10/19/2021 There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat(disclaimer: no animals have been harmed in the writing of this article)Read NowThe idea that there’s a “best” way to compose a book, is a fallacy. The truth is each author you ask will have a different way of achieving their goal. The creative process takes a multitude of varying and often unexpected forms. As individual as the writers themselves.
Some authors use outlines, others are discovery writers also known as “pantsers,” developing plot as they write. Some adhere to a word count they must meet by the end of the day, while others go days without writing a single word, then produce ten pages in one sitting. Some find inspiration from watching television, reading books, or traveling. Others don’t want to muddy the creative waters with outside influences. But the variations extend far beyond the number of authors out there. For many, each project takes a different path to completion. To demonstrate this, here’s what my writing process has looked like over the course of six years. Spree, the first in the Steadman series and my debut novel, took nearly three years from conception until publication, split evenly between writing and editing. Granted, I took long spells between writing stints and was working full time as a speech pathologist during much of the process. Book two, Resurrection, was started while I was writing Spree so when I began giving it its full attention I already had about a hundred pages written. Once the book was completed I added a section to the end with a ‘final confrontation.’ The whole process was done within nine months. Vengeance, the third in the series also had pages written while I was penning Spree. After I completed the book, rather than adding a new section to the end, I added an entire subplot that needed to be woven into what was until that point a finished product. That book was done in seven months. Clearly I was moving faster. The fourth and current book project is evolving in a completely different way from the previous three. I’m writing various scenes out of order as they come to me which will hopefully (!) tie up well at the end. I'm gearing up for a six-month turnaround. I’ve been satisfied with the results of each of these methods. Though I’m aware they may not be the most efficient way of completing a book, it works for me. The point is, each author has a variety of processes, depending on the work they are doing at the time. The take-away? Respect and trust your particular processes rather than attempt to emulate another’s. And if your old methods aren’t working, it’s okay to try something else, something more intuitive to the work in progress. Forcing your process to accommodate what you assume is the right or best method, will only cause aggravation and result in a subpar product. Trust your instincts and the next book will come to life in its own special way. Happy writing!
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