Book Review: How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method
by Randy Ingermanson
Video Version
Before we get started, here’s a video version of this book review for those who prefer that sort of thing.
Book Review: How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
About Me
Hello, storytellers. My name is Clinton and I have spent the past three decades studying the art of writing. I graduated college with a perfect GPA and a degree in Creative Writing. But I think there are better and less expensive ways to learn to write well, so in this Book Review series, I want to share the books that helped me succeed, and hope they’ll do the same for you.
Today, I want to share my review of How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Werbeningermanjenson. That’s not his last name, but it is fun to say. Try it!
Overview
Randy’s is different from other writing books. Where most books tell you how to write, his shows you how to craft a story using a triple murder mystery—starring Goldilocks, The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Big Bad Wolf—and uses this tale to teach you how to use his Snowflake Method to draft your novel.
The Snowflake Method is a ten-step approach to outlining. You start by writing an intriguing one-sentence summary for your story. Steps two through ten switch back and forth between story and character development. Each step adds more detail and helps you identify and fix problems with your tale. When you reach step ten, you have your story and characters fully fleshed out and can start writing an engaging novel.
Never fear pantsers and eschewers of outlines! The Snowflake Method has a lot to offer you, too.
Papa Bear
The book starts with Goldilocks attending a writing conference to help her learn how to tell her story. Papa Bear teaches the first seminar she attends. He begins by telling his students to write an outline using five to ten synopses that are fifty to one hundred pages each so they can dig into the details of their stories. Papa Bear holds up Robert Ludlum as a successful author who used this method to outline his books.
Goldilocks tries writing her synopsis but finds her novel boring after three pages. After writing eleven pages, she loathes her story. Papa Bear's synopsis method isn't working, so Goldilocks leaves to look for another option.
Mama Bear
Mama Bear teaches the next seminar and tells her students to let their stories well up from the seat of their pants, the way Stephen King does. Goldilocks tries this method but can't get past the first word of her story. Frustrated again, she leaves and looks for yet another option.
Baby Bear
Next, Goldilocks discovers Baby Bear's class. He suggests she try The Snowflake Method and tells her that tens of thousands of writers worldwide have used it to write their novels.
Goldilocks struggles with the class initially but soon discovers the method works for her. As she writes her World War II action romance using The Snowflake Method, she learns of an old murder mystery, meets the convicted killer, and becomes entangled in a new mystery.
Book’s Goal
Using his story within a lecture within a story within a tutorial, Randy teaches readers how to outline a novel while also sharing many vital aspects of storytelling that many writers miss in their work.
Things I Liked
Some of the things I liked about Ingermanson's book are:
He acknowledges that people are different and The Snowflake Method isn't for everyone and encourages people to try several writing techniques, including his, and to use the one that best suits them.
He addresses the issue of embarrassment, which many books don't, and explains how being vulnerable can make a good story excellent. You want to be reasonable with your personal experiences. Nobody wants to read about your toe fungus. But dropping your guard in your writing can add strength and emotion to your stories.
He uses the mantra "Goal, Conflict, and Setback" to teach writers how to plot an exciting scene, which is similar to other three-word mantras like "Promise, Progress, and Payoff" or "Conflict, Choice, and Consequence" and works just as well.
He stresses the importance of giving your characters conflicting values, which will make your character interactions more exciting.
Finally, I liked how this book mentions the importance of showing readers what is going on and letting them reach their own conclusions instead of telling them what they should think about your story. Even published authors sometimes get this wrong.
Things That Could Have Been Better
While Randy did a great job explaining The Snowflake Method, his story format drew attention away from some of the essential aspects of writing he mentioned.
I would have preferred a more straightforward, less-pigs approach for explaining The Snowflake Method, but my opinion is subjective. Randy's story-based style may be the perfect approach for many readers.
Rating
I liked Randy Ingermanson's book, How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method. It doesn't have everything you need to be a great writer, but it at least touches on most topics. For example:
The book doesn't discuss Grammar and Style, which is a shame because Randy is a good writer and probably has much to offer in this area.
It lightly touches on Advertising and Marketing, Editing, and Publishing.
It includes a lot of good information on Story Structure.
The book's main topic is learning The Snowflake Method for Outlining a story.
Overall, this book is Worth Reading. Learning the principles Randy teaches in this book will make you a better writer.
This book will best serve pantsers struggling with plot holes, flat or chameleonic characters whose attributes change throughout the story, or endings that don't land.
I used to write by the seat of my pants but learned that, for me, pantsing is writing the worst and most ineffective outline possible. On the other hand, The Snowflake Method lets you pants in a more effective way by revealing your story's shortcomings after you've written a handful of pages instead of an entire book.
The Snowflake Method may also be helpful for those who have tried other forms of outlining but need more prose in their outlines to "see" their stories.
You can purchase electronic or paperback versions of How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method from Barnes & Noble, Apple, and other bookstores. Randy also has a blog where you can get more tips on writing. I have included these links as a separate comment beneath this video.
I hope you found this review helpful, and I look forward to seeing you next time.