1. Fantasize about a book idea.
Sometimes this is by coming up with bits of dialogue, or forming a sort of movie trailer in my mind.2. Outline.
This is a brief plan of what is going to happen. For example:-MC goes to the store.
- Comes home and realizes she forgot to buy milk.
- Goes back to store.
-Money gets stolen.
There is nothing eloquent or rigid about this at all.
3. Write the first draft.
a.k.a. A Huge Mess of stuff I won't end up keeping.4. Scream over said mess.
WHAT IS THIS STORY ABOUT? WHAT IS HAPPENING?5. Read it.
I cringe the entire time.6. Cry.
WHY IS THIS BOOK SO TERRIBLE?7. Rewrite everything.
Because books are always rewritten.8. Read it...again.
What changes did I make again? Ohhhhhh........................................right.9. Hand it to beta readers.
This is terrifying and necessary.10. Rewrite...again.
Major character changes. Major plot changes. Major changes to everything.11. Read it over again.
What is this book about for the 3,457,348,024th time?12. Line edits!
Is it really all coming together?!
Well as some one who hasn't finished more than a single first draft, I haven't got a full process.
ReplyDeleteBut it goes something like this. Get a basic idea and toss it around a bit util it some what resembles the plot. Write down random bits of world building and figure out the appearance of some characters.
Write a partial outline.
Start writing the draft. Swap in and out of different ideas.
Realize it's broken and continue to write while trying to add new ideas to fix it.
Finish the first draft despite the plot being broken,
Let it sit.
A week before starting the second draft finally figure out the missing piece.
See lots more problems in the second draft.
So are you actually finished now? Or would you still like an editor?
DeleteSounds like you have a pretty good system there!
DeleteI am mostly finished, but I would still like to send it to a few beta readers.
Well, I'm happy to help if you need me.
Delete