Novel Kicks Writing Room: Your Project’s Roadmap

Published September 24, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome Back To The Novel Kicks Writing Room.

Today, it’s all about our WIP’s. I know I need to focus on mine. If you’re in-between projects, think about an idea you’ve had for a while and been meaning to develop.

First, write down everything you do know about your plot and story.

Write the title of your WIP in the middle of an A4 piece of paper. Then write about what you do know about your main plot, sub-plots, characters, setting, genre, what it needs to meet in terms of beats? Are any elements of it connected to another – for example, if you’re doing a suspense novel, does part of your reveal at the end rely on one of the side characters?

Once you’ve filled in as much as you can with in terms of what you know, try and fill in the gaps. Remember, the novel you write is a living, breathing thing and subject to change but I’ve found this exercise helpful in giving myself a clear overview of the shape of my story.

Here’s an example I made earlier (excuse the handwriting).

Have fun.

You May Also Like...

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.

Novel Kicks Writing Room: Your Project’s Roadmap

You May Also Like...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply