Darrell’s Writing Plan for 2025

Published

January 19, 2025

I’ve written three versions of my first novel, and ran into the same issues in the next two I tried, all three projects landing in the archive. I can write a compelling moment, but not a scene. I started studying the great writing teachers (Randy Ingermanson, KM Wieland, Brandon Sanderson, Ted Dekker, Bill Myers, and now I will add Hilary Layne to that list).

Brandon gave me permission to use what works and ignore what doesn’t, for me. Each of them gave me tools I love.

Using all the tools I’ve gathered (see my YouTube Storytelling Playlist and my Writing StoryCraft Database and this new content creator I found Subplots Can’t Hurt You (Rules, Principles, and Structure) - YouTube AND Professor Trailer | Rice University Precollege Online Program).

Hilary Layne at The Second Story - YouTube provides a better way to conceive of progress and a better way to conceive of a “first draft” as more of a sketch than actually “writing” the prose and dialogue and stuff.

So here is my writing plan for this year (in between other projects and life requirements).

Write plot mini-arcs like Layne teaches, and do so in VERY rough draft none artistic description ways. This is like when a pencil artist begins with broad shapes that don’t look like much to a non-artist but are actually the frame upon which the art will evolve.
Using KM Weiland, I will be placing these arcs inside Scene/Sequel forms, with the sequel completing each arc.
Using I’m not sure which, or maybe all of them,
- Each scene must have a goal, even if that isn’t the main story goal, but a smaller goal (Get coffee, sit in that chair, don’t get involved in a discussion, and don’t look crazy). This goal will be the primary goal throughout this mini-arc.
- I will use the Yes/But or No/And to set beats in each scene for the goal, and ultimately end the Scene portion with a final Yes/But or No/And which will set up the Sequel, which will end the mini-arc.
- The following arc must have a THEREFORE attached, but I may discover I actually needed more arcs between and create new chain links.
Each session, I will review the previous sessions’ work, edit whatever I need while also priming my brain back into that story world, and then I will set out to complete one more mini-arc. More if there is time and capacity, but one is the goal.
I will have things like the W story structure and the plot points from KM Weiland in the back of my mind, allowing for a few Yes/AND or No/But resolves at the appropriate points of the story, but most will follow the increasing tension pathway. Ultimately, these will probably be inserted after this first draft is done.
After a full first draft is done, including minor edits and plot reviews for adding missing mini-arcs, then I will go back and review the plot points, foreshadowing, and other items from story telling that flush out the story elements.
Only when this framework version is in a state that feels solid and complete, will I then go back to actually “Write” the scenes in proper prose, dialogue, and scene descriptions.

This is my template:

Scene (Goal Conflict Disaster)

Goal: He/She wants… Beat 1 - Yes/But or No/And… Beat 2 - Yes/But or No/And… Beat 3 - Yes/But or No/And… Sequel (Reaction Dilemma Decision)

What is the dilemma and how does it force a decision?

Examples here: Yes/And, Yes/But, No/And, and No/But: Narrative Tools for Dynamic Storytelling ~ Darrell Wolfe, Storyteller