nano_writers | Story Plan Checklist Review (Reply)

To be prepared is half the victory.

- Miguel De Cervantes

Ideally, every Nano Writer, both panster and outliner, has by now...

A working title for their novel...
Your title will hopefully be something a little more descriptive than "NaNoWriMo 2009" but even this works as a reminder of your resolution to tell some kind of story.
A protagonist...
Who's going to tell your story? What is it that this character really wants? Because chances are if it's not something pretty important (to the character and ultimately, your reader), you're probably not going to feel the excitement you're going to need to write 50,000 words about it over the next 30 days.
The "Bad Guy" or someone or something that fights back, makes trouble...
Let's face it, conflict is what drives a story and makes it fun to write and fun to read! Who or what is stopping your protagonist from getting whatever it is that he really wants?

And that's all we really need to know to tell a story. Pansters should bail out here and we'll meet you at the finish line on November 30th.

For everyone else...

...and in case you've just come on board (waves hand to all of the new Nano Writers - WOW - we're 200 strong and growing!)...

To review, here's Karen Wiesner's story plan checklist based on her books: First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft To Finished Novel. The checklist itself is useful for organizing and refining ideas for your NaNoWriMo novel. Fill in as much as you know. Give some thought to what you don't.

Working Title:

Genre(s):

POV:
Who's telling your story?

High-Concept Blurb:
Using only 30 words or a couple of sentences (this is about focus), what's the gist of your story?

Story Sparks:
What scenes stand out in your imagination, begging to be written?

Cast of Characters:
You should have at least a protagonist(s) and an antagonist (a someone or something that stands between your protagonist and something/someone he needs or desires). Sometimes there's a sidekick and/or a love interest too.

Thumbnail Character Biographies including:

Outside POV (how do other characters see your main characters?)
Self POV (what are your character's secrets?)
Enhancement (what makes your character "larger than life"?)
Contrast Characteristics (what makes your character "human"?)

Story Symbols:
Tangible (or not) item(s) that represent some aspect of your character, setting or plot

Physical Setting(s):
Time and place for your story. Maps (even little doodle kinds) can help keep you from getting lost in your own creation.

Social Setting(s):
Political, economic, cultural and technology elements for your story world that your characters absolutely need - detailed/worked out two questions deep.

Conflict including your character's...

goals - urgent wants, needs, or desires
internal conflicts - fears that stand in the way of your character achieving his or her goals
plot conflicts - external elements (what your antagonist brings to the story) that stand in the way of your character achieving his or her goals

An Outliner might use this information and apply it to his or her method of choice:

The Snowflake Method

Blake Synder's (Save the Cat) Beat Sheet (link opens Word doc file)

How to Plot a Novel Visually: The Index Card System

Kelley Armstrong's Outlining Workshop written for NaNoWriMo authors

Holly Lisle's Notecarding: Plotting Under Pressure

If your favorite method isn't listed here (including your own home-brew), please tell us about it and/or share the link!

Any or all of this will give you a running head start on November 1st! And the starting line's in sight, Nano Writers! Gather your notes and notebooks! And as always, keep writing!