I’d love to claim that there is indeed a method to my madness when I write, but that generally isn’t true. Ideally, I would outline each story, write the story from start to finish, and then edit only after the first draft is complete. Instead, my writing process is nothing short of chaotic. I start out with good intentions – a semi-solid idea about what my novel will be about and the general direction it will go.
Armed with these good intentions, I sit down at my keyboard. Chapter 1. My fingers fly across the keyboard as I introduce my main character and set the stage. Then bam, my thought process is interrupted by a completely different storyline or an outrageous book title idea that I can’t pass up. I save my current document and open a different Word document that I’ve started for other stuff. I type out my new idea into this file, then close it and go back to my original story.
Okay, where was I?
Chapter 2. Now (hopefully) we’re at a place where the reader can identify with the character and is hooked in. I’m feeling inspired. I already like my character and I can’t wait to see where the story will go from here. Suddenly I’m hit with an idea for a scene that will (most likely) fit with the storyline – but not yet. It’s too soon for this plot point. I try to ignore the idea, but it scratches at the corners of my mind. The scene is begging to be written. Fine.
Chapter XX (as in, I have no idea what chapter this will be, but it seems my character has taken on a life of its own and I need to write this scene now or all productivity will cease). I write the scene, not certain how it will fit with the rest of the story, and often at this point, not all-together sure who the other characters are. Okay, fine, written. Now my brain will behave.
Chapter 3. Perhaps at this point I’ve introduced a Mr. Right that will make all us ladies swoon. Chapter 4, Chapter … what, it’s past time for dinner? Argh. You guys okay with soup out of the can? No? How about UberEats. Done!
Food on the way, back to re-reading chapters one through four because I’ve already forgotten what I wrote. My mind automatically slips into edit mode. Is it amongst or among? Whom or who? Why did I use so many adverbs? And Becky – didn’t I use that name in my last novel? Becky is now Tiffany (edit, find, replace), very has been eliminated about eleven times, and my long-since delivered UberEats is growing cold.
It’s late, my neck is stiff, I’ve failed to help kiddos with their homework, and my hubby is laughing about some scene from the show we’re “watching together” that I completely tuned out. Time to tuck in kids, pretend to watch the rest of that show, then turn in.
Next day. 5:30 a.m. Open laptop to sneak in some writing before work. I suddenly remember a dream I had that might make a good storyline. I open the document for other stuff. I start by typing out a few words so that I can recall the plot point later but instead find myself carefully articulating everything about my dream (and to my surprise, half of it doesn’t make sense – so we’ll deal with that later). Good gracious, now I’m editing this writeup of my crazy dream and suddenly the idea doesn’t seem quite as good as I thought it was an hour ago. Save. Close the laptop. Now I’m running late for work.
Okay, fast-forward to after work, kids’ practices, this time I’ve managed to cook dinner and help with homework. It’s now after 10 p.m. Too tired. No writing tonight.
Two days. Three days. Four days go by. Life is busy. Sometimes I’m too exhausted. Sometimes I feel uninspired. But my characters are always there in the back of my mind. Those unwritten pages often stress me out. I’m failing to live up to my expectations, but really, I’m the only one who knows this.
I will write today. I will write today. Darn, I’m behind on social media and promoting my most recent book project. I put a picture on Instagram of me with laptop in-hand. I try to think of a clever phrase and an adequate number of relatable hashtags. Maybe I’m successful, maybe I’m not. My post engagement analytics that I don’t have time to analyze will let me know. Okay, gotta get in those Tweets. I post a funny meme and tell my Twitter followers #amwriting. Am I? Well, I finished a grocery list, though I never made it to the actual grocery store. Surely that counts.
Okay, new day with a renewed sense of purpose. I can’t recall what I was writing about or where I left off. I go back to reviewing the first several chapters. I slip back into editing mode. Stop! Okay, I’ve stopped editing. I’m back to writing. Chapter 5. “Becky sat alone by the…” Wait, she’s no longer Becky. I’ve named her Tiffany. Edit, Find, Replace.
This goes on for months, but eventually I’m at a place where the novel flows from start to finish and I start editing with a critical eye. During this time my other stuff file is getting huge and I am so torn between finishing my current project and further developing some of the other ideas. Back to editing. Stay focused. Why do I have a chapter XX? Oh, right! I love that scene, but it still doesn’t fit with the storyline. I’m not quite ready to lose it yet, though. Cut. Paste into other stuff.
Back to the book. Read. Edit. Get feedback. Rinse. Repeat.
Now you have some insight into my writing process. There is no method. Only madness. But after a lengthy process of peer reviews, feedback, edits, and rewrites (not to mention book cover design, etc., etc.), when all is said and done, I have a story I’m proud of and that I hope others enjoy. DARKENED is available on Amazon but stay tuned for future book projects and new blog entries. Happy reading!