As writers, one of our biggest headaches is discovering major plot holes after we’ve finished an entire draft. You think your story flows seamlessly only to have beta readers point out illogical gaps in the narrative that require painful rewrites. But what if I told you there’s a strange strategy that can help you catch and fix plot holes from the very beginning?
I’m talking about the Snowflake Method – a unique system pioneered by fiction author Randy Ingermanson. It’s an unusual, multi-step process for methodically building your plot and characters from the ground up in a logical way. If done right, it’s almost impossible to end up with gaping plot holes. Here’s how it works:
Step 1 – Write a one sentence summary of your novel. Just crystallize the heart of your story in once concise sentence.
Step 2 – Expand that into a one paragraph summary, adding more detail. Flesh out the basic beginning, middle, and end of the arc.
Step 3 – Write a one page summary. This is where you really elaborate the backbone of your plot and characters. Make sure cause and effect make sense.
Step 4 – Develop a multi-page synopsis fleshing out every plot point and character in detail. Think of this as an in-depth outline.
Step 5 – Build a spreadsheet listing every scene you’ll write with basic details. Arrange everything in chronological order.
Step 6 – Write your actual manuscript using the scene spreadsheet as a guide. Follow your outline and hit every plot point.
It’s a long-winded approach, but meticulously building your story from one-sentence premise to detailed outline ensures logical consistency. You have time to catch and fix any plot holes or inconsistencies before you start drafting.
The key is thinking through the cause-and-effect relationship of every plot point. If you map out how each scene leads logically to the next, you won’t end up with narrative gaps. Take time to question each scene:
- Why does this event happen in the story?
- How does this lead to the next scene?
- Does the chain of events make sense?
Pay special attention to parts of your story with action happening off-screen or significant time jumps. Plot holes tend to crop up when you gloss over transitions. Think through the logic bridging every transition.
This system forces you to nail down the mechanics of your plot before diving into prose. It’s painstaking, but well worth it to have narrative cohesion locked down before drafting. You’ll still need to polish scenes and fine-tune details in revision. But if you do the Snowflake Method right, you can rest easy knowing the backbone of your story is logically airtight.
It’s an unusual strategy that requires patience and discipline. But trusting the process results in a polished manuscript free of vexing plot holes. No more wasting hundreds of hours rewriting after beta readers find foundational flaws. A tedious ounce of Snowflake Method prevention is truly worth a pound of frustrating revision cure. Try this bizarre but effective system to never again pull your hair out over illogical plot gaps long after finishing your first draft. It’s time to stop merely fixing plot holes and prevent them for good!
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