Helpful alternate use of Not a Developmental Editor
I was experimenting with the snowflake method for a short story reader magnet last month and today decided to start working on the story again. The tactics are interesting but not pertinent to this (but worth exploring.) I was at a point where I have five paragraphs outlining/summarizing the story.
I pasted the five paragraphs into NADE and in the optional box said this:
“you are a developmental editor helping a writer organize a short story of no more than 5000 words. Please suggest a process to begin writing the first draft:”
The result was helpful. Here is the outline of its response (I removed the story details for brevity sake)
Developmental Edit for Fiction Manuscript
Summary:
Suggestions:
- Plot Coherence and Structure:
- Character Arcs:
- Pacing and Engagement:
- Themes and World-Building:
- Dialogue and Naturalness:
- Length and Cuts:
- Overall Engagement:
Suggested Process to Begin Writing the First Draft:
To organize and draft this short story (aiming for 3000-5000 words), follow this structured process. It emphasizes outlining first to ensure conciseness, then iterative writing to refine big-picture elements before polishing.
1. Refine the Outline (1-2 days):
2. Character and Theme Mapping (1 day):
3. Write a Rough Skeleton Draft (2-3 days):
4. Review for Pacing and Cuts (1 day):
5. Incorporate Feedback Loops:
Revised Outline/Example:
Here's an optional restructured outline to guide your draft, condensed for brevity while preserving your intent:
- Setup (Words: ~800):
- Rising Action (Words: ~2500):
- Climax (Words: ~1000):
- Resolution (Words: ~500):
Additional Notes: