- Get an idea.
- Write until it gets boring.
- Drop it completely and pretend you'll write more later.
That's how I used to write until one glamorous October day, the entire plot for a book just popped into my head. I wrote the first two chapters, then described all the rest in an outline-like document that is lost in the mists of time. Then there was the summary, and the chapter list, and a million sample illustrations (read: doodles), and then plans for a series. This had never happened before. Because I happened to be on the coast during this magical experience of
planning for once in my life, and because my main character was magical type of person, I called the book
Magic by the Sea.
It feels like more than just a few months since I began seriously developing the previously flat main character. Since then, I've come up with a much better process than just three steps.
- Get an idea
- Plan the whole plot
- Make a chapter list
- Describe every chapter in detail on paper
- Start writing
- Edit every chapter until it's as near to perfect as you can get it
- Continue developing the characters and modifying the plot as you go
- Ignore the chapter plan when necessary. Sometimes your first idea for the plot isn't your last idea, and it shouldn't be. Revision is important.
This is much more efficient and much less paper-wasting than the 3-Step Method above. Unfortunately, it's also a lot harder because it involves an actual
plot and not just a fun scenario. But trust me, it'll be worth it when you look back at nearly seventy pages of messy handwriting and ten thousand rough drafts and think,
Only four more chapters. 🙂