Table of Contents
Part 1 Getting the Story Down
Calendar 3
Make a year-long plan with the Bird's-Eye View, then record daily word counts, set goals, or keep due dates in sight with twelve months of customizable, easy-to-fill-in calendars that guide you through planning and finishing your manuscript.
Practice Makes Progress 31
Track your own progress with coloring sheets that come to life as you hit milestones in your drafting or revision process.
Plotters & Pantsers 37
Create a comprehensive outline for your story as detailed or as general as you like, complete with storyboard-style chapter blocks for the note-card lovers out there.
Character Profile Guides 73
Give your characters more than flesh and bone by taking them through a detailed development process that will create multidimensional personalities readers won't forget.
World-Building Guide 105
Dig deep with a guide to world building that will help you create a compelling backdrop for your story with a memorable setting and realistic details.
Mapmaking Guide 117
Build a detailed map for your story to use as a visual reference as you draft.
Sketching Pages 120
Sketch characters, draft maps or blueprints, build visual family trees, or even develop your own detailed checklists in this structure-free space.
Brainstorming Pages 124
Let go of rules and structure in this designated "anything goes" space for freewriting, slices of dialogue, research notes, and whatever else you might need to work out by hand.
Part 2 Getting the Story Out There
Revision Checklist 141
Create a versatile running checklist as you draft, including critique partner and beta reader feedback, to keep your revisions organized.
Polishing Checklist 149
Polish the final draft of your story before you send it to literary agents.
It's All in the Name 152
Play with words, themes, moods, and story elements to develop your project's dream title.
The Pitch 159
Your story in a nutshell. Streamline the most compelling aspects of your book into a quick pitch that can be used to describe it to industry professionals.
The Synopsis 167
Follow an intuitive approach to creating an effective synopsis for your story.
The Query 179
Ready to query? Craft a query letter that will hook literary agents.
Literary Agents 189
Keep a detailed roster of literary agents that you can update and track throughout the querying process.
Farewell 207
Rewards 209
Need a little motivation? Dream up something special-a gift card, a pair of tickets, money for dinner at that fancy place you've been wanting to try-to be enjoyed when you hit your goals.