Using the Snowflake Method to Draft a Novel

Novel writers have been mocked by their own self-doubt ever since the invention of the pen. Actually getting the book written can be years of torture and writer's block. Randy Ingermanson has written six novels and is known as "America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing". He has a theory that good, character driven fiction don't just flow from brain to hand and out the gilded pen. He says it is by design. His program is called The Snowflake Method, an adaptation of his previous career as a software engineer.

The Snowflake Method takes a scientific approach to novel writing. Ingermanson uses the metaphor of the snowflake fractal to define The Snowflake Method, that one ice crystal gives way to many forming an intricate and unique form, much like a story.

Starting simple is the key to Ingermanson's Snowflake Method. By following a step-by-step formula, a novel can be completed painlessly. The Snowflake Method is a ten step process, and the first eight steps prepare the writer for the act of writing the novel. It takes, at minimum, a month to traverse the steps.

The Snowflake Method: Step One
In Step One, Ingermanson recommends taking a full hour to construct a one sentence summary of the story. A log line, a hook, the line used when someone asks, " What's your novel about?" It's the skeleton on which the snowflake will grow.

The Snowflake Method: Step Two
In Step Two, it's time to expand that one sentence into a paragraph. In about an hour, draw up a five sentence paragraph outlining the introduction, conflicts and resolution of the novel.

The Snowflake Method: StepThree
Take another hour to create a biography for each major character in Step Three. Dedicate a full page to each character and summarize their motivations and conflicts. What makes them dynamic?

The Snowflake Method: Step Four
By now, the story and the characters are pretty clearly defined. In Step Four, go back to Step Two's summary paragraph and expand on each sentence. Turn each individual sentence into a paragraph. Each one, excluding the last paragraph, should have an element of surprise, disaster, conflict, or cliff hanger excitement. The last paragraph will be the conclusion of the story.

The Snowflake Method: Step Five
Step Five is where all the characters' storylines are revealed. Take a couple of days to write "character synopses", a play-by-play for the characters. Ingermanson recommends a full page for each main character and half a page for the supporting characters. Write each synopsis from the character's point of view.

The Snowflake Method: Step Six
Step Six allows the novelist to take a full week to expand the one page synopsis from Step Four and turn it into a four page synopsis. The snowflake is becoming more intricate and complex, and here the writer will start seeing which storylines work and which ones need to rethought.

The Snowflake Method: Step Seven
In Step Seven, take another full week to expand the character descriptions from Step Three. Since the novel is coming to life at this point, it's not unusual to have to revise some things in the previous steps. Identifying the weak points and revising them is a good sign that the snowflake is progressing.

The Snowflake Method: Step Eight
Step Eight is where creativity is put on a shelf so you can do some organizing. Randy Ingermanson suggests making a spreadsheet based on the four page summary from Step Six. The spreadsheet breaks down each scene with a corresponding line. The spreadsheet can be as detailed or as simple as you like, but it must contain the point of view character in one column and a scene description in another. Ingermanson says it can take a week to write a strong spreadsheet.

The Snowflake Method: Step Nine
Step Nine is optional. At this point, each line of the spreadsheet can be turned into a multi paragraph description of the scene. If at the end of the paragraphs no conflict is revealed, the scene should either be revised or deleted.

The Snowflake Method: Step Ten
Step Ten is the beginning of the end. Now that all the grunt work is done it's time to write a full first draft. The snowflake is complete and hopefully, so is the rough draft of the novel.

Randy Ingermanson's complete article "How to Write a Novel: The Snowflake Method", is available at http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php.