Writing Any advice on how to properly structure an arc/volume of a novel?

[LumiSEstirpe]

Basically, I'm a little lost about how I must structure the events of a story. I already have more or less a written draft, but I'm not sure how to get from point A to point B.

 

[EternalSunset0]

What I do is make a checklist of things that would make point B possible. Like what character developments should have taken place or how the world should change to get to point B. Then I start working piece by piece from there.

As for the actual writing, well, that's tough. Putting the plans down into actual sentences can indeed be draining and tiring. Causes a lot of procrastination too.

 

[IDKWtWrite-San]

I think you should just make an average on how many chapter would you like in every arc or volume you will do each.

After that, plan what scenario or focus of the theme of your each arc or volume now that you have decided on how many chapter you'll be going for

The problem for this is only imagination and your inspiration to write the story.

 

[JayDirex]

Follow the three act structure. it can be used on an arc as well as a full novel

 

[TheDylanDrakes]

The best advice I've ever heard is: 'No-one cares about your plot; they care about your characters.' Structure the journey in terms of a character's growth and change, their goals and flaws, and it all makes a lot more sense.

For a free resource, KM Weiland's blog on creating character arcs is a fantastic first resource (Here).
For a paid resource, my writing bible is Save the Cat Writes a Novel (Here).

 

[Temple]

I'm going to share the way I do things. But note that I'm a panster, so this way is really different from the normal advice you'll get. I'm not even sure if this will help you.
Basically, I write things that need to happen to a character. Like Character A: 1) Clean house, 2) Make sandwich, 3) betray char B, 4) Find magic tree, etc. Character B: 1) Eat poison, 2) Get lost in magic forest, 3) find slippers, etc. I'm a panster, so it's not going to be long lists, and I add as I go along. What I do as I write is just check these lists and see if I can find something that needs to happen NOW in the story, take that, add a few things, then boom, I got a chapter. I don't structure stuff like plotters. Really not sure if this will work for you.

 

[Mr.Grey-Cat]

I'm going to share the way I do things. But note that I'm a panster, so this way is really different from the normal advice you'll get. I'm not even sure if this will help you.
Basically, I write things that need to happen to a character. Like Character A: 1) Clean house, 2) Make sandwich, 3) betray char B, 4) Find magic tree, etc. Character B: 1) Eat poison, 2) Get lost in magic forest, 3) find slippers, etc. I'm a panster, so it's not going to be long lists, and I add as I go along. What I do as I write is just check these lists and see if I can find something that needs to happen NOW in the story, take that, add a few things, then boom, I got a chapter. I don't structure stuff like plotters. Really not sure if this will work for you.

That's called a Gardener, something between a Plotter and a Pantser. It's for people, who have some plot points, and so are not Pantsers, but Lack the detailed outline and so are not Plotters, instead, they are something between the two.

 

[BearlyAlive]

MY go-to is starting with a simple timeline with only start and finish. Then you just smash all the things you want between those two points and sort them into something that might look like a proper timeline but from finish to start. That's important. Writing backwards might be weird for most people but it prevents plot holes and "movement arcs"

 

[OsiriumWrites]

I tend you first conjure up a rough sketch in word/on paper. Just random scenes or plot development that I might wish to see fleshed out further. These are usually only a few words or a single paragraph.

Then I make a timeline for said events in excel, slowly mapping out the basic skeletal structure and divide them into chapters that make sense.

Then I write from chapter one, slowly following the rough draft, but allowing room for flexibility and rewrites. I want to keep things as organically as possible, but at the same time have a red thread to hold on to.

 

[JayDirex]

The best advice I've ever heard is: 'No-one cares about your plot; they care about your characters.' Structure the journey in terms of a character's growth and change, their goals and flaws, and it all makes a lot more sense.

For a free resource, KM Weiland's blog on creating character arcs is a fantastic first resource (Here).
For a paid resource, my writing bible is Save the Cat Writes a Novel (Here).

I agree with you Dylan. That's why my last-latest is a purely interpersonal story. MIND you, people do care about plot if it is interesting. But yes, 100%, readers are more vested in interesting characters that have arcs. I would even add "interpersonal relationships" are also important. (And that does not necessarily mean romance, I also mean friends and family.

Now, with that said, there are characters who NEVER CHANGE, but that's more because the plot usually has them changing others around them.