What's Your Process?

Draft 1:

I don't think it's important to label myself as either, as I generally believe most writers are at least a bit of both. I am am both, though lean more toward the pantser side of the spectrum. I typically outline the major arc and so have an idea of the beginning and the end, but I don't spend much time outlining how I get from A to B. I try to avoid the pitfalls of either the pantser or the plotter.

I'm sure some people enjoy and maybe even need to spend the time meticulously outlining every chapter and scene before writing and I can see there are advantages to doing that. I'm sure it also consumes a lot of time that isn't generating the actual product. I could see using outlining, inventing all the rules of the Liminal Order that a reader will never know, character sheets, etc as distractions from finishing the story. However, if such things are lore and are not going to be dumped into the story, then does it matter?

I write lean on the first draft, which means I don't agonize over how a sentence might go or what word to use. I do the best I can think of at the moment and move on. I don't allow myself to get stuck on a thought or a rules of grammar. Of course, I'm not perfect. I do sometimes have to nudge myself onward and fix it later. Some people write extra knowing they will cut in editing, but I write knowing I will cut some things and add to others and so typically my 2nd draft is longer than the first. For example, book 2 grew from 90,000 words on the first draft to 130,000 on the second with cuts on subsequent revisions to end around 122,000.

I've read other people's discussions in forums and I have to say I could never write something over 200,000 words with the idea to cut to 120K. No judgement on them, but for me time to write is limited and so throwing away tens of thousands of words would be hard to do. I admire the edges of their knives to cut that much. I can see how not having an outline could lead to such things, but as I think on it, I really try to stick to my beginning and end and how I want my characters to evolve through their experiences in the Dark Frontier and that helps keep things on task.

I follow my intuition on which point of view should make up the next chapter. Over the course of the book it becomes automatic as to which part of the story needs to come next as there is the main plot and a handful (or more) of subplots that all need to be advanced. Writer's block happens, but it is rare for me. If I run into it I will stop writing the chapter and move onto the next one. Often after a day or two the way to get around the block is resolved in my head. I think the most important thing is to keep writing and not let a block stop you.

Draft 2:

I mentioned the second draft gets longer and it is usually to flesh out any relevant descriptions, working on the dialogue to make it sound more natural or complete as well as adding more depth to scenes. I will look at each chapter to see that they further the larger plot, but are also their own complete mini-arc for the character. In Book 2 I decided to keep one POV in a chapter as it helps with clarity.

I will also fix obvious typos and grammatical errors and sometimes address word choice if something better immediately inspires me. If I find a plot hole I will address that as well. Sometimes while writing I will have minor characters that manage to survive toward the end but I've forgotten their names and so will make note of those so I can fix red-haired lady to their proper name.

Then I let time pass and move onto the next project. It might be weeks or a few months before going back for Draft 3.

Draft 3:

After months away I read the draft aloud and fix things that sound off and address word choice, sentence structure and all typos and grammar with the goal of getting it ready for beta readers. I make cuts and add other content and so sometimes the draft gets a little longer or a little shorter. I prefer to give a near complete work to beta readers.

After I get the comments from beta readers I decide what if anything I want to change. Readers are not going to like everything and so I consider beta readers the same way. Sometimes they have great ideas for how something could be better or things I need to clarify, but I don't accept all the suggestions, especially ones that alter the overall story unless I did something really dumb.

Draft 4:

Based on feedback from beta readers as well as my own re-reading of the draft, I get it fine tuned and ready for the line editor.

Draft 5+:

After getting edits and comments back from the line editor, I go through all the changes. I find I sometimes make larger changes to the draft and so it typically goes back and forth several times by the time we call it done. There comes a point when changes don't make the draft better and become changes for the sake of changes. Once this is done, then it goes to proofreading.

After proofreading, I would only make a minor change if anything. The line editors and proofreaders are really excellent at their work and so at this point it's ready to put out into the world. I am not one to get caught in endless editing. I want a great story to be told with strong characters and endlessly editing is diminishing returns. I see with every draft—less gets changed each time and after that it becomes nitpicking that readers (myself included) won't care about.

Around Draft 4 I also start working with the cover artist as there are multiple sketches and revisions that need to be done.

Thank you to the team at miblart for the covers and Red Adept for all the editing.