I read an informative article in the February issue of The Writer. Over the past year I’ve read several articles and books on the best approach to beginning and completing a manuscript.

AA has the Twelve Step Program - well, there are a multitude of step programs, arcs, pyramids, movements ... you name it and someone has applied it to writing a novel. While all these guides to writing a novel are chock full of processes, hints and clues I’ve been confused on what approach I should employ in my own work.

The best advice is to try out different approaches and use what works best. Wheat’s, Four-Arc System and fellow Minnesotan, Jess Lourey’s Pyramid Approach resonate most for me.

I have a very rough draft completed and as part of my revision process I’m going to utilize Wheat’s Four Arcs to outline the manuscript. I’m not an outliner - more a blank pager, so I don’t have an outline of my manuscript. My manuscript began as a challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days (NaNoWriMo) and morphed into a full fledged rough draft. I flailed along, no plan, no chart no guidelines.

I’ve recognized, though, in order to make progress and craft the best possible manuscript, I must employ tools that will enable me to quickly recognize weak spots that require beefing up and overburdened places that need to be trimmed and tightened up.

My creativity coach recommended I utilize Wheat’s Four-Arc System and go through my manuscript. Doing so will place the main points of my story at my fingertips. I’ll have a clearer picture of areas requiring attention. So, I’ve got my work cut out for me.

When I begin my next project, I’m going to try out Lourey’s Pyramid approach. This graphic depicts the “on point” version of Lourey’s pyramid. Either way ... upside down or downside up ... the approach makes sense to me. The seven steps resonate. The approach, simplistic yet effective. I can’t wait to try it out!

I shouldn’t put the cart before the horse, though. First things first. I need to get through my first project - first. Right? So, where am I in that process?

I completed and submitted a proposal for the MN Emerging Writers’ Grant. The grant awards are to be announced in May 2011.
Next up? GCLS put a call out for novice writers. The call is for
submission of three to five chapters to present to writers who volunteered to mentor during the GCLS Conference in June. I’m putting together a writing sample for submission.

Along with prepping a submission for GCLS, I’ll also be plugging my rough draft into Wheat’s Four-Arcs and preparing for the next revision. Isn’t that what writers are always doing? Preparing for the next revision? Books wouldn’t happen any other way!

Write on!