Gail Anderson-Dargatz  

Resources for Writers

On Developing Conflict and Structure

As I'm working up my plot for a project, I'll draw mind-maps or a spider drawings taking my inspiration from the three-act structure or Save the Cat! beat sheet to create a rough map of my story. Here's an example, a mind map I doodled for my hi-lo middle school novel Iggy's World.

Incline

IggysWorld3It's a great way to brainstorm on structure and I'll do this sort of mind-mapping several times as I develop a project. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. Here's the thing, though: what we're doing in this exercise is only a brainstorming tool. Don't get stuck on the idea that this exercise is what your project will look like in the end. I do one of these sketches of my project almost daily and it changes almost daily, as new ideas crop up in the writing. So don't feel that the ideas you come up with here are written in stone, or have to be "perfect." Instead, know that this is just a rough sketch of structure, and things will change as the project progresses. Have fun with it. Play!
 
As you likely noticed as you look at various story structures, especially the Save the Cat! beat sheet, we can start by breaking our narrative down into three simple sections: beginning, middle, end, or Act I, Act II, Act III.
 
We can break the story down further by dividing the project into two at midpoint. As you can see from my doodle above, I’ve simplified things and mapped out six main plot points. If you use the Save the Cat beat sheet, you’ll see more beats that you may find useful.
 
But many projects don't fit neatly into three acts. Check out this link, Beyond Three Acts: Different Structures for Storytelling.

Resource Categories

Blogs on Craft

On the Building Blocks of Fiction

Tips on how to craft vivid scene that allows the reader to experience events right along with the characters.

On Finding Your Big Idea

Insights into the writing process and what a writer's day really looks like, as well as perspectives on research and writing from real life.

On Getting to Know Your Characters

Advice on the many ways you can make your characters come alive on the page for both you and your reader.

On Deciding on Point of View

What is the best perspective from which to tell your story? Writers discuss how they made choices on point of view and voice.

On Choosing Your Situation and Setting

Writers talk about how they use situation and setting to build story and convey emotion.

On Developing Conflict and Structure

From how to work in different genres to finding the real story, writers offer good advice on building conflict and structure.

On Revising

Tips on how to gain distance from your work and to how to re-imagine your next draft.

On Publishing

Writers offer practical advice on the business of writing and promotion, and on the importance of finding a writing community.

On Making a Living as a Writer

Writers offer words of wisdom on living on less.

On The Writer's Life

Writers talk about their life as a writer.

About Gail

Gail's novels have been national and international bestsellers and two have been short-listed for the Giller Prize, among other awards. She works with writers from around the world on her online teaching forums.