This workbook is a clarification tool.
Its purpose: to transform the fuzzy idea in your head into a solid foundation on which to build your novel.
A single sentence that summarizes your ENTIRE story.
It's the answer to "What's your book about?"
Don't start with it — start by emptying your head, then we'll extract it step by step.
Write down everything that comes to mind about your story: the mood, characters, scenes, bits of dialogue, images... Don't censor yourself.
Answer these 4 questions — even imperfectly.
Your main character. Not their name, but what defines them. What makes them interesting?
What upends their life. The event that shatters their routine. Why does the story start NOW?
What they want or must accomplish. Their main goal. What are they trying to get, save, discover?
What complicates everything. The "but" of your story. What makes the quest difficult.
WHO: "a baker's apprentice", "a disgraced heiress", "a traumatized soldier"
TRIGGER: "he receives a mysterious letter", "her village is attacked"
QUEST: "find his father", "survive the tournament", "prove her innocence"
TWIST: "he is what he's fighting against", "she falls for her enemy"
Combine your 4 answers into one or two sentences. Try several versions.
Reread your drafts. Which one best captures the essence of your story? Copy it here.
The skeleton of your story in 6 key elements.
It's your narrative GPS: before writing 300 pages, you know where you're going.
The world "before." Who is your character? Where do they live?
What is their daily life BEFORE the story begins?
The event that BREAKS the opening state.
The character can no longer stay in their old world.
A pivot that ADDS a new stake, a new quest.
Important: Turning points STACK UP. The hero accumulates problems until breaking point.
How it ends. You need to know:
The resolution must be EARNED by the character, not given by chance.
| # | Element | Short Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opening State | |
| 2 | Inciting Incident | |
| 3 | Turning Point 1 | |
| 4 | Turning Point 2 | |
| 5 | Turning Point 3 | |
| 6 | Resolution |
Assemble your 6 elements into a flowing paragraph.
This is the summary of your story.
A profile for each MAIN character.
Every protagonist is the author's voice, their reading of the world. What are you conveying through them?
Likable? Mysterious? Annoying at first then touching? Define the intended effect.
What mask do they wear? What do they show vs. what they hide? This will determine the adjectives and how others speak to them.
Paste a photo (Pinterest), a drawing, or describe the appearance.
Place your main character at the center. Around them, note the characters who orbit around them.
In each box write: Name — Role — Relationship to the protagonist
Phase 1 · Page 14The setting of your story: where it takes place, when, what are the rules of the world.
IMPORTANT: Focus only on what is DIFFERENT from our world.
If ALTERNATE WORLD:
Close your eyes. Imagine a typical scene. What do you hear? What do you see? What's the dominant light?
Tips for writer's block
Switch from keyboard to pen, or vice versa. Draw a diagram instead of writing.
Give yourself 10 minutes to write without censoring, even if it's bad.
"What if...?", "Why does my character do this?", "What would happen if...?"
Jump over the blocking passage and write a scene that excites you.
Reread a book you love in your genre. Inspiration often comes from others.
Go outside, move around. Ideas often come when you're not at the screen.
Even absurd ones. The best ideas often come after the 20th.
Explain your story out loud. The gaps become obvious.