How to write a book, in three contradictory lessons
It’s the beginning of May, and I’ve hit the final stretch of my third book. By the end of this month, the first draft should be done.
It better be done.
Anyway, when I tell people that I’m working on a book, I tend to get a lot of questions about my process. Am I an outliner or a pantser*? How long does it take? Which comes first, characters or plot? So I thought I would go through how I approached each of the books I’ve written so far, detailing my process (such as it is) and how its changed from one book to another.
Along with the basic mechanics, I’ll talk about what I’m doing to try to get them published. Because while it’s kind of cute to think of these books as my sweet, beautiful babies, it’s time for baby to get sent off to the sweat shop. These kids have spent enough time being coddled. It’s time for them to grow up and start earning their keep.
*Pantser-someone who writes by the seat of their pants. No plan, no plot, no problem.