Have you heard of a story Bible?
It is a map of your story, novel, or Series.
It reminds you of all the little details you might forget along the way.
Separate chapters in a notebook or create partitions in your binder or portfolio, depending on what medium you are planning to use to organise the bible.
It can be digital too. Actually, for most people it will be digital.
Each partition will cover these different subjects:
- Details about each character and how they evolve over time (psychological), including yearnings, goals, dreams, philosophy of life, friends or people they feel comfortable with, wounds, frenemies, enemies, what hurt them over and over again. Color code each character.
- Genealogy or personal history, family history and traditions
- Story twists: Preferences or/and things collected over time and their influence over the story.
- Worldbuilding: medicine, infrastructure, pop culture, ethnies, history bearing an influence, importance of immigration, money, professions, education, religions, politics, etc.
- Locations: sketch places, make sure some locations contrast with each other, include places where the characters can retire from time to time, childhood places, blueprint of town, country or buildings where people live and interact, etc.
- External customs and beliefs and how they evolve over a Series. How do they impeed or conflict with the characters.
- World's politics and cultural influences, including laws and penalties
- Characters' appearance and the changes they undergoe. Include make up, favorite objects. Use visuals to show things like change of hair color or accessories. This and also quirks, traits, preferences, allergies, etc.
- Daily and yearly timelines and how time is perceived (which can be differentfrom character to character)
- Symbols
- Music and litterature in the story, including poems and commercials.
- Other.
Happy Writing!
RESOURCES:
All My Notes: www.vladonai.com/
Scrivener: www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview
Evernote: evernote.com/
Hiveword (Novel Organization for Serious Plotters) hiveword.com/