or hate it.
* How to get inside the skin of every one of your characters—even your villain. Especially your villain.
* How to find a deep, emotively powerful theme for your story. Do you know the one best point in your novel to unveil your theme—when your reader is most eager to hear it?
* How to know when to backtrack, and why backtracking is essential to writing great fiction.
* How to fire-test each scene to guarantee it’ll be high-impact—before you write it.
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
Goldilocks had always wanted to write a novel.
She learned to read before she went to kindergarten.
In grade school, she always had her nose in a book.
In junior high, the other kids thought she was weird, because she actually liked reading those dusty old novels in literature class.
All through high school, Goldilocks dreamed of writing a book of her own someday.
But when she went to college, her parents persuaded her to study something practical.
Goldilocks hated practical, and secretly she kept reading novels. But she was a very obedient girl, so she did what her parents told her. She got a very practical degree in marketing.
After college, she got a job that bored her to tears—but at least it was practical.
Then she got married, and within a few years, she had two children, a girl and then a boy. She quit her job to devote full time to them.
As the children grew, Goldilocks took great joy in introducing them to the stories she had loved as a child.
When her son went off to kindergarten, Goldilocks thought about looking for a job. But her resume now had a seven-year hole in it, and her practical skills were long out of date.
The only jobs Goldilocks could qualify for were minimum wage.
She suddenly realized that being practical had made her horribly unhappy.
On a whim, Goldilocks decided to do the one thing she had always wanted more than anything else—she was finally going to write a novel.
She didn’t care if it was impractical.
She didn’t care if nobody would ever read her novel.
She was going to do it just because she wanted to.
For the first time in years, she was going to do something just for herself.
And nobody was going to stop her.
234 pages, ebook
First published July 16, 2014
990 people are currently reading
1785 people want to read
About the author
Randy Ingermanson
12 books315 followersI'm a novelist, physicist, and fiction teacher. People around the world call me "the Snowflake Guy" because of my wildly popular "Snowflake method" for writing a novel.
I've published 6 novels and won about a dozen awards for my writing. I'm a theoretical physicist with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. I publish the world's largest electronic newsletter on how to write fiction. I run the software division at Vala Sciences, a biotech company in San Diego.
Why do I do all this? Because I like to. Life is too short to do things you don't like to do.
I've published 6 novels and won about a dozen awards for my writing. I'm a theoretical physicist with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. I publish the world's largest electronic newsletter on how to write fiction. I run the software division at Vala Sciences, a biotech company in San Diego.
Why do I do all this? Because I like to. Life is too short to do things you don't like to do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
January 7, 2019
In the spirit of the 'business parable' style of the book itself . . .
"Good news! I've got a novel-writing system that might interest you!"
"Really? That's great! Let's get . . . wait a second . . . you said 'Good news'."
"Well, yes. A novel-writing syst—"
"When people start with 'Good News', there's usually 'Bad News' that follows. Come on, out with it."
"Oh, well, it's just that . . ."
"Yes?"
"I've decided to teach it to you by making you read a parable about Goldilocks going to a writing conference and learning the methodology from Baby Bear!"
Yep. Goldilocks learns Randy Ingermanson's writing system from the man himself wrapped in the character of Baby Bear (you know, outlining is too hard, pantsing is too soft, the snowflake method is just right.) If this sounds entertaining and illuminating to you, then you'll be happy to hear the entire book goes on like this until a brief summary at the end. If, on the other hand, reading page after page of Little Pig raising objections and Goldilocks continuously discovering she's a bit thick and needs the wise Baby Bear to unlock her writing potential, then this probably isn't the book for you.
I'm not sure why those who devise novel or screenwriting methods never seem to show you their method applied to an actual, genuine novel or screenplay rather than either exclusively use examples from other people's work (who probably didn't follow that method) or just give you ones that they never felt worthy enough to use as the basis for an actual finished work. Ingermanson's written some novels; he could have included all his Snowflake work into his manual. But he didn't, and that makes it hard to take the system as seriously as it may deserve.
Ingermanson's argument at the end of the book is that he did apply his method – to the Goldilocks parable for this book. That's really not the same, though, because you end up with a story that honestly would never stand on its own being excused by the fact that it exists only to communicate the method, and a method that isn't shown to be worthwhile because you never really see it in action in its entirety as applied to something publishable.
Fans of the snowflake system will rightly point to its many adherents as proof, but again, pantsers can much more easily point to Stephen King and Lee Child and say, "Yeah? Well look at all the giants of the field who avoid notes, outlines, and other such paraphernalia entirely." So the question isn't whether some people like a system or even whether someone's written a successful book with it. The question is (as Ingermanson himself notes in the book), is this system for you: the individual trying to write a better novel.
The snowflake system itself is quite simple (which is a virtue) and logical. However I can't tell you if it works or even if it's worth trying. If the "proof is in the pudding" as they say, and the forty thousand word story in this book is meant to be that pudding, then that's a problem. Even as a business parables go, Goldilocks, Baby Bear, The Big Bad Wolf, and the rest of them left me bored and irritated.
None of this should make you shy away from the Snowflake Method or this book necessarily. What I would say is simply this: read the first chapter excerpt the author provides. If that engages you, then go for it. If you find yourself rolling your eyes at the metaphor, then you should probably consider finding another means to learn about the Snowflake Method.
"Good news! I've got a novel-writing system that might interest you!"
"Really? That's great! Let's get . . . wait a second . . . you said 'Good news'."
"Well, yes. A novel-writing syst—"
"When people start with 'Good News', there's usually 'Bad News' that follows. Come on, out with it."
"Oh, well, it's just that . . ."
"Yes?"
"I've decided to teach it to you by making you read a parable about Goldilocks going to a writing conference and learning the methodology from Baby Bear!"
Yep. Goldilocks learns Randy Ingermanson's writing system from the man himself wrapped in the character of Baby Bear (you know, outlining is too hard, pantsing is too soft, the snowflake method is just right.) If this sounds entertaining and illuminating to you, then you'll be happy to hear the entire book goes on like this until a brief summary at the end. If, on the other hand, reading page after page of Little Pig raising objections and Goldilocks continuously discovering she's a bit thick and needs the wise Baby Bear to unlock her writing potential, then this probably isn't the book for you.
I'm not sure why those who devise novel or screenwriting methods never seem to show you their method applied to an actual, genuine novel or screenplay rather than either exclusively use examples from other people's work (who probably didn't follow that method) or just give you ones that they never felt worthy enough to use as the basis for an actual finished work. Ingermanson's written some novels; he could have included all his Snowflake work into his manual. But he didn't, and that makes it hard to take the system as seriously as it may deserve.
Ingermanson's argument at the end of the book is that he did apply his method – to the Goldilocks parable for this book. That's really not the same, though, because you end up with a story that honestly would never stand on its own being excused by the fact that it exists only to communicate the method, and a method that isn't shown to be worthwhile because you never really see it in action in its entirety as applied to something publishable.
Fans of the snowflake system will rightly point to its many adherents as proof, but again, pantsers can much more easily point to Stephen King and Lee Child and say, "Yeah? Well look at all the giants of the field who avoid notes, outlines, and other such paraphernalia entirely." So the question isn't whether some people like a system or even whether someone's written a successful book with it. The question is (as Ingermanson himself notes in the book), is this system for you: the individual trying to write a better novel.
The snowflake system itself is quite simple (which is a virtue) and logical. However I can't tell you if it works or even if it's worth trying. If the "proof is in the pudding" as they say, and the forty thousand word story in this book is meant to be that pudding, then that's a problem. Even as a business parables go, Goldilocks, Baby Bear, The Big Bad Wolf, and the rest of them left me bored and irritated.
None of this should make you shy away from the Snowflake Method or this book necessarily. What I would say is simply this: read the first chapter excerpt the author provides. If that engages you, then go for it. If you find yourself rolling your eyes at the metaphor, then you should probably consider finding another means to learn about the Snowflake Method.
December 5, 2016
This is my new favorite book, and I'm totally going to use this for every novel for the REST OF MY LIFE.
So everyone needs to go read it next time they're plotting a novel. :P
So everyone needs to go read it next time they're plotting a novel. :P
October 21, 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ OUTSTANDING
Randy Ingermanson used storytelling to teach his readers about how to write a novel. Genius!
Randy Ingermanson used storytelling to teach his readers about how to write a novel. Genius!
January 4, 2015
Quick review for a quick refresher read. I picked this up as my first read of the year because of some of the goals I'd set for myself in the new year. Granted, I have my own method of writing that I follow with composing a novel, but I always like to look at other methods and processes, and see how they may work for me.
I've known about the Snowflake Method for a while now, but this was my first time perusing this little book with its creative explanation of it. I liked it, even if sometimes the method of explaining the concept was a little convoluted. It did a decent job of summarizing key points at the end, and showing how the author used his own method to plot the story given in this guide. I liked the step by step application, and no doubt I'll refer to it when I find myself needing a visual example of how this method is applied.
Overall, a valuable read.
Overall rating: 3/5 stars.
I've known about the Snowflake Method for a while now, but this was my first time perusing this little book with its creative explanation of it. I liked it, even if sometimes the method of explaining the concept was a little convoluted. It did a decent job of summarizing key points at the end, and showing how the author used his own method to plot the story given in this guide. I liked the step by step application, and no doubt I'll refer to it when I find myself needing a visual example of how this method is applied.
Overall, a valuable read.
Overall rating: 3/5 stars.
December 1, 2017
I'll begin this review by saying that I am a discovery writer. I LOVE beginning with several vivid ideas, then allowing the story to ebb, flow, and take shape as the story grows into a life all it's own. BUT I know this isn't everyone's style. When people ask for writing advice from a panster like myself, it can be hard to know what to say. I don't have a "method" or "system" for my creativity, and I can't offer much more than, "Just write from your heart!" But that doesn't cut it for most people. Most aspiring authors need a little bit of direction, a launching pad, and some boundaries! And now, for those who ask such questions, I'll know exactly what to do...give them this book!
The Snowflake Method introduces a system that could teach anyone (and I mean, anyone!) how to write a novel. It's PACKED with all kinds of helpful information, which can be applied by total novices and seasoned authors alike. I think it's absolutely worth checking out for all authors, and gleaning whatever tidbits you can from it.
My favorite part (aside from all the practicality of having such a solid system in place to actually START and FINISH your novel) was the creative aspect of this teaching tale. The entire method is learned as you attend a writers conference with Goldilocks, and her teachers, the 3 Bears! Childhood whimsy is struck as Goldilocks learns to write with the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, and Old Mother Hubbard. (I lovvveeeddd fairytales as I child, so I thought this was adorable.)
This book loses a full star for me, because of some inappropriate content. Sleazy comments from Robin Hood and other characters were a bit much. It definitely didn't need that 'adult' content, and it threw me off as to why they'd mix in vulgar topics with these classic beloved fairytale characters. Anyway, just a heads up about that.
My final thoughts? Even though I'm primary a discovery writer, I'm looking forward to trying out the Snowflake Method sometime soon. It was really fascinating, and I'd love to see what might come of it if I applied the 10-step system presented. The most VALUABLE thing I found in this book, was an entire chapter dedicated to writing a summary. I've always been terrible at synopsis' and summary's, but an author needs to know how to communicate their massive work into a few short, pointed, purposeful lines, and that's something I'm going to be working on! Thank you Randy, for letting me go to a 'Writers Conference' with Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, and Old Mother Hubbard! It was fun. ;)
The Snowflake Method introduces a system that could teach anyone (and I mean, anyone!) how to write a novel. It's PACKED with all kinds of helpful information, which can be applied by total novices and seasoned authors alike. I think it's absolutely worth checking out for all authors, and gleaning whatever tidbits you can from it.
My favorite part (aside from all the practicality of having such a solid system in place to actually START and FINISH your novel) was the creative aspect of this teaching tale. The entire method is learned as you attend a writers conference with Goldilocks, and her teachers, the 3 Bears! Childhood whimsy is struck as Goldilocks learns to write with the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, and Old Mother Hubbard. (I lovvveeeddd fairytales as I child, so I thought this was adorable.)
This book loses a full star for me, because of some inappropriate content. Sleazy comments from Robin Hood and other characters were a bit much. It definitely didn't need that 'adult' content, and it threw me off as to why they'd mix in vulgar topics with these classic beloved fairytale characters. Anyway, just a heads up about that.
My final thoughts? Even though I'm primary a discovery writer, I'm looking forward to trying out the Snowflake Method sometime soon. It was really fascinating, and I'd love to see what might come of it if I applied the 10-step system presented. The most VALUABLE thing I found in this book, was an entire chapter dedicated to writing a summary. I've always been terrible at synopsis' and summary's, but an author needs to know how to communicate their massive work into a few short, pointed, purposeful lines, and that's something I'm going to be working on! Thank you Randy, for letting me go to a 'Writers Conference' with Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, and Old Mother Hubbard! It was fun. ;)
June 21, 2023
Reread: June 2023
Original Review: March 2015
5/5
This book.
My God.
I haven't even started writing a novel using the Snowflake Method (though that will change very soon) and yet I feel this has already helped my craft. (I'm somewhere between a 'pantser' and a 'plotter') From beginning to end I loved every sentence of this and how the steps of the Snowflake was told through a story, rather than presented as dry text.
As I said, I haven't used the Snowflake yet. Some of these 10 steps might not work out for me. But one thing is sure: This book got me excited to write. A lot of writing craft books give you the information and that is it. Randy Ingermanson managed to do that through telling us a story of a woman struggling to write her first novel, and show through example of how he uses his methods instead of just telling us the steps. Though he summarizes how he crafted the story at the end of the book.
If, like the main character, you are struggling with your first piece of writing, buy this.
If you are feeling out methods, trying to figure out what works for you, buy this.
Or if you simply want to read about another way of creating a story, do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go write.
4/5
Original Review: March 2015
5/5
This book.
My God.
I haven't even started writing a novel using the Snowflake Method (though that will change very soon) and yet I feel this has already helped my craft. (I'm somewhere between a 'pantser' and a 'plotter') From beginning to end I loved every sentence of this and how the steps of the Snowflake was told through a story, rather than presented as dry text.
As I said, I haven't used the Snowflake yet. Some of these 10 steps might not work out for me. But one thing is sure: This book got me excited to write. A lot of writing craft books give you the information and that is it. Randy Ingermanson managed to do that through telling us a story of a woman struggling to write her first novel, and show through example of how he uses his methods instead of just telling us the steps. Though he summarizes how he crafted the story at the end of the book.
If, like the main character, you are struggling with your first piece of writing, buy this.
If you are feeling out methods, trying to figure out what works for you, buy this.
Or if you simply want to read about another way of creating a story, do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go write.
4/5
June 11, 2019
I think this book was just what I needed for my outlining process! The way the author tells this method is really unique and creative and fun. It may not be for everybody, but I think the Snowflake method is for me. 😁👍
January 2, 2015
Note about the rating: if you find this concept interesting, snatch the book by all means. It's only a depiction of the value that I personally got with it as I've known and applied it before reading the book. I sincerely hope Mr. Ingermanson won't take it as a slight.
If you're remotely interested in being a writer but don't know how to construct your writing process, or you're looking to find some ways to tweak an already existing one, this could be a great resource. It brings a new approach that's essentially a combination of two best known writing styles - plotting (or outlining) and pantsing (or seat-of-the-pants).
Seat-of-the-pants is a roller coaster ride taking you from one sentence to the next. The strength is the fact that you can take your story wherever you want to and knock yourself out writing, and the weakness is that you can end up in places that don't make any sense for the story. That, and possibly painful edits.
Plotting is a more sterile, lab rat approach - you take time to think out the whole plot in advance. The strength of this approach is knowing what the hell you're doing, and the weakness is that there isn't much creative leeway and you may feel constricted. You don't edit that much in this approach.
Snowflake method is an attempt to bring the best out of those two worlds, presenting you with a third option - to control the flow of your story, and be creative throughout constant expansion of your story, a process similar to the formation of a snowflake (hence the name).
Personally, the simplicity and the potential of this idea blew my mind when I found out about it in a blog post by the very author of this book. The expansion of that post into a whole book with a live, cartoonnetworkesque plot didn't revolutionize my understanding as it was a pretty KISS concept to begin with. I found the whole Goldilocks story dreadful in the beginning (probably because I came in with a mistake of having set expectations for a fact spewing non-fiction book), but I learned to play along with it as I got to the finish, thinking "that big bad wolf is really cool".
If you're remotely interested in being a writer but don't know how to construct your writing process, or you're looking to find some ways to tweak an already existing one, this could be a great resource. It brings a new approach that's essentially a combination of two best known writing styles - plotting (or outlining) and pantsing (or seat-of-the-pants).
Seat-of-the-pants is a roller coaster ride taking you from one sentence to the next. The strength is the fact that you can take your story wherever you want to and knock yourself out writing, and the weakness is that you can end up in places that don't make any sense for the story. That, and possibly painful edits.
Plotting is a more sterile, lab rat approach - you take time to think out the whole plot in advance. The strength of this approach is knowing what the hell you're doing, and the weakness is that there isn't much creative leeway and you may feel constricted. You don't edit that much in this approach.
Snowflake method is an attempt to bring the best out of those two worlds, presenting you with a third option - to control the flow of your story, and be creative throughout constant expansion of your story, a process similar to the formation of a snowflake (hence the name).
Personally, the simplicity and the potential of this idea blew my mind when I found out about it in a blog post by the very author of this book. The expansion of that post into a whole book with a live, cartoonnetworkesque plot didn't revolutionize my understanding as it was a pretty KISS concept to begin with. I found the whole Goldilocks story dreadful in the beginning (probably because I came in with a mistake of having set expectations for a fact spewing non-fiction book), but I learned to play along with it as I got to the finish, thinking "that big bad wolf is really cool".
January 11, 2022
One of the most painful and *badly written* books on writing, story methods, technique, outlining, etc that I have ever read.
I could not get over how awful the author's own writing/authorial voice was, and the actual advice given (or more precisely, embedded, because you will have to extract it from an extremely patronizing and agonizing story that is meant to give analogous context to the advice) in the book is nothing that cannot be found given in much more succinct and clear, less arduous ways in dozens of other books on "alternative" methods to write a novel or even books that simply aim to give tips on how to write in general.
When I read a good book on writing or one that contains writing advice, it usually inspires me thoroughly to write, and I go back and re-read and reference it many times. Attempting to get through this book even once, my mind started reverting to a Blue Screen of Death every time I tried to think about writing in the abstract during and after reading this. I think that reading this book might have actually *given me* writer's block.
I felt like I was being talked down to the entire time. I don't consider myself a good writer, and as such I usually don't like to throw stones, but...something about the way this author approached their audience deeply infuriated me. As in a sort of--"I can't believe someone *who writes like this* is trying to *give me* advice"--kind of feeling. I have to say that this book actually made me genuinely angry.
If you're looking for a well written, useful, and HELPFUL book on "alternative novel writing methods" or story writing in general, please go read "Write Your Novel From the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between" by James Scott Bell instead.
I'm sorry, but I just cannot take seriously a book on how to write stories well, by someone who self-evidently cannot.
I could not get over how awful the author's own writing/authorial voice was, and the actual advice given (or more precisely, embedded, because you will have to extract it from an extremely patronizing and agonizing story that is meant to give analogous context to the advice) in the book is nothing that cannot be found given in much more succinct and clear, less arduous ways in dozens of other books on "alternative" methods to write a novel or even books that simply aim to give tips on how to write in general.
When I read a good book on writing or one that contains writing advice, it usually inspires me thoroughly to write, and I go back and re-read and reference it many times. Attempting to get through this book even once, my mind started reverting to a Blue Screen of Death every time I tried to think about writing in the abstract during and after reading this. I think that reading this book might have actually *given me* writer's block.
I felt like I was being talked down to the entire time. I don't consider myself a good writer, and as such I usually don't like to throw stones, but...something about the way this author approached their audience deeply infuriated me. As in a sort of--"I can't believe someone *who writes like this* is trying to *give me* advice"--kind of feeling. I have to say that this book actually made me genuinely angry.
If you're looking for a well written, useful, and HELPFUL book on "alternative novel writing methods" or story writing in general, please go read "Write Your Novel From the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between" by James Scott Bell instead.
I'm sorry, but I just cannot take seriously a book on how to write stories well, by someone who self-evidently cannot.
March 14, 2017
Book Review – How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method
Author – Randy Ingermanson
Genre – Non-fiction, Novel Writing Reference Book
First Line: Goldilocks had always wanted to write a novel.
Review: Mr. Ingermanson not only gives the step-by-step of the Snowflake Method of plotting, but he also gives an example through “story” – the one he’s written along with his explicit detailed steps.
I’ve tried a number of ways to write my story and I’m always looking for the one that will tip the scale to make my process more streamline and keep me writing. I believe I’ve found my answer in this book.
It’s already improved my process time and lays out the events of the story so there’s no hold up or blank pages. It’s a good fit for me, and may be for you too.
Author – Randy Ingermanson
Genre – Non-fiction, Novel Writing Reference Book
First Line: Goldilocks had always wanted to write a novel.
Review: Mr. Ingermanson not only gives the step-by-step of the Snowflake Method of plotting, but he also gives an example through “story” – the one he’s written along with his explicit detailed steps.
I’ve tried a number of ways to write my story and I’m always looking for the one that will tip the scale to make my process more streamline and keep me writing. I believe I’ve found my answer in this book.
It’s already improved my process time and lays out the events of the story so there’s no hold up or blank pages. It’s a good fit for me, and may be for you too.
August 25, 2014
Excellent book with writing tips in an easy to read parable format. The snowflake method might be for you if you sit between plotting and pantsing.
January 1, 2015
Of Kindles, Fairytales, and Snowflakes: Why Randy Ingermanson Might Be the Best Storyteller Ever!
Winter is a great time for me to work on my writing skills. The weather prevents outdoor activity (temps barely above freezing today) and the toasty wood fireplace is conducive to creativity. With that in mind, I loaded my Christmas present, a Kindle Fire 6, with several writing craft books - my focus as always on plotting.
The first book I opened was Randy Ingermanson’s How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method. I was hooked from line one:
Goldilocks had always wanted to write a novel.My inner girl-child squealed in delight. I taught myself to read chapter stories at the age of eight by devouring an encyclopedia of fairytales. Mr. Ingermanson is a genius! He wove the Snowflake Method into a modern day fairy story involving my childhood favorite characters. The Three Bears, Big Bad Wolf, Little Pig, Robin Hood, Old Mother Hubbard - they were all there. I didn’t stop reading long enough to pull out my notebook even though in my head the voice of my grown-woman self kept yelling, “Write this down! It’s important!”
I ignored all internal and external interruptions to follow Goldilocks as she learned to make a story out of the visions in her mind. I cheered as the lessons Baby Bear taught her like characters, good and villainous, need depth, also made sense to me. And as a bonus... While Goldilocks was attending this writers conference, there was a murder! A fairytale wrapped in a murder mystery - could this crime suspense writer be happier? It was the best hours I’ve ever spent reading a writing craft book.
Yesterday I got out my notebook and went through Chapter 19: Summary of the Snowflake Method. I filled several pages then opened Scrivener to start work on a template that will help me use each step concisely. The only step I am modifying from Randy Ingermanson’s method is Step 8: Write a List of All Scenes. He recommends using a spreadsheet but I am determined that, after owning it for three years, I will master the Scrivener software in 2015. I will be using the corkboard and scene note cards in the place of spreadsheet columns and rows.
As if the delightful format of How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method was not enough, Mr. Ingermanson included Chapter 20: The Snowflake for This Book. He used his method to show exactly how it works with the story he wrote for teaching it. I can say unequivocally that I have never read a better craft book. Did I mention that this is Advanced Fiction Writing Book 1? I can’t wait for AFW Book 2!
October 24, 2016
I just finished typing up a review for this book and it appears to have been lost. I'll try again although I don't think I have the patience to recreate the whole thing.
There are two types of writers, as I understand it, "pantsers" and "planners."
Pantsers write by the seats of their respective pants. They just sit down and they write. They do no planning ahead of time... no outlining. Planners, of course, plan. They are the opposite of pantsers. They carefully plan out every detail of their novel before they begin writing a word of it. Most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes, we do a little prep work then we get busy writing.
Randy Ingermanson's "Snowflake Method" is described in detail on his blog: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com....
The premise of The Snowflake Method is that you plan your novel in such a way that any problems with your novel are exposed (to you) as early in the process as possible so you can fix them with a minimal amount of effort. The Snowflake Method does not eliminate revision and rewriting, but it cuts down on it significantly... and it lets you know very early on if your story idea is just so glaringly flawed that it's not going to work.
I've attempted to use The Snowflake Method in the past using only Randy's blog entry but I've not been successful. Now I've purchased his Snowflake Pro software, this book that I'm reviewing here, and Writing Fiction for Dummies on which Ingermanson is listed as a co-author. I'm using these to prep for this year's NaNoWriMo. The Snowflake Method is quite time consuming and it's looking like I won't have all my prep work done before NaNoWriMo begins (where are you, Baby Bear??). But so far I'm happy. I've discovered some really significant problems with my characters and my story that have taken me seconds or minutes to correct instead of hours or days if I had typed up a detailed outline or written a rough draft.
Please "bear" with this book (pun intended). It's an instructional book wrapped in a cheesy story. But I can't believe that some people are giving this book a bad review because of the silly story. The reason for the story is because that's your example. Not only is it self-referential but Randy spends some time at the end of the book explaining how the story was prepared using The Snowflake Method.
I recommend reading Randy's Blog entry. If the Snowflake Method sounds good to you, buy this book. Still got money to spend? Buy Fiction Writing for Dummies and get the discount on Randy's Snowflake Pro software. Then buy the software.
There are two types of writers, as I understand it, "pantsers" and "planners."
Pantsers write by the seats of their respective pants. They just sit down and they write. They do no planning ahead of time... no outlining. Planners, of course, plan. They are the opposite of pantsers. They carefully plan out every detail of their novel before they begin writing a word of it. Most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes, we do a little prep work then we get busy writing.
Randy Ingermanson's "Snowflake Method" is described in detail on his blog: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com....
The premise of The Snowflake Method is that you plan your novel in such a way that any problems with your novel are exposed (to you) as early in the process as possible so you can fix them with a minimal amount of effort. The Snowflake Method does not eliminate revision and rewriting, but it cuts down on it significantly... and it lets you know very early on if your story idea is just so glaringly flawed that it's not going to work.
I've attempted to use The Snowflake Method in the past using only Randy's blog entry but I've not been successful. Now I've purchased his Snowflake Pro software, this book that I'm reviewing here, and Writing Fiction for Dummies on which Ingermanson is listed as a co-author. I'm using these to prep for this year's NaNoWriMo. The Snowflake Method is quite time consuming and it's looking like I won't have all my prep work done before NaNoWriMo begins (where are you, Baby Bear??). But so far I'm happy. I've discovered some really significant problems with my characters and my story that have taken me seconds or minutes to correct instead of hours or days if I had typed up a detailed outline or written a rough draft.
Please "bear" with this book (pun intended). It's an instructional book wrapped in a cheesy story. But I can't believe that some people are giving this book a bad review because of the silly story. The reason for the story is because that's your example. Not only is it self-referential but Randy spends some time at the end of the book explaining how the story was prepared using The Snowflake Method.
I recommend reading Randy's Blog entry. If the Snowflake Method sounds good to you, buy this book. Still got money to spend? Buy Fiction Writing for Dummies and get the discount on Randy's Snowflake Pro software. Then buy the software.
October 17, 2016
I have scribbled on and off for years and have an assortment of uncompleted novels which I have lost interest in. The idea of this book appealed to me and when I started reading it I was totally engrossed in it. The author uses fairy tale characters in a writing workshop scenario to demonstrate the ten steps of the snowflake method for planning and drafting a novel.
The idea might seem a bit twee but like the famous management book about change 'Who Moved my Cheese?' stories and story book characters help to fix ideas in your head. Human beings are story telling creatures and telling stories makes things more memorable than a list of facts.
Basically the snowflake starts with a one sentence description of your novel and builds up from that with more detailed summaries of the plot and characters right up to outlines of each scene in the book. This might seem quite dull but the writing workshop scenario really brings it to life. You could just read the chapter where the whole process is set out and work from that but you will miss a lot if you don't read the story which illustrates the process.
If you've tried other methods and they haven't worked for you do give this one a try - it just might be what you're looking for. I know it has made me think more carefully about what sort of novel I want to write. Give it a try - it will only take you a few hours to get to the point of creating a detailed synopsis and you will be able to see what isn't working without having to get half way through the first draft before realising that you need to completely rewrite it.
The idea might seem a bit twee but like the famous management book about change 'Who Moved my Cheese?' stories and story book characters help to fix ideas in your head. Human beings are story telling creatures and telling stories makes things more memorable than a list of facts.
Basically the snowflake starts with a one sentence description of your novel and builds up from that with more detailed summaries of the plot and characters right up to outlines of each scene in the book. This might seem quite dull but the writing workshop scenario really brings it to life. You could just read the chapter where the whole process is set out and work from that but you will miss a lot if you don't read the story which illustrates the process.
If you've tried other methods and they haven't worked for you do give this one a try - it just might be what you're looking for. I know it has made me think more carefully about what sort of novel I want to write. Give it a try - it will only take you a few hours to get to the point of creating a detailed synopsis and you will be able to see what isn't working without having to get half way through the first draft before realising that you need to completely rewrite it.
March 27, 2017
This book is amazing. I have never read such a fun writing book before. Sure I have read other good ones but this one was so engaging. The first more than a half is written as a novel in which the main character is being taught how to outline using the Snowflake Method. It is kind of like you as the reader are also sitting in the class and you can go off to do your homework on your story as the main character does.
To give you a bit of an idea the teacher is called Baby Bear and the main characters name is Goldilocks. There is a main plot line running through the book of Goldilocks wanting to write a story and a secondary plot line as well. I just wanted to keep on reading like it was a novel.
And yes the Snowflake Method, has made me write some kind of outline and I managed to get up to starting step 8.... after that I'm not so sure if all I have is a mess, but it is so much better than what I had before that. And so much less of a random mess, and I know what I am doing now. It was so fun to read through and helpful too, I highly recommend you give this a go and you may even find that is it just right.
To give you a bit of an idea the teacher is called Baby Bear and the main characters name is Goldilocks. There is a main plot line running through the book of Goldilocks wanting to write a story and a secondary plot line as well. I just wanted to keep on reading like it was a novel.
And yes the Snowflake Method, has made me write some kind of outline and I managed to get up to starting step 8.... after that I'm not so sure if all I have is a mess, but it is so much better than what I had before that. And so much less of a random mess, and I know what I am doing now. It was so fun to read through and helpful too, I highly recommend you give this a go and you may even find that is it just right.
February 27, 2017
Unbelievably useful! After years of writing fiction I thought I had it all figured out but this book is making the process faster and helping me create better stories and characters. I recommend it highly!
July 26, 2022
To just speak to how awful I found this book, I'll drop this excerpt:
So there you have it. Writing advice packaged in a weird Goldilocks story format centered around a story about Nazis with blatant misogynistic + fatphobic content. Yes, I understand what the author is trying to do in passages like this-- use an extreme to make a point-- but it just felt too "edgy" and weird and just casually bigoted. Like the author is trying to lampshade bigotry but is just being bigoted in the process. We have the characters calling Goldilocks things like "blondie" at several points and gags about old women writing/reading erotica (because what could be more ridiculous, right?). The tone of this entire book was the worst.
“It’s obvious to Elise, but not necessarily to everybody,” said Baby Bear. “That’s the problem with Values—they aren’t always obvious. An old woman might prefer a bald, fat man her own age who is great at conversation, rather than a young, handsome, narcissistic man who only talks to beautiful young women.”
“Very well, I’ll fix that Value so it’s clearer,” Goldilocks said grumpily.
“And furthermore, Elise apparently believes that collaborating with the Nazis is evil.”
“Well, of course, that’s, um …” Goldilocks sighed.
“Obvious?” said Baby Bear. “And yet millions of people collaborated with the Nazis. Apparently, resisting Nazis wasn’t a Value for everybody.”
So there you have it. Writing advice packaged in a weird Goldilocks story format centered around a story about Nazis with blatant misogynistic + fatphobic content. Yes, I understand what the author is trying to do in passages like this-- use an extreme to make a point-- but it just felt too "edgy" and weird and just casually bigoted. Like the author is trying to lampshade bigotry but is just being bigoted in the process. We have the characters calling Goldilocks things like "blondie" at several points and gags about old women writing/reading erotica (because what could be more ridiculous, right?). The tone of this entire book was the worst.
February 5, 2025
This isn't what I signed up for.
The short version: the "snowflake method" is a simple three-act outline. It's not a groundbreaking new approach. The author categorizes writers as "pantsers," who don’t plan anything; "outliners," who write detailed synopses; and "snowflakers." The author's categories are oversimplified. In truth, there are many kinds of pantsers and outliners, and the author is presenting a simple outline method.
That said, there is some useful information on scene structure. I should have probably just read his other book on that topic instead. There is not much else to his method. There is barely enough information to fill a chapter nevertheless a book. The author sums up his "snowflake method" in chapter 19. Just skip to that. The rest of the book is a parable about Goldilocks trying to write a novel. I'm not kidding. It's cute but not very helpful.
If you are interested in books on plot structure I recommend the following instead:
For a detailed, beat-based outline:
- Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
For character-based outlines:
- Anatomy of a Story by John Truby
- Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker
- Creating Character Arcs by K. M. Weiland
The short version: the "snowflake method" is a simple three-act outline. It's not a groundbreaking new approach. The author categorizes writers as "pantsers," who don’t plan anything; "outliners," who write detailed synopses; and "snowflakers." The author's categories are oversimplified. In truth, there are many kinds of pantsers and outliners, and the author is presenting a simple outline method.
That said, there is some useful information on scene structure. I should have probably just read his other book on that topic instead. There is not much else to his method. There is barely enough information to fill a chapter nevertheless a book. The author sums up his "snowflake method" in chapter 19. Just skip to that. The rest of the book is a parable about Goldilocks trying to write a novel. I'm not kidding. It's cute but not very helpful.
If you are interested in books on plot structure I recommend the following instead:
For a detailed, beat-based outline:
- Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
For character-based outlines:
- Anatomy of a Story by John Truby
- Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker
- Creating Character Arcs by K. M. Weiland
February 28, 2017
Very clever!
I read this more out of interest than actually looking for something to help me write a book, its something I'd like to have a go at one day but not now. However seeing how logical and simple the snowflake method is actually made me want to have a go at it!
Yes the bears etc could annoy you I suppose, I'm a big fan of horror and space operas and didn't find the names off putting at all. Its nice to read a book with easy names rather than an author trying to come up with made up French names because they think it makes them seem smarter or something.
The method is broken down step by step with some very good examples and then further broken down at the end where your shown how the book you just read was written using the method. Brilliant.
If you need advice on how to get moving then this book is highly recommended !
I read this more out of interest than actually looking for something to help me write a book, its something I'd like to have a go at one day but not now. However seeing how logical and simple the snowflake method is actually made me want to have a go at it!
Yes the bears etc could annoy you I suppose, I'm a big fan of horror and space operas and didn't find the names off putting at all. Its nice to read a book with easy names rather than an author trying to come up with made up French names because they think it makes them seem smarter or something.
The method is broken down step by step with some very good examples and then further broken down at the end where your shown how the book you just read was written using the method. Brilliant.
If you need advice on how to get moving then this book is highly recommended !
June 4, 2018
This book is a parable—a teaching mode that works brilliantly in short form but often strains credulity at book length. But Ingermanson makes this work because the story he uses to frame the lessons also demonstrates the lessons. So by the time you reach the end, you not only have the principles of the Snowflake Method, you’ve seen them applied.
I appreciate that Ingermanson emphasizes that this is just one method, and a writer may find some parts useful and others not. That was the case for me; I wind up using a hybrid of this method and others.
James L. Rubart does a great job of narrating the audiobook, with a variety of voices for the different characters in the story.
Ingermanson doesn’t plug his app, but I will: the Snowflake Pro app allows one to easily apply these principles, and I can verify that it works on MacOS High Sierra.
I appreciate that Ingermanson emphasizes that this is just one method, and a writer may find some parts useful and others not. That was the case for me; I wind up using a hybrid of this method and others.
James L. Rubart does a great job of narrating the audiobook, with a variety of voices for the different characters in the story.
Ingermanson doesn’t plug his app, but I will: the Snowflake Pro app allows one to easily apply these principles, and I can verify that it works on MacOS High Sierra.
February 13, 2019
A fine book on how to plan out and write a fictional novel. If you're not a plotter and not a pantser there is a third alternative... the snowflake method. In a rather whimsical way the author lays out his ten step snowflake method to take your idea and turn it into a document from which can proceed to sit down and write your story. It provides an easy to follow framework to get you from start to finish. It takes a little work but by the end of the process you will have taken the guesswork and mystery out of how you are going to take the idea in your head and put it down on paper.
I highly recommend this book if you are like me and have difficulty with taking what's in your head and putting it into a well-planned out novel.
I highly recommend this book if you are like me and have difficulty with taking what's in your head and putting it into a well-planned out novel.
August 3, 2017
This book wasn't for me. Not only did I find it unhelpful (too basic), but the cutesy narrative quickly got on my nerves. I picked this up to get some useful writing tips, not to read about Goldilocks and the Big Bad Wolf. It's the sort of approach that might be effective on people who hate to read, but Mr. Ingermanson is writing specifically to AUTHORS. Besides, by sugar-coating all this "boring" information until it resembles a glazed Krispy Kreme donut dipped in chocolate fudge, what might have taken 30 pages now takes 160.
To paraphrase my man Joe Friday, "Just give me the facts and stop wasting my time."
To paraphrase my man Joe Friday, "Just give me the facts and stop wasting my time."
January 19, 2020
A brilliant craft book presented in a rare way, framing the teaching method within an ongoing story between characters of fable (Goldilocks, Baby Bear, Big Bad Wolf and others). It’s a whodunnit AND a book about the Snowflake Method as developed by the author. I’m a pantser and it’s rough going sometimes, so I figure I’ll give this method a go on my next book!
Almost five stars, just that cover*. Aside from that, gooood stuff. Highly highly recommended to fiction writers of every level. A worthy addition to your craft library.
* My gf is ridiculing me for dinging a star over the cover. Oh, and I also wondered why he had a lab coat on, then saw he’s a physicist. That part makes sense to me now because he presents the method early on using a symmetrical fractal—a snowflake.
Almost five stars, just that cover*. Aside from that, gooood stuff. Highly highly recommended to fiction writers of every level. A worthy addition to your craft library.
* My gf is ridiculing me for dinging a star over the cover. Oh, and I also wondered why he had a lab coat on, then saw he’s a physicist. That part makes sense to me now because he presents the method early on using a symmetrical fractal—a snowflake.
dnf-did-not-finish
June 9, 2017DNF'd for now, at 56%. I wasn't a huge fan, though this book did teach me that I'm more of a pantser than I'd thought.
For plotters searching for a new outlining method, you might enjoy this one. :)
For plotters searching for a new outlining method, you might enjoy this one. :)
April 17, 2019
Pretty helpful book. I like how is structured like fictional story and shows directly all the stuff which include the Snowflackes method.
I've tryed to make outline for my novel and it was real succsess. :D
I've tryed to make outline for my novel and it was real succsess. :D
January 2, 2020
Possible my favorite book on writing since, well ... On Writing.
May 21, 2021
So I have a great appreciation Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake method. I decided to buy his book both out of appreciation for the invaluable information he has freely available on his website and in order to have what I have already learned from him elaborated on in a meaningful way
That said, this is the most horrible, unhelpful book I have ever read. The first 90% of it is written as a novel about Goldilocks who goes to a seminar on how to write a novel. During it 'Baby Bear' teaches a cast of fairytale characters how to write using The Snowflake Method. The story reads like mediocre fairytale fan fiction. It was painful to read.
Originally I thought it was clever, and that we would surely alternate back and forth between the story and him breaking down the Snowflake method for us while giving the story as an example. Nope! The story, which is horrible, makes up the majority of the book. You don't get any information that does not need to be weeded out of the story until the very end.
2/5 stars because The Snowflake Method works even though this book sucks. Do check out the authors website if you are interested in the subjects. I would have been just dropped h I m a donation if I would have known I would hate this book so much.
That said, this is the most horrible, unhelpful book I have ever read. The first 90% of it is written as a novel about Goldilocks who goes to a seminar on how to write a novel. During it 'Baby Bear' teaches a cast of fairytale characters how to write using The Snowflake Method. The story reads like mediocre fairytale fan fiction. It was painful to read.
Originally I thought it was clever, and that we would surely alternate back and forth between the story and him breaking down the Snowflake method for us while giving the story as an example. Nope! The story, which is horrible, makes up the majority of the book. You don't get any information that does not need to be weeded out of the story until the very end.
2/5 stars because The Snowflake Method works even though this book sucks. Do check out the authors website if you are interested in the subjects. I would have been just dropped h I m a donation if I would have known I would hate this book so much.
Read
April 30, 2017I first encountered the Snowflake Method in the early 2000s, shortly after Randy Ingermanson posted it on his website. I never managed to get through more than the first three steps, but now, many years of writing later, I can see how some of the later steps would be useful. I'm definitely never going to go through them all exactly as written -- you need to customize the process a little bit to make it work, I think.
The fairytale/parable framing was charming. I enjoyed the Big Bad Wolf and Robin Hood characters especially, and poor Old Mother Hubbard. I'm sure I know a writer or two like her!
The fairytale/parable framing was charming. I enjoyed the Big Bad Wolf and Robin Hood characters especially, and poor Old Mother Hubbard. I'm sure I know a writer or two like her!
January 3, 2017
Things I loved about this book:
It is a book about writing, so non fiction. But it's also a fairy tale retelling and a murder mystery. And, somehow, that all works. Even if you aren't a plotter, every writer should read this book just to appreciate how hilarious and interesting a book on writing can be.
But...
I'm afraid I'm not a snowflake method writer. Sorry. Actually, I'm pretty sure my process is the snowflake method done backwards. While I have a ton of writer friends who found this book very helpful and eye-opening, it's not for me. *shrug*
It is a book about writing, so non fiction. But it's also a fairy tale retelling and a murder mystery. And, somehow, that all works. Even if you aren't a plotter, every writer should read this book just to appreciate how hilarious and interesting a book on writing can be.
But...
I'm afraid I'm not a snowflake method writer. Sorry. Actually, I'm pretty sure my process is the snowflake method done backwards. While I have a ton of writer friends who found this book very helpful and eye-opening, it's not for me. *shrug*
August 22, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Randy Ingermanson's twist on a "how-to". The creative way in which he explains the process of planning out a story gave me a different perspective on the process and excites me to start implementing it in my own story. He doesn't make any promises that this method will work for all writers but merely offers this as another approach that may work for some. I think most writers will find value in a least one of the steps of the method.
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