: Re: Planning story using layers, compartmentalization, and time Plot, environment, characters, each one is a layer in a story. Each layer is also a compartment for further layers that are internally

The snowflake method may help you organize your thoughts and build a story in the way that you want. There are ten steps which move you back and forth between creating characters and creating plot. Each one challenges you to think deeper and grow your story.

Here's a broad outline, but you need to give a more detailed resource to understand it fully.

A single sentence describing your story. (You need this to sell your book anyway, so start here)
Expand your sentence into a paragraph. Sentence one is setup.
2-4 are your three main acts. 5 is your conclusion.
Now write the same type of paragraph for each main character in your story (including your villain, if there is one) so that you know what each character is doing or thinking at any moment.
Expand the paragraph in step 2 to a page with give paragraphs (one for each sentence). You now have a synopsis.
Write a synopsis for each character.
Write a for page long synopsis. Now you are getting into book details.
Create character Bibles. A point for you to research.
Write down every scene that you need, based in your synopsis and character sheets.
Pre plan the scenes a bit.
Write the novel.

Because most of the planning work is done up front. If you revise your score flake heavily as it expand and are experienced, this actually makes the writing process faster for some people.

For you, I think it's a good way of staying focused on the parts of the story that matter so you don't get lost in the weeds and so that you value the space that you actually have.

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: Re: Planning story using layers, compartmentalization, and time Plot, environment, characters, each one is a layer in a story. Each layer is also a compartment for further layers that are internally

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: Is it a bad idea to have a character that has an "imaginary friend"? In a story I'm working on, I'm adding a side character to travel with the two main characters because I realized I didn't

: What is a good way to handle lengthy monologues/lectures in a novel? In my novel, the MC is a woman from London who gets divorced and moves to Wales. Here she meets a Buddhist master with

: Scene & Sequel in exposition or world building I have been trying to practice the scene and sequel structure, including the use of MRUs and I find it alternately natural and frustrating. I

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