Oct 14, 2008

Sample Novel Structure

1. 5,000 words: Teaser and exposition. Introduce the protagonist and why they are as they are.

2. 2,000 words: Catalyst event. Introduce the second protagonist.

3. 9,000 words: Exploration of the story world; new characters and nuggets of information. Things are still going well, but introduce the villain(s).

4. 18,000 words: Things fall apart! The story becomes bigger than the characters. Things happen, they get saved, things get worse, repeat, repeat, repeat.

5. 6,000 words: Reveal bigger quest.

6. 6,000 words: Challenges are defeated. Things are learned. Characters change.

7. 6,000 words: Resolve any leftover issues. Epilogue.

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