Writing.Com General Discussion

My process is a little different.

1) An idea. A very basic idea. Normally borne of a "What if...?" statement.

2) An opening hook.

3) (Often related to 2) Main characters. Their relationship. What will their relationship possibly be at the end of the book.

4) Write. I am a "pantser" - I let the story develop and take me where it wants to go. I write. I go back and add foreshadowing as I go, but I do not edit as I go.

5) I finish draft number one. I do a functional edit (spelling, grammar, punctuation, gaping plot holes, etc.)

6) I hand it to a beta reader.

7) I take their ideas, make changes, re-edit and then put it away.

8) 3 to 6 months later I take it out and re-edit.

9) I give it to my editor who has a thorough reading. I trust her judgement and I generally listen to 90% of her suggestions.

10) Final draft.

11) I give it a final read. If I rate it as something decent, out into the real world it goes. If not, it stays on my computer.

12) I wait.


I have written 70-plus novels/novella. Yes, only 3 have been accepted for publication thus far (including one I really don't rate that highly), but 4 are in "full manuscript requested" phase which is always a positive. Of my longer works, maybe 30 are worth anything. That's cool. I have to write, to get them out. If they end up published, nice. If not, it does not matter, because I've written them.

And that's how my long-form writing works.