Author R.A. Gasparac

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How to Write a Book (Part 1) – Pre Brainstorming

You’ve got a Book idea… NOW WHAT??!?

Hello and welcome to this video installment of pre-brainstorming to help get your novel out of your head and on the pages. After years of trying every method known to man, I have distilled everything about this phase into a short, digestible video.

I’m Author R A Gasparac, and I have twenty plus years writing, and want to help you get where I am. In the final edits ( as of writing this description) of my Debut Novel, Bloody Flesh and Deadly Shadows (Book 1) of the Queendom of Deadly Shadows (5 book) Series.

In this video, I’m going over some things that I have learned will help make your life easier in the long run. Theres always a rush to get to writing, but many find that they stall out before momentum can hit. Here’s why – you don’t know where you are going yet.

Important Takeaways from this video are:

Types of conflict:
(There are more sub genres, but we are sticking to the main ones for now.)

1-MAN VS NATURE
2-MAN VS SELF
3-MAN VS SOCIETY
4- MAN VS MAN

Non extensive list of possible Tropes to consider before Brainstorming:

1- THE CHOSEN ONE
CAUTION- Highly overdone. Only one person has a set of skills to save people/the world.
2- THE QUEST
Think of the basics of any role playing game. Where characters find themselves as a group in search of an object or person/ free the princess.
3- THE LOVE TRIANGLE
One person, and two lovers. They have a hard time choosing between one ( if they do), and takes their time deciding.
3- RELUCTANT RULER/ HERO
One person who doesn’t want to be in charge, and should be. Spends all narrative trying to convince themselves they shouldn’t, and at the end they suddenly realize they wanted to all along.
4- ENEMIES TO LOVERS
HIGHLY popular trope that has a healthy fanbase. Two enemies slowly find themselves falling for the last person they expected or wanted to. Usually ends in a ‘Happily Ever After’ ending.
5- SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
Can be Enemies to lovers, to-enemies, to-lovers… again. It can also be a later in life second chance, like an old boyfriend/girlfriend pops up after visiting hometown after a negative life event.
6- FORCED PROXIMITY
Usually starts as an Enemies to Lovers. Usually ends with the two stuck in an Inn with only one bed. Forces them to both come to terms with their true feelings.
7- FAKE RELATIONSHIP
Whatever the reason, two people are pretending to be in a loving relationship to both gain something. A bet? Inheritance? Crowned rulers of a far-away realm? Frequently used in billionaire romance.
8- EVERYMAN TURNED HERO
A normal John Q. Public AKA ‘Everyman’ finds themselves in a life or death situation and rises above their fears to save others.

THE STORY SPINE
A one or two sentence summation of the phases of your story.

1-THE STATUS QUO:
What the world was like before an event changes the status quo.
2-THE COMPLICATION:
Event that changes the status quo.
3- CROSSING THE THRESHOLD:
Why can’t your character go back to how life was before?
4- THE NEW WORLD:
How does your Main Character come to terms with the new status of world?
5- EXTERNAL OBSTACLES:
What other small problems can you throw in your Main Characters way to keep them from focusing on their main goal?
6-TEMPTATION:
Tempt your Main Character to give up. Give them a good reason that is almost good enough to make them quit.
7- DARK MOMENT:
What is the worst thing that could happen to your Main Character right before they succeed?
8- FINAL CONFLICT:
What was your villains hidden fatal flaw you can hint at from the beginning that comes into play now?

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Thanks for watching!