I collated these questions during my years at university – some from creative writing teachers, others from exercises or books. This list is not meant to cover every question you’ll need to consider when writing a book – it just covers some main ones.
Planning isn’t always for everyone; & even as a planner myself, sometimes it can feel daunting, the amount of work that goes into novel planning. Sometimes you can’t work out where to begin. These questions cover a range of things, although they don’t cover everything they will give you a place to start. When I first heard them, they gave me new things to think about that I had never thought of before. I hope you guys find these useful.
Main Characters…
- What are two problems in the main character’s life?
- How do these problems affect others?
- What is the main antagonist?
- What is the main antagonist’s goal, values and motivations?
- How will the antagonist attack the main character’s weaknesses?
- How will the antagonist stand between the main character and what they want?
- What is the main character doing to obtain their goal?
- What does the main character actually need?
- What lie does the main character believe, that is keeping them from what they need? Prompting them to believe they must get what they want?
- What truth must they discover?
- What weakness or flaw is central to main character’s life as a result of the lie?
- How are others being hurt or affected by the flaw?
- How will they have changed by the middle of the story?
- What scenes will demonstrate how they’ve evolved? Also how they’re still flawed?
- What is main characters big revelation in the climax (work out what they need?)
- How does main character behave with authority figures?
- How will they behave with love interests?
- How would they behave at work?
- How would they behave if being attacked?
- How would they relax?
- What would be the worst 10 things that could happen to the main character?
- What are 5 unexpected situations the main character will be in whilst trying to obtain their goal?
- What key events get your character engaged with the inciting incident?
- What has shaped the main character to think and react the way they do?
Minor Characters…
- What archetypal roles need to be brought in as minors?
- How will the minor characters affect/oppose the main character?
- How will minor characters oppose each other?
- How do minor characters view the main character?
- Who do the characters live with?
- Who do they fight with?
- Who would they like to spend more time with?
- Who do they actually spend time with?
- Who do they most admire?
- What are their religious views?
- What is their overall outlook on life?
- Do they like themselves?
- What would they change?
- Are they lying to themselves?
- Where is their morality?
- What is their confidence level?
- What five words would they describe themselves with?
- What five words would others use?
- What are three traits the character would like to be known for?
- What is their self awareness like?
- What is their greatest joy?
- What is their greatest pain?
The Plot…
- How do we frustrate the reader by making these goals harder to obtain?
- How does this influence the story to follow?
- How does this event create conflict between characters?
- How does the inciting event grab the readers attention?
- What events in the characters past, lead up to the key event?
- What unresolved issues can further complicate the events after the incident?
- Which characters will be narrators?
- What is your hook?
- What will immediately grab your reader?
Target Audience…
- What audience are you writing for? (Age, gender, ethnicity, beliefs)
- What feel and tone do you want to present in the prose?
- Will it be fast paced or leisurely?
- Will you write in past tense or present?
- What is your perfect novel?
- What elements grab you most from your favourite novel? (action, romance, humour, plot twists, sad endings etc?)
- Which POV will you write in?
S. M. MITCHELL 