More Storytelling Projects – example of Book Writing Plan, Synopsis, Series Schema, Opening and Closing Lines, with links to Page Layouts

Me and My Strange Family (Provisional Title for first in Series)

Writing Plan (page 1)

This is the story of Tania, the main character, told through a set of nine tellings about her strange family, friends, neighbours and pets. Tania is referred to as ‘Me’ in the book title. In the first book, Tania is almost 9 years of age (she ages one year per book). There are nine books in the series. Each book is stand-alone for the general reader. Written in the past tense with dialogue. Target market 6+. Story themes are, growing up, friendship, belonging and courage.

Synopsis

Tania is a young author. She has written a book about the people and pets she knows, and is annoyed that the production of her character-rich book has been put to one side in favour of some secret new book. She is given a conditional wish which allows her to explore the pages of this new book so long as she does not interact with its story or its Characters.

Tania ignores the terms of the Wish. By doing so, she discovers the dreams of others, tips to culture her own life and an insight into the links that connect all Characters and tales.

Series Schema

The author introduces the characters, using doggerel rhyme, part-profiling them using a ‘tell-not-show’ , old fashioned ‘Victorian’ intrusive manner. This rhyme is typeset. The main character, Tania, speaks of the same characters, personally, in a ‘show-not-tell’ dialogue manner. Her words appear handwritten, and at times, intrude in a graphic manner on the typesetting e.g. score line across author names on front cover.

The general reader follows the story of Tania and her journey as she enters the new book, with the help of her new friends, during its design stage. The reader who becomes immersed in the book, picks up on several story threads in the images and text, thus enjoys many sub-plots. These sub-plots combine over the nine books. In the ninth book, there is a “twist in the tale” for the general reader that ties up the ‘new book’ storyline and that of Tania’s own book.

Closing line of last book

“You kept your promise. Now I realise, everyone can have their say.”

Opening line of first book

"They have stopped doing my story." Tania said. "I have been sitting on this shelf with you and Tapman for three long weeks waiting for my next page to start. I wonder what's so wonderful about that new story?"

(c) 1996, 2011 World of Water (Reg. Charity 327188)