Novel Kicks Writing Room: Assembling Your Story

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve focused on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These have potentially helped you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 7: Assembling Your Story. 

Today, the focus will be putting all the work you’ve done together and reading it through.

Copy all five sections of your work from the previous weeks, excluding the story conception task, into one document and read the entire story aloud (or in your head, without stopping). I’d suggest doing this at least a couple of times actually – one to make notes, one to check the flow of the story.

As you read, make notes on the following

• Where does the pacing drag?
• Where do you lose interest?
• Where are logical jumps or confusion?
• Where does it feel natural?
• Which moments surprised you?

As with the other exercises, take your time with this. This task needs to take as long as it takes. Above all, have fun.

Click to view the story conception task from week 1. 

Click to view the inciting incident task from week 2. 

Click to view the rising action task from week 3.

Click to view the midpoint task from week 4. 

Click to view the climax task from week 5. 

Click to view the resolution task from week 6. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.