Writing a Sample Novel Part 2: Writing the First Draft - Novelcrafter Live

Introduction

Welcome back to part two of our live writing session! Today, we will dive into creating the first draft for our sample novel centered around Sherlock Holmes. I hope you all are doing well and that you can hear me fine.

As a quick recap for anyone who missed the first part of the stream, we previously brainstormed some ideas, developed character profiles, and ensured our work was canonically accurate. We created codex entries and generated a brainstorming 2.0 session to refine our plans. After that initial groundwork, we voted on our preferred ideas and attempted to outline the story.

I had initially drafted a very condensed plot that almost rushed through the narrative, failing to capture the essence of a Sherlock Holmes story. Therefore, I decided to revisit it with a clearer genre focus in mind: a Victorian-era murder mystery. We identified keywords such as "who done it," "classical detective fiction," and "armchair detective" to effectively frame our story.

Throughout our planning and execution, I emphasized the importance of canon while developing our characters and scenes. For technical execution, we utilized various models such as GB40 and Sonic 3.5, engaging in iterative prompting to enhance our narrative.

During the recap, I proposed analyzing our draft with AI-generated feedback to identify areas needing improvement. I generated a scene, focusing on writing style and pacing, and began the first chapter by capturing Holmes' unique voice while recounting an adventure.

After working on character dialogue and plot resequencing, we started creating snippets focused on beats and scene structures. I explored even more AI generations to assist us in perfecting our narrative flow and capturing essential details.

Finally, by the end of our session, my goal was to complete draft one of Chapter One. This involves meticulous editing, kit-bashing my preferred pieces from various AI inputs, and ensuring the text aligns with the atmosphere and intricacies typical in Arthur Conan Doyle's works.

Keyword

• Sherlock Holmes
• Victorian-era
• Murder mystery
• Who done it
• Classical detective fiction
• Armchair detective
• Canonical accuracy
• Character profiles
• Iterative prompting
• Narrative flow

FAQ

1. What did you cover in part one of the live session?

   • In part one, we brainstormed ideas, developed character profiles, and created codex entries, ensuring our narrative was canonically accurate to the Sherlock Holmes universe.

2. What is the genre of the sample novel?

   • The novel is framed as a Victorian-era murder mystery, aligning with the classical detective fiction genre.

3. Which AI models were used during the session?

   • We primarily utilized GB40, Sonic 3.5, and conducted analysis using other models such as Gemini and Claude for iterative feedback.

4. How was the first draft of Chapter One structured?

   • The first draft was structured using beats and snippets that reflect Sherlock Holmes’ narrative style, interspersed with generated content to enhance the overall flow and engagement of the text.

5. What are the next steps in the writing process?

   • The next steps include further editing the first draft, expanding on scenes, and discussing potential character arcs and plot developments for subsequent chapters.