Step 2

So here we are, at Step 2 in the Snowflake Method of writing. Brief review: Step 1 of the Snowflake Method involved distilling your story down into a 1-sentence summary. Difficult, but not impossible. Step 2 builds on this by having you exaggerate this sentence into a paragraph. Finally, we’re getting somewhere!

Now, Step 2 will have to take longer than step one, in my opinion, but it doesn’t have to. The recommendation here is that you would want to have at least 4-5 sentences, and in all probability not more than 6-7. This is based on my interpretation of Randy’s initial description. Randy stated that he liked a 3 Act run for his story, which works out like this: the original sentence would start out setting the scene for the story, the second sentence would be Act 1 (major conflict #1), the third sentence would be Act 2 (major conflict #2 that escalates in scope from conflict #1, the fourth sentence would be Act 3 (major conflict #3 that escalates and elaborates in scope conflict #2), and then at long last the fifth sentence would be the story solution that ties everything together.

Interestingly, and Randy explains this, is that the work you do here could, and in all probability should, be employed or at least referenced for the back cover of your book – the sales copy that gets someone to genuinely buy your book. Obviously, you don’t want to give away the ending of the story (that’s why they buy the book!), but you may use a cliffhanger approach to things: will he make it out alive; will she discover the killer; will they burn up on re-entry; etc.

This paragraph will help to get you to a solution for the end of your story, while likewise giving you very crucial way-points in your story so that you don’t get too far afield when you get to genuinely writing your story. At this point, you may discover the need for an further and added major or minor character, a new location, another thread to a character’s back story, etc. These are all good things, and ought to be written down for future inclusion with your story.

As I started in Step 1, I’ll provide you with what I have for my current story below. This builds on what I did in Step 1, so you may see the progression that I’ve made. These aren’t perfect, and I intend to tweak these a bit in the end, but it’s a start, and that’s all that I need.

Out camping and geocaching in the deep Wisconsin woods, two best friends unwittingly get drawn into a voyeur’s murderous game. They commence by following a series of clues to an old, abandoned church, where one of them gets trapped in a sinister torture room. While searching for his friend, the other gets lost in an abandoned mine. Desperately attempting to escape, they each meet The Woodsman, the voyeur who’s been pulling all of the strings. One of them escapes…but may he live long sufficient to reach help?

Step 2

2 years & up. This sand and water table is loaded with action, including two bridges, ramps, cups, and boats. The included umbrella keeps the play table safely shaded from the sun, and the cover fastens on securely at night for shelter versus the elements. The lid likewise doubles as an stimulating track for cars! Assembly required. 21″H x 26″W x 46″D.

The Step2 Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center is a Step2 favorite! It’s a perfective combining of sand and water play for your children. Features bridges, ramps, cups, boats, an umbrella and a molded cover to keep out debris.

Step 2 Pic

Step 2 Image

Step 2 Image

Step 2 Image

Most helpful client reviews

144 of 144 persons found the following review helpful.
Sand + Water = Mud! Good for ages 1-8…
By Y. R. Wu
One question you need to ask is do you want one side sand and one side water, or do you want two sides with mud? You will have to determine other than as supposed or expected your kids will determine for you.

Seriously though, we have a 1, 3, and 5 year old and all three take delight in this. I’d say that ~8 years might be the upper limit at which point kids might start out to get bored…

I’d commend not filling the sand side up all the way as the kids take delight in it just as much with only an inch or less of sand. Also you end up buying sand less ofttimes this way – it seems universal that they do not want to keep the sand on the table.

Note that there is a water drain ONLY on the “wet” side so you may have to bail the “sand” side out when they get started moving the water around.

It came with a few boats, bridges, etc. Naturally, Hot Wheels and other toys will end up here. Consider adding a few empty yogurt cups, plastic utensils, etc to the mix. It’s aweinspiring how much fun and unstructured play they may have with these.

The umbrella is a nice touch as our deck is very sunny. If you don’t need it for this toy you may still use it elsewhere as it’s basically a beach umbrella with a shorter stick. The original umbrella is in a corresponding color, though if you need a substitute it seems Dollar stores trade one that is identical except for color.

My one complaint is that the top have a tendancy to gather water. It’s designed to drain, but the top will sag, particularly because kids like to sit and stand on top. I put an empty yogurt container over the umbrella hole before I put the lid on and it helps prop up the top sufficient for the water to run out.

Otherwise very sturdy just like all Step 2 products.

If you’ve found this review to be helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!

142 of 142 persons found the following review helpful.
Going on our 6th year with this toy…
By Value Mommy
Below I’m going to cut and paste my initial review of this toy, one I posted almost 3 years ago. My five stars still hold unfeigned though I have had galore leg weakness since then (but we’ve owned the toy 6 years now and I’ve got three larger kids–7, 5, 3–leaning on it in each direction as well as an 80 lb. labrador retriever who has taken to standing in it to look over the fence, ahem…anyway). I am in regards to to rescrew new holes in each leg and the table and fill the legs with stand to make it stable again but it is completely worth it given the joy it has brought my children. The water cover is still 100% effective and the toy still looks practically brand new. I have purchased one more new umbrella since my last review. So, that’s two new umbrellas and a great deal of leg maintenance in 6 years. Not bad. I’m determined to keep it because it is a outstanding place for us to do a large total of messy science experiments and activities, as listed below, that are best held outdoors.

Old Review from May 2007:

First of all, we have had this toy for 3 years and it still looks like the firstborn day it came out of the box (in the BLAZING Texas sun). Also, it has been moved around too some times to count and is still as strong as ever. It’s durable. Plus, it genuinely does keep water out and the cover stays put tightly even through the most violent and windy thunderstorms. The umbrella is awesome, even though I did have to replace it once due to weathering. I soooooooo don’t care. Read on…

I’m on my third child now and if there is one thing I’m sick of, it’s the toy that’s a one-trick pony. I’m genuinely looking for more skillfulness in a toy. That said, let me tell you why we will keep this toy until the kids outgrow it even even though we likewise have an 8×10 ft. sandbox in the back yard. Sure, it’s a sand and water table but we’ve done it all:

(1) sand alone

(2) water alone

(3) potting soil/trowels/silk plants/plastic pots

(4) landscaping stones and little Tonka construction vehicles (aka “the quarry”)–sometimes the little trucks even deliver to the Tonka Mighty and it goes on for hours

(5) bubble solution to use with the huge wands and even the little and dissimilar wands (so that the kids aren’t fighting over the tiny opening of a tiny bottle of bubbles that inevitably gets spilled all over the patio)

(6) a Mommy-made iceburg (colored blue) on the hottest summer day with dollar store penguins and polar bears–you may even shave the iceburg to make snow (I applied a putty knife) and put crushed ice (if your refrigerator makes it) in the water to make it a happier habitat

(7) dishwater and play dishes with sponges and scrubbers to play clean-up without making a mess at the sink like they do inside

(8) aquarium gravel/toys/plants with pretend fish

(9) sand over buried “fossils” (pretend dinosaur bones found at the local dollar store) — Put a little layer of sand on the bottom of the table, place bones all over that, add more sand to fill, then saturate all the sand with water and let it arid altogether (left in sun, might take a day or two depending on temps). That way, they’ll in truth be competent to kind of chisel the bones out rather of just effortlessly moving the sand.

(10) sand sifters and dirt with respective sizes of rocks that I spray painted gold — super fun day!

(11) measuring spoons/cups/jugs that instruct lessons regarding volume — pair with bath color tablets to learn with regards to color mixing!

(12) Did you recognise that Little People LOVE to go to the beach? (Off subject, they’re also not opposed to a tumble in the dishwasher!)

(13) any number of arts and crafts activenesses that I would rather do outside than inside (making slime, papier mache, etc.)

(14) tin pans/muffin cups paired with dirt/sticks/water mud for mud pies

(15) sand castles, of course!

(16) dinosaurs and respective animals add a immense amount of play value to your basic sand environment.

Well, that’s all that I may do not forget doing in three years time as I sit here writing this review, even though I’m sure there’s more. As if all that isn’t enough, this table is a outstanding size. No elbowing for more space here. There’s room for 6 kids. Yep, one on each end and two on each side. True story.

Do you miss sipping iced tea and reading a magazine or chatting with friends? It may occur again while your toddler plays happily and safely. I LOVE this toy. Can you tell?

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful.
Leaks but worth buying
By Kirsty Hanvey
I purchased this even after the reviews with regards to leaks in the legs. The design actually is a bit absurd as there is no reason to have holes for the legs as you screw them in thru the side. We put it together and it leaked, I took it detached purchased a heap of sealant at my local hardware store and reassembled. No more leaks and my little girl (16 months) loves this table. We only put water in both sides as that’s amusement sufficient for her. We live in Texas and I’m afraid of snakes and bugs getting in, so once she’s ready for sand the fact that it’s not on the ground and has a cover will help. I may see how it would be a little heavy with sand if you need to perpetually move it but overall it’s a outstanding product. If we didn’t have to use sealant to get it to stop leaking I would have given it 4 stars.

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