So. Never say never, I guess.
My past writing process in the past has always been chaos-driven.
And who knows, it probably still is, but this time… This time I did the unthinkable: I plotted first.
Look, every book is different. That’s always been true. But the more I write, the more true I find it. Instead of developing one single method that works for me, I prefer to keep adding tools to my writing toolbox to help me out of all kinds of jams.
Like when I know I need to know more about my characters, I use these questions I got from a workshop with Lyssa Kay Adams. When I need to figure out where my story is going off the rails, I revert to the good ol’ Inside Outline. Different tools for different problems, you know?
This time, I played with a tool I’ve heard Mariah Ankenman talking about for ages: the W Plot. Since I’m not a plotter, I usually don’t bother with plot structure until I absolutely have to deal with it. Usually after a first draft.
Oh, how wrong I’ve been! The W Plot was so incredibly helpful in untangling the BIG plot points in my story, and in turn, how they lead to one another. I didn’t do a deep dive, scene-by-scene type outline. But I did write a synopsis in a couple hours using the W Plot as my guide.
Which allowed me to sit down and write the first pages of my book with a solid direction. They weren’t just me figuring out who the characters were. They weren’t me just warming up.
No, these first pages are actually fairly likely to stick when I get to the editing stage, and that’s pretty cool.
what’s my aversion to plotting?
Contrary to what you may have read about my process before, I’m definitely not anti-plotting. In fact, the better I get at writing, the more necessary I find it to have a direction for my story from the moment I begin.
Even though I need direction, however, I like to discover my story as I write. That’s the joy of writing for me. The fun of it. Getting lost in a story and letting my characters reveal something to me I didn’t expect, or taking the story in an unexpected direction when new information hits the page.
Letting my story surprise me is honestly so much fun. It takes me back to when I was a teenager, hand writing stories in spiral bound notebooks until the wee hours of the morning.
Every time I get to the thick of writing, where I’m drowning in edits, not sure if what I have is any good, I try to remember that teenager, writing in her room, just for the sake of writing. No plot ahead. No rules. Just letting my creativity pull something out of thin air.
Bringing that magic to every story I write isn’t always easy, but it is something I strive for. And for me, breaking down a story into methodical plot parts removes a little bit of that magic for me. And in this day and age, I want to hold on to every small piece of wonder I can.
books to look for
Releases this month you should have your eye on:
I got to read Untethering Dark by Desirée Niccoli a long time ago, and it’s one of those books that stayed with me. I still think about it all the time.
This is Harlequin’s first monster romance, and it leads with a bang, if you know what I’m saying. A forest god and a hag search for their future as old enemies come back to haunt the woods they call home.
You won’t want to miss this one, out February 4!
Again, I’m spoiled, because I got to read You Cake My Breath Away before everyone else. Tobie Carter has such a way of handling difficult topics with tenderness and curiosity, and the banter doesn’t hurt either.
Grief, friendship, found family, and romance all twist together in this third installment of Carter’s Wordplay Series.
Ever since Tilly’s husband passed away, their best friend Archer has been freezing her out. But when Tilly finds out her husband bought her a spot the bakery she wanted to open, and Archer agreed to renovate it, she’s forced to work with her late husband’s best friend to make her dreams come true.
Grab this one if you’re looking for enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, and forgiveness. It’s out January 11!
the usual things
As always, if you haven’t read Not You Again yet, please do! Perfect for fans of Love Is Blind and One to Watch, Andie signs up for a reality show to marry a stranger, only find the man standing at the altar is Kit, her ex.
P.S. If you go back and look at the first letters of each paragraph, you’ve got a hint about my next release 😉
Comment below when you’ve got the answer!
So clever! I can only imagine the thought put into each sentence lol. I won't spoil the answer for everyone else, but I'm excited for what's coming!