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| Photo credit: Marco Arment on Flickr |
For example, if you were brainstorming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it might go something like this:
The What If? method is a fantastic way to generate ideas and explore possibilities for your book, however this post on revision by Veronica Roth reminded me that the scope of it’s usefulness doesn’t end in the brainstorming stage.
You see, the point of revision isn’t just to make the words on the page grammatically correct or sound a little nicer (that would be final edits or copyediting, not revision). The purpose of revision is to take the story that you have and make it better. Explore the plot, add more layers and levels of complexity, push the limits, delve into the characters and cut it down to the core of the novel.
It’s a lot to try to accomplish, for sure, and sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Where do you even begin?
A great place to start is by going back to the What If? method while re-reading your work. Maybe your first chapter is off—go through it and start questioning everything. Be open to making changes—even huge changes—and know that just because you write down a What If option doesn’t mean you have to use it.
Maybe your protagonist isn't sitting right with you. Start thinking about possible changes in What If? terms and write down possibilities.
The What If? method can open up new directions and potential revision ideas that you might not have considered otherwise. Next time you’re gearing up for revisions, keep this method in mind—it might just open up some new doors of plot possibilities for you.
Have you ever used the What If? method for brainstorming or revision?
- What if the protagonist was a wizard?
- What if he didn’t know he was a wizard?
- What if everyone but him knew he was a wizard?
- What if his family knew he was a wizard, but didn’t want him to know (or ever find out)?
- What if the wizarding community tried to contact him, but his family hid the correspondence?
- Etc.
The What If? method is a fantastic way to generate ideas and explore possibilities for your book, however this post on revision by Veronica Roth reminded me that the scope of it’s usefulness doesn’t end in the brainstorming stage.
You see, the point of revision isn’t just to make the words on the page grammatically correct or sound a little nicer (that would be final edits or copyediting, not revision). The purpose of revision is to take the story that you have and make it better. Explore the plot, add more layers and levels of complexity, push the limits, delve into the characters and cut it down to the core of the novel.
It’s a lot to try to accomplish, for sure, and sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Where do you even begin?
A great place to start is by going back to the What If? method while re-reading your work. Maybe your first chapter is off—go through it and start questioning everything. Be open to making changes—even huge changes—and know that just because you write down a What If option doesn’t mean you have to use it.
Maybe your protagonist isn't sitting right with you. Start thinking about possible changes in What If? terms and write down possibilities.
The What If? method can open up new directions and potential revision ideas that you might not have considered otherwise. Next time you’re gearing up for revisions, keep this method in mind—it might just open up some new doors of plot possibilities for you.
Have you ever used the What If? method for brainstorming or revision?
