I can't seem to make outlines. Because if I sit down with the sole purpose of coming up with ideas for a novel... I just feel like a bland slate. Nothing happens. It's ridiculously inspiration-killing for me. I discovered a little more than a year ago that if I just sit down and have a vague idea about a story, maybe the beginning and an end... then the rest will come along by itself if I just start writing. :)
Thank you for the interview, Randy and Joanna! 😊 It's inspiring to hear published authors tell us about how they go about writing, their challenges and their successes. 📚
This was a real treat. I remember reading about this guy almost decade a ago and recall thinking this method is so logical for science guys like me....
I write a novel with multiple POVs and multiple characters. The snowflake method becomes the book itself, so I still don't quite know which PATH my characters will take to reach their ends. But i do know what are their ends, because of the snowflake method! The stage where you put every character in a spreadsheet and write their past, motivation, conflict and end was very helpful, if not essential, for me to understand where I need to go with each of them.
Hi Joanna- thanks for doing this. I think you're doing a great job by interviewing authors about their writing methods. Wish you all the best- and hope you continue. Cheers. \
When I first clicked on this video I totally didn’t realize that Randy wrote the book that my friend just got me, so when the image of the book popped up I actually jumped. 😂
So I tried using something that was being called the "snowflake method" on at least 3 or 4 different writing blogs--I don't know how official/unofficial any of them are, but I ran into a serious problem during Step 3: the "epiphany". Basically what I felt like I was being told is that for each character, they have to have some sort of "epiphany" - the question is never "Does your character have an epiphany?" but it's like, almost being set up as a requirement or something in the things I read. This tripped me up for quite a while when applying snowflake to my current work in progress, because my main character doesn't HAVE an epiphany during the story. But that doesn't mean my story is bad. I considered trying to force one in somehow, but an epiphany is just not necessary for the character. So I just wanted to say that anyone looking into snowflake, don't take every little step as completely 100% strict--if your story doesn't fit perfectly with the Snowflake Method, don't feel like you necessarily have to beat it into submission until it does. Your story can still be good WITHOUT being a perfect product of snowflake method.
He's wrong about believing that meds are the solution to one's mental problems (27:10). Psychotropic meds only treat the symptoms and not the causes. Otherwise, it was an interesting and useful interview.
I read a ton of fictions on the web. I was aware they are amateur but at the same time, isn't. Most of the time their story look like a draft and I recommend them to let it rest to strengthen its content. All I care about it's how logical the plot goes. I learn it by studying the minimalist style. With or without the superficial details, we have the same story. Minimalist style helps me to spot the element-type and treat words in their brute form. It isn't about beautiful words, it's about how well you describe the scenes and how logical are each scene. I tried to replicate this style and I have to wait for adding more content. I am a slow-thinker due to accessibility of information needed for the story and an over-analytic person, so, even if I put a lot of work in it, I let the reader interpret. The waiting-and-adding-on recommendation is like the snowflake method! We probably did that at one point.
Writers totally self medicate with words; we 'fix' it - we rewrite that awful experience - we make it *better*. There is also a snowflake template for Scrivener. I tried it and it didn't work for me, but did teach me a few good habits like writing everyday!
just google scrivener template snowflake and a few options will come up. Pick the one you like. The first thing I would do with Scrivener is read the whole pdf instruction book. Start with the basics before you try installing new things. Watch a few free youtube videos. It helps to see what people are doing. There are a lot of paid courses as well. I think Joanna offers a link to a course. It's easy to plug in templates, but you need a handle on the program first. The longer I have Scrivener the more complex it becomes; stuff was already in there... I just didn't know it.
Funny thing that, chapters. I used to always stop reading at the end of a chapter. But nowadays I can stop wherever in the book. It doesn't matter. XD Is that weird? Or do I just read too many books with very long chapters? :P
What I've found that is if you use a NEW technique it's not likely to work right off the bat. You have to learn to use it first. No idea how many words per page so 500 words doesn't mean much.
Writing for only 20 MINUTES a day, will produce a Novel in less than a year EFFORTLESSLY ! Simple !!! But how many people have the disciple to spend 20mins a day writing ??? Hardly nobody !!!! All the most prolific writers like Stephen King, only spend 1-2 hours per day !!!!! Now everybody can find 20mins a day! But who does??? It's really that simple. So simple it's people can't see the woods for the trees. Imagine you can spend 95% procrastinating doing fuck all and still knock out a Novel year. That is the secret, but it's so simple a secret most people find it impossible understand and do. Writing is simply the ACT OF WRITING, no matter how bad, just write. As you go along as long as you keep writing things will automatically fall in place.
Oh yeah... I can't write outlines... If I try, it won't work. I will try to write to the outline and then I realize how many plot holes I have. Somehow, writing with no outline makes less plot holes for me (the opposite of a lot of other authors).
I'm watching her videos nearly 2 years later and I have to agree. I find her constant head bobbing irritating to watch. These are available as podcasts. Problem solved.
I've looked at the Snowflake method, and for me it seems like a great method to grow your plot and keep track of the personalities! But I think Randy will agree that the Snowflake is for the basics, and the more advanced plot points! But after that, you need to be able to capture the hearts for your story, and that is where Snowflake looks good for me! It lets you plan and plot in great detail. so you don't mess up the basics. But after that, there's this yucky talent-of-expressing-yourself properly... I love Randy's advice on his Snowflake site btw, and I always use those as good input, but not the final say! And he will probably agree with that!
Mysterious gospel writer... story twisty endings and fictionalized i love also explaining definition within word teaches readers better use of words...
I can't seem to make outlines. Because if I sit down with the sole purpose of coming up with ideas for a novel... I just feel like a bland slate. Nothing happens. It's ridiculously inspiration-killing for me. I discovered a little more than a year ago that if I just sit down and have a vague idea about a story, maybe the beginning and an end... then the rest will come along by itself if I just start writing. :)
Thank you for the interview, Randy and Joanna! 😊
It's inspiring to hear published authors tell us about how they go about writing, their challenges and their successes. 📚
5:05 The snowflake method
To quote the comedian Drew Carey, "Thank you, citizen!"
Thank you!
Bought this book today after several months of it sitting on my wishlist. I wish I bought it sooner 😂. I love how it’s laid out in narrative.
This was a real treat. I remember reading about this guy almost decade a ago and recall thinking this method is so logical for science guys like me....
Glad you enjoyed it!
I write a novel with multiple POVs and multiple characters. The snowflake method becomes the book itself, so I still don't quite know which PATH my characters will take to reach their ends. But i do know what are their ends, because of the snowflake method! The stage where you put every character in a spreadsheet and write their past, motivation, conflict and end was very helpful, if not essential, for me to understand where I need to go with each of them.
Nice to see the author in the flesh. Thanks for sharing this method!
Hemingway preferred to write only in the mornings and had a word count of only 500 words a day.
Hi Joanna- thanks for doing this. I think you're doing a great job by interviewing authors about their writing methods. Wish you all the best- and hope you continue. Cheers.
\
This is fabulous! Both of you are a gift to us struggling authors. Carry on!
When I first clicked on this video I totally didn’t realize that Randy wrote the book that my friend just got me, so when the image of the book popped up I actually jumped. 😂
Lmao he's fucking talented :D
What a helpful and fantastic guest. Thank you to you both!
Loved this interview, picked up the book immediately. Randy is a great communicator.
So I tried using something that was being called the "snowflake method" on at least 3 or 4 different writing blogs--I don't know how official/unofficial any of them are, but I ran into a serious problem during Step 3: the "epiphany". Basically what I felt like I was being told is that for each character, they have to have some sort of "epiphany" - the question is never "Does your character have an epiphany?" but it's like, almost being set up as a requirement or something in the things I read. This tripped me up for quite a while when applying snowflake to my current work in progress, because my main character doesn't HAVE an epiphany during the story. But that doesn't mean my story is bad. I considered trying to force one in somehow, but an epiphany is just not necessary for the character. So I just wanted to say that anyone looking into snowflake, don't take every little step as completely 100% strict--if your story doesn't fit perfectly with the Snowflake Method, don't feel like you necessarily have to beat it into submission until it does. Your story can still be good WITHOUT being a perfect product of snowflake method.
He's wrong about believing that meds are the solution to one's mental problems (27:10). Psychotropic meds only treat the symptoms and not the causes. Otherwise, it was an interesting and useful interview.
Thank you for all your advice and for your honesty. Very helpful
Another great interview
beautiful interview. very touching. 🤍
I was so excited to see this episode, I love his craft books ☺️
I appreciate both of you and your crafts.🔍📑📕📚📒📔📓📖😀😄
I read a ton of fictions on the web. I was aware they are amateur but at the same time, isn't. Most of the time their story look like a draft and I recommend them to let it rest to strengthen its content. All I care about it's how logical the plot goes. I learn it by studying the minimalist style. With or without the superficial details, we have the same story.
Minimalist style helps me to spot the element-type and treat words in their brute form. It isn't about beautiful words, it's about how well you describe the scenes and how logical are each scene.
I tried to replicate this style and I have to wait for adding more content.
I am a slow-thinker due to accessibility of information needed for the story and an over-analytic person, so, even if I put a lot of work in it, I let the reader interpret.
The waiting-and-adding-on recommendation is like the snowflake method! We probably did that at one point.
I think like you.
Loved this
Lovely interview
Writers totally self medicate with words; we 'fix' it - we rewrite that awful experience - we make it *better*.
There is also a snowflake template for Scrivener. I tried it and it didn't work for me, but did teach me a few good habits like writing everyday!
Where can you get that? I just got scrivener so I don't know much about it.
just google scrivener template snowflake and a few options will come up. Pick the one you like. The first thing I would do with Scrivener is read the whole pdf instruction book. Start with the basics before you try installing new things. Watch a few free youtube videos. It helps to see what people are doing. There are a lot of paid courses as well. I think Joanna offers a link to a course.
It's easy to plug in templates, but you need a handle on the program first. The longer I have Scrivener the more complex it becomes; stuff was already in there... I just didn't know it.
Great inteview Joanna,
Great information.
Funny thing that, chapters. I used to always stop reading at the end of a chapter. But nowadays I can stop wherever in the book. It doesn't matter. XD Is that weird? Or do I just read too many books with very long chapters? :P
What I've found that is if you use a NEW technique it's not likely to work right off the bat. You have to learn to use it first. No idea how many words per page so 500 words doesn't mean much.
Awesome thank you both!
Writing for only 20 MINUTES a day, will produce a Novel in less than a year EFFORTLESSLY !
Simple !!! But how many people have the disciple to spend 20mins a day writing ??? Hardly nobody !!!! All the most prolific writers like Stephen King, only spend 1-2 hours per day !!!!!
Now everybody can find 20mins a day! But who does??? It's really that simple. So simple it's people can't see the woods for the trees.
Imagine you can spend 95% procrastinating doing fuck all and still knock out a Novel year. That is the secret, but it's so simple a secret most people find it impossible understand and do. Writing is simply the ACT OF WRITING, no matter how bad, just write. As you go along as long as you keep writing things will automatically fall in place.
Just read Dwight Swaine's "techniques of the selling writer" and I got struck
He said, "Join the 500 club. There's no place to sign up."
1 in a 1000 people? Hardly. Believe it or not, about 50% of Americans are interested in writing a book one day.
Oh yeah... I can't write outlines... If I try, it won't work. I will try to write to the outline and then I realize how many plot holes I have. Somehow, writing with no outline makes less plot holes for me (the opposite of a lot of other authors).
Great interview but I found the constant head nodding very distracting.
I agree. I just scrolled the screen where I couldn't see it.
I'm watching her videos nearly 2 years later and I have to agree. I find her constant head bobbing irritating to watch. These are available as podcasts. Problem solved.
Fuck off, everybody has to gesticulate and signal, even you do it, you just don't know it fuckface.
Same information and value in audio only. Fantastic stuff.
I've looked at the Snowflake method, and for me it seems like a great method to grow your plot and keep track of the personalities! But I think Randy will agree that the Snowflake is for the basics, and the more advanced plot points! But after that, you need to be able to capture the hearts for your story, and that is where Snowflake looks good for me! It lets you plan and plot in great detail. so you don't mess up the basics. But after that, there's this yucky talent-of-expressing-yourself properly... I love Randy's advice on his Snowflake site btw, and I always use those as good input, but not the final say! And he will probably agree with that!
I am a seat of a pants woman author yet opposite stephen king horror story of
500 words per day. How informative.
Mysterious gospel writer... story twisty endings and fictionalized i love also explaining definition within word teaches readers better use of words...
Author fame is a hero flip twist of properous and prosperity and success
Consenting cat in front of skype.
At first I thought it was a liberal joke
I think he wrote it before the 'snowflake' thing in the media ")