Karen Collum">Australian Children's Author

Don’t go! I’m itching to get started on my NaNoWriMo novel, Emma Delaney, but I can’t. Not until November 1. Thankfully, that’s only 10 days or so away. And tonight I finished my planning. I have worked through each and every step in ‘The Snowflake Method’ and I’m all set and ready to go. I’ve found Step 9 to be an interesting one and very valuable for so many reasons. Here’s just a few:

1. Establishing conflict

By writing a narrative description about each scene I’m going to include in my novel I’ve had the chance to take a step back and look at where the conflict is coming from. If a scene doesn’t have conflict it really doesn’t serve a purpose in pushing the story forward. In some scenes the conflict is evident from the start. Emma fights with her brother, Emma fights with her mother. In other scenes the conflict is very much internal. Emma doesn’t want to get involved in other people’s lives but realises she’s the only one is in a position to help. Emma struggles to come to terms with how disappointed she is with her mum.  By identifying exactly where the conflict will arise and whether it’s external or internal I’ve been able to get a better feel for each scene and work out potential ‘low spots’ in the manuscript. Although it can’t always be high-paced, even the lulls need to be working for the good of the story.

2. Filling in plot-holes

What appeared to be a cohesive storyline soon looked more like a moth-eaten jumper when I examined it closely. By writing the narrative descriptions I was able to think through the gaps and fill them in with plausible ‘no-more-gaps’. I also was able to think about what my characters would do and why.

3. Setting myself up for success

November is going to be crazy in my house. Then again, every month is crazy in my house. My boys keep me busy for at least 12 hours of the day and by the time you throw in housework and sleep, there’s not much time left. I simply don’t have time to meander through my novel and amble along until I find the right path. Step 9 has essentially forced me to write a pre-first-draft first draft. That has to put me ahead of the game. And come November 1 I can touch type to my heart’s content secure in the path I am following. And given a month I might just be able to reach my goal of finishing Emma Delaney during November.