Just wondering how some of you great writers plan your books?

[Guest]

Do I just jump right in and start writing? Should I have and or write an outline? Do I need to invest in software?

[Mallory]

I am a plotter when I get a book idea I sit there for hours plotting it out before I start it. I write on Google Docs, so it’s filled with files. When I first start a book I write out a character bios. I use campfire and midjourney for this, so I can see the visual of my characters and their info all in place. then the plot. My plots usually are around 6-7 pages long, as detailed as I can get for a every step of the way start to finish plot. I’ll veer from it, as I go along, but it’s nice to have it all planned out in case I forget later on. Then I write my blurb, pick my title.

From there I design my cover. If I’m gonna have people on the cover, I like to describe them so they match so I try to keep character appearance similar to covers. (I make my covers with photoshop using paid for stock images) Then I make the graphics for promotions, banners and so on to get readers hyped up on what’s to come. I’ll give them about a week or two of a start date and start writing.

I update my books chapters daily to my patreon account, so it usually is about a 2 month writing cycle until completion. Of course I consider this a rough draft so I take it from there and start the process of editing it, doing a timeline, making sure it’s good and no plot holes, then go to the proofreader process.

Then beta readers, formatting. I use Microsoft word to format but recently got Atticus so I’ll be checking that out. Then cover refitting, and so on, then publication

[Mark]

You will have several thoughts running through your mind but don't jump into the first or second. Meditate on them; sometimes the two is actually one. Then think about what the thoughts have in common; then start writing. You don't need to decide right off if what you are writing will be comedy or serious, because as you write, it will decide on it own. You will be surprised how your mind works. But you have to start the process off.

[David]

Actually, I didn't plan the book. I had three unfinished books I was working to get out the door and, having attention deficiency disorder, they weren't moving fast enough to get out the door, so I combined all three books into one single book, and that's has done fairly well at scribd, earning 20 thumbs up and zero thumbs down.

[Christine]

I wrote before I ‘wrote’ my book. Anytime I got some ideas or insights, I wrote it down. And divide my notes in topics. The notes give me ideas for chapter outline and content. I went back to my notes and use them as a starting point to write every chapter of my book.

[Nick]

Totally up to you- some people find that extensive planning and outlining works better for them (like me), some work better just diving right in, and some do best somewhere in the middle. There’s no “right” way, just whichever works best for you.

[Carmen]

We all write in our own ways. I don’t plan anything I write; I discover the story as it unfolds.

[Mary]

My first 3 books, I was a complete pantser- wrote the first word and made it up as I went along.

Books 4-11, I was mostly a pantser, but started plotting the last 3-5 chapters to make sure so tied up all the story arcs in a nice neat bow. Book 12 had a military component that took me forever to research. But I painted myself into a corner. How was I gonna get the MC form the USA to Kandahar AFB in Afghanistan?! Had to plot the crap out of that- sorta. Once I got that part figured out, I just pantsed in between. Then I had to plot the end to wind up the series. Sigh. While I was writing the end, I outlined books 13-60 and I'm now halfway through book 13 and books 14,15,19,20 are WIP. That means they each have a file, I know what happens, and I add bits of dialogue or songs or other ideas as I finish book 13. Then I’ll have the framework and raw material to pants the rest of that book.

As for investing in software, only you know the answer to that.