The Nighttime Novelist by Bates, Joseph -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Dedication Acknowledgments Table of Contents Introduction Part One: Beginnings

Developing Initial Ideas

Building from the Idea Up Where to Look for Story Ideas Why Write “What You Know” Is Potentially Bad Advice Finding an Idea That’s “Never Been Done Before,” From Initial Idea to Book

Character Concepting

Character: The Heart of the Novel The Character Arc Developing Your Supporting Cast Rounding Flat Characters Revealing Character

Plot Planning

Function of Plot: The Old Cat & Mouse Shaping the Novel: Three-Act Structure Structuring the Micro Finding Your Subplots Excising Poor Plot Points

Narration

POV: Know Your Options Making the Right Choice for Your Story & Genre From POV to Voice Finding Your Voice

Building a World: Description & Setting

The Elements of Effective Description Description: Five Cardinal Sins Crafting Your Setting (and Why It Matters) Putting It All Together

Opening Scene & First-Act Structure

Components of a Good Opening Scene How an Effective Opening Sets the Stakes A Checklist of Clichéd or Ineffective Openings The Shape of the First Act

Part One: Coffee Break

Character Check Plot Check Revision Notes for Your Beginning Planning for Your Middle

Part Two: Middles

Crafting & Maintaining Suspense

The Shape & Function of the Second Act Maintaining Effective Second-Act Suspense Forgetting Where Your Story Started (or Where It’s Headed) Leaving Room for Organic Story Growth

Raising the Stakes

Building Suspense by Lowering the Volume Raising Tension Through Dialogue Ineffective Dialogue Pacing: How to Keep Your Plot (and Reader) Moving Forward

Complicating Your Characters

Character Deepening (Part I): The Protagonist Deepening Through Backstory Character Deepening (Part II): Crafting an Antagonist Overactive or Inactive Supporting Characters Upping the Reader’s Emotional Investment

Pivotal Scenes: Plotting & Pacing

Keeping Your Scenes Kinetic Subplot Support Overactive or Inactive Subplots The Darkest Hour

Part Two: Coffee Break

Character Check Plot Check Revision Notes for Your Middle Planning for Your Finale

Part Three: Endings

The Art of Closing Well

The Shape & Function of the Third Act Accounting for the Unaccountable The Role of Theme

Plotting for the Payoff

The Big Climax Twist Your Ending, Not a Knife in the Reader’s Back Checking for Plot Holes The Reader Payoff (Part I)

Coming Full Circle

The Completed Character Arc The Unchanged Protagonist Dénouement & Crafting Closing Scenes The Reader Payoff (Part II)

Revision: Discovering What You Meant

Revising the Macro: Letting the Story Lead If You and Your Story Could Armwrestle, Who Would Win? Revising the Micro: Proofreading & Editing Creating a System for Your Proofread & Edit

Part Three: Coffee Break

Revision Notes for Your Ending Preparing for What Comes Next Further Resources

Appendixes

Practical Tips for the Nighttime Novelist Worksheets

About the Author Copyright