Lists you need while writing

• Are you blocked?
• Are you anxious?
• Do you want to write faster?
• More confidently?
• Do you want to improvise more but don’t know how to?
  
• Here’s how to.

The Story’s summary

• The Story’s summary will allow you to keep maximum flexibility while ensuring a clean structure & consistency.

• You’ll need 10 chapters.
• Chapters 1 to 3, allow you to present the world, the characters & the Issue through a 1st crisis.
• Chapters 4 to 6, elevate the story to a
• Chapters 7 to 9, bring the story to a 3rd crisis, resolving the Issue.
• Chapter 10, the epilogue, closes the story & ensure a transition to new stage.

• The character’s Goal & the main Issue of the story is summarized in 1 sentence/paragraph.
• The thing the characters should protect/save is indicated here.
  • Person
  • Environment/Setting/Building
  • Idea/Valor/Symbol

Characters list & Relationship map

• Your story will comprise 3 to 24 characters:
  • 3 for up to 100 pages
  • 4 for up to 200 pages
  • 6 for up to 500 pages
  • 12 for 500-1000 pages
  • 24 for 1000+ pages

• All your Main & 2ndary characters need:
  • 2 strengths
  • 2 weaknesses
  • 1 Goal
  • Quirks
• Your Tertiary characters need:
  • 1 strength
  • 1 weakness
  • 1 Goal
  • Quirks

• You’ll need 4 type of Relationships.
• Friends, the characters are linked by choice.
  • Long term link
  • Space unlimited, wherever they meet they’ll be friends
• Allies, the characters are linked by necessity.
  • Short term link
  • Space specific
• Adversaries, the characters oppose each other on a specific event/series of events.
  • Short term link
  • Space specific
• Foes, the characters oppose each other on a core value.
  • Long term link
  • Space unlimited, wherever they meet they’ll be foes

For short stories (50 to 100 pages), Friends & Foes are sufficient.

Settings/Environment list

• What is the Atmosphere?
  • Climate
  • Space-Time
  • Wildlife

• What is its Usefulness in Story?
  • Will it bear a Crisis?
  • Will be a place of Comfort?
  • Any setting can act as both

• What’s its Function in the World?
  • Does is act as Defense?
  • Are their special Resources in it?
  • Does it serve as a Trade post/hub?

• Who are the Inhabitants/Personnel?
  • Nobility/Royalty/Administration/Présidence/Chair
  • Managers/HR/Chamberlain/Steward
  • Educators/Advisors/Mages/Clergy/Judges
  • Security/Military/Knighthood/Heraldry/Sheriff
  • Craftsmen/Cooks/Entertainers/Minstrels/Actors
  • Servants/Maids/Assistants/Grooms

Settings/Environment Maps

• Drawing a top down map of the setting will allow you to review changes & modifications.

• You can keep track of where your characters are.
  • What they are doing
  • Where they are going
  • Where should you put traps/fights/enigmas/puzzles
  • Where to place Friendly Encounters

• Keep track of the Building/structure modifications
  • Destructions Partial & Total
  • Growth & new elements
  • Structure changes that would not affect the structure’s size & position

• You’ll need different scales of maps.
  • Room
  • Building
  • Settlement
  • Region
  • Continent

Alternatives List

If you ever change your mind at any point, here’s an easy way to do it.

• What are the main events of your story?
• What are your 3 crisis (Ch. 3,6,9)?
• What if you character…
  • Kill/doesn’t kill this antagonist?
  • Steal/leave in place this key item?
  • Keep/donate this key item?
  • Gets captured/escapes from this location?
  • Witnesses this crime/misses this crime?

• List all possible Consequences
  • On the character/Protagonist
  • On the Antagonists
  • On the Supports of both sides
  • On the different settings, if any
  • On the next chapter
  • On the Ending

• Alternative are especially useful if:
  • You need additional/different elements
  • It normalizes an over/underestimated situation
  • Allows you to improvise

The Public’s Reactions List

What will they feel?

• Excitement
• Joy
• Anger
• Sadness
• Fear
• Disgust
• Boredom

• What are the effects of the scene/chapters on you?
  • Are you slowing down?
  • Are you rushed?
  • Are you feeling any of the aforementioned emotions?
• Your emotions will not be a direct mirror of what the public will feel.
• But they will give you the right orientation.

• Ask for feedback from your Co-writers & team members.
  • Are they engaged?
  • Are they disengaged?
  • Are they disengaged because they don’t like horror?
  • Or are they disengaged because they don’t like your input on the horror genre?