Works in Progress

A work in progress is any project that is currently on my schedule for production in the near future. The near future meaning anytime in the next few years…

I break down my novel writing process into five phases. Each phase is not equal in length of time, but broken down by primary task. For example, the rough draft for a 100k word novel usually takes me about 8-12 weeks to write at roughly 10-12k written words per week, while the editing phase may only take 3-4 weeks depending on how rough a manuscript I submitted. Don’t ask my editor…

Concept and Outlining – this is an evolutionary process. Sometimes it’s just a single sentence to start, other times it’s a pile of word vomit that needs picked through for structuring. For a series, I tend to outline quite a bit before I even start the rough draft for book 1. This helps me keep plot lines for the final book in mind as I write the first one.

Rough Draft – they say this is the hardest part, but I disagree. Starting with a solid outline (it always changes as I write) aids me in pumping out the novel with minimal time staring at the blank page. Usually 8-12 weeks depending on overall length.

Rewrites – probably the most time consuming part of writing. I usually do a series of passes focusing on separate issues. The first rewrite is reevaluating what I have written in terms of plot structure, big picture stuff. Second rewrite is a fleshing out of the chapters as some are much lighter during the first few writes. Third I focus on story details and additional research. Lastly, I do a style edit, this includes a tedious read out loud. There is clearly overlap between these various rewrites, but I find this process to work. Usually 8-12 weeks, but usually I don’t do rewrites consecutively.

Editing – this phase tends to go fairly quick as it is basically making recommended changes. Anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Finishing Touches – This depends on my comfort level. I usually do another read out loud to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I work in any front or back matter that needs added for release. Then there is the consulting on cover art, audio production, and any publishing related extras. Usually takes about an additional 12 weeks. This also depends on if I am working with a traditional publisher or publishing independently.