The Scribbler’s Snowflake

As winter approaches and we scribblers ponder the 3646 templates, methods, and surefire approaches to crafting our next opus, let’s consider one that’s seasonally appropriate.

The Snowflake Method, developed by novelist and screenwriter Randy Ingermanson, offers a structured yet creative approach to streamline your process, from crafting a compelling one-sentence summary to expanding your story into a multi-page synopsis.

The one-sentence summary (i.e., Elevator Pitch) is a concise yet powerful statement that encapsulates the essence of your screenplay. Imagine you're in an elevator with Jason Blum and have only a few seconds to pitch your idea. The one-sentence summary is the hook that communicates the core concept of your story.

Start with the central conflict and your main character's journey. Use vivid language to evoke curiosity: "A small-town sheriff teams up with a marine biologist and a crusty fisherman to hunt a great white shark terrorizing a beach community."

Once you've got your one-sentence summary, expand it into a paragraph. It should provide a bit more detail while maintaining brevity. Introduce the main characters, set the stage, and tease the central conflict.

You're still incubating, laying the groundwork, so stay flexible. "In a dystopian future where books are banned, a discontented fireman named Montag becomes a fugitive after discovering the beauty of literature and joins a group of rebels dedicated to preserving knowledge."

Compelling characters are the engine of a great script. So, before you delve deeper into the plot, spend time creating character sketches. Scribble hot takes on their psychology, motivation, and specific quirks to make them memorable.

What are the goals, fears, and inner conflicts of your protagonist? Explore how their past experiences shape their actions. Do likewise with your supporting characters. These sketches will be invaluable references as you navigate the twists and turns of your script.

In "The Shawshank Redemption," Andy Dufresne's character sketch would probably highlight his intelligence, determination, and secret escape plan.

With your one-paragraph summary and character sketches, you're ready to expand your story. Transform that one-paragraph summary into a one-page version. You'll be forced to flesh out the tentpole plot points, including the inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution. Don't sweat every detail; focus on the primary narrative arc.

For "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," this part of the process would explore the developing friendship between Elliott and E.T. as they work together to evade government agents and help the little candy addict get home.

It’s all about your characters. They are the heart and soul of your story. To make them feel authentic, you'll need to go deeper into their pasts. Backstories can provide essential context, explaining why they behave as they do. Imagine them as fully developed individuals with lives that existed before the events of your screenplay. What was their story before the story?

In "Good Will Hunting," the working-class genius, Will, had a troubled upbringing that informed his actions and emotional barriers. Enjoy your time with these; they can not only add depth and nuance to your characters, making them relatable and engaging for your audience, but they will also get you unstuck during scribbling.

Now, it’s time to stretch your story further by crafting a four-page synopsis. While still an abbreviated version of your screenplay, this synopsis needs more detail and complexity. Get into the major plot points, character arcs, and subplots.

This will be a roadmap for your script, highlighting critical plot turns and character-defining moments. In "Forrest Gump," this stage synopsis would include Forrest's cross-country run and his life-changing interactions with Jenny, Lieutenant Dan, and Bubba.

You’ve laid a solid foundation; you should have enough to break your story into scenes. A scene list will serve as the skeleton of your script, helping you visualize how your narrative flows. Each scene should advance the plot, reveal character traits, or contribute to your theme.

It’s wise to consider your scene transitions and pacing to maintain audience engagement. The scene list of "Pulp Fiction" would encompass memorable moments like the "Royale with Cheese" conversation and the adrenaline shot. Break out those index cards and stay non-linear as you scribble, then Tetris them into position.

At this point, you should know a lot about your story and characters. Crank out some detailed profiles for your ensemble cast. Going deeper into (or revising) their motivations, beliefs, and values, make sure you consider how their individual arcs can intersect and influence each other.

In "The Lord of the Rings," you'd explore Frodo's growing burden as the Ring-bearer, Aragorn's path to kingship, and Gollum's internal struggle. These profiles ensure consistency and will be an invaluable reference during your late-night scribbling sessions.

Now that you’ve got a sense of your players, you can go back to your scene cards, describe the setting, mood, and character actions with cinematic detail, and craft conversations that capture your characters' voices and further the narrative. Give everybody a memorable monologue, and make sure every line and gesture contributes to the intensity and reveals crucial character traits. Exhibit A: "You can't handle the truth!" from "A Few Good Men."

You should have a hefty snowflake. It’s almost time to let it melt into a script. But first, assemble everything into a complete outline that includes the one-sentence summary, character sketches, one-paragraph summary, character backstories, synopsis, scene list, and your detailed character profiles. This blueprint for your screenplay will empower you to write confidently and maintain your creative momentum.

Armed with your complete outline, put your butt back in that Aeron chair and start typing. All that time and effort you spent snowflaking will keep you on course as you navigate the twists and turns of getting 120 pages out of your narrative.

Now, start scribbling before that snowflake melts!