Before I start writing a book, I like to be super organised.
And by “organised” I mean here “micromanage ever centimetre of my life half to death and back again to avoid chances of scary things like writers block or being interrupted in the middle of a sentence“. Not every writer likes to be organised, obviously, which is FINE! * It’s great even! ** We’re all so different! ***
There’s such a varying degree of preparation before a writer tackles a new book: from not having a clue what your plot is, to having a vague outline, to actually knowing how my commas you’ll use per sentence. I’m mostly the latter.
Since I’m on the verge of disappearing from the face of the internet FOREVEEEEER, **** I thought it would be marvellous to tell you how I prepare to write! Because for me, a 5-day writing spree equals a few months of preparation. Mate, I even prepare to prepare. This may answer questions you’ve always wondered about my fiendishly fast drafting abilities or it may do nothing of the sort and you’re simply here because you like clicking on my homepage and watching the arrow shoot across the screen. No judgement. I refresh a lot for that reason too.
* Why are you so strange, non-organised writers???
** How do you survive???
*** WHAT ARE YOU.
**** I’m kidding, I’ll be gone for like 5 days, fiends, and I’ll still be on twitter and instagram, because #obsessed.
Obviously the first thing I need is A BOOK TO WRITE. And the process of inventing a book is a complete mystery even to me. But basically I combine many things I like (ex: stabbing, cake, pirates, the history of olives, clever magical objects, heists, dead things, very nice hats, etc. etc.) and squish them all together into something that amuses me. The unfortunate thing is (A) many things amuse me and I become obsessed so easily it’s ridiculous like why do I even know this much about the history of olives, ergo (B) I ALWAYS HAVE 632 IDEAS TO CHOOSE FROM.
But whatever. I choose a story. Or I have you choose for me.
Then I write the book entirely in my head first.
BASICALLY WHAT IT FEEL LIKE.
I started doing this last year and IT WORKS SO WELL THAT I WILL NEVER STOP. I play out every single scene (sometime dozens of times) like a movie to an epic soundtrack, and then when I roll credits — I’m ready to write the outline!
The problems with doing this is (A) my books end up making much better movies than books and this is awkward, and (B) I’m always working on several movie-books in my head and never notice humans speaking to me and I look vaguely uninterested with the world around me at all times, which is kind of true. Because #writer. Oh and lastly (C) I have the memory of a damaged grape so the chances of me forgetting things between inventing them in my head and getting them on paper is like 87% and that’s why I’m constantly screaming on the internet. *
I also may or may not do this because in the first episode of Elementary, ** Sherlock told Watson he was writing a book about bees in his head. And I thought, “THAT’S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS” to which my brain said, “do it”. So we did. But not about bees because I’m allergic. Sherlock is onto something here though. I want to be Sherlock when I grow up.
* HAHA KIDDING! I’m constantly screaming on the internet because it’s a habit and I can’t stop.
** While we’re briefly on the topic, I love any Sherlock retelling and I particularly adore Elementary! I however only have seen the first two seasons because, ya know, writing and reading consume 57 hours per day and I don’t even have 57 hours so you get how this is awkward for me.
I write an outline.
My outline process is actually my favourite thing because it’s so insufferably amusing to me.
My outline is 17% useful details about my book and 83% me being snarky at myself.
Also I have no pressure to write an outline in a certain time! It can take a week or a few days! All I do is write a bullet point list detailing everything that will happen in the book. AND I MEAN EVERYTHING. It’s a synopsis basically because synopsises are horrid, so why not write them before you even write the book and get them out the way??? #ExcellentLogic I plot out each scene and how they link to the next scene and I get a vague idea if my pacing is nice or if it is a cousin to a howling hysterical kumquat flung through space into the intergalactic void.
And I amuse myself terribly.
For instance:
And like so:
I may even do a small smudge of research right here.
Just a small smudgy smudge. I’m not a fan of over-researching during a first draft. I’m completely okay to say “the buildingy thing” or make up the history of hats, which I know nothing about. I think if you research too much too early you’ll get bogged down in details before you’ve discovered your own story. I build my story. Then I make it factually correct.
Or, like, I just write about ghosts and then anything goes.
I name my characters!
Now I know what you’re thinking and it probably sounds like “But Cait,” you say squinting at this step confusedly, “don’t you name your characters in step #1??? Like a sane person??”
I’m lucky if I name my characters AT ALL to be truthful. I wrote a whole outline for this book with one of my main characters being titled as “Lady” because WHAT IS HER NAME. I HAVEN’T THE FAINTEST.
I’m just both (A) very particular with names and need them to be precisely odd yet perfect, and (B) have an strange averseness to actually calling people by their names. I call my collective three nieces and nephew all “Frank” for this particular reason. I refer to my dog as “Cactus” when his name is, in fact, not Cactus, but Atticus Bean.
But when I do get to naming characters, I generally throw myself at nameberry.com because they seem nice. I also have an entire document for JUST NAMES (#obsessed with the perfect names) and I’ll peruse that too. And I’ll google for appropriate last names because last names are the actual worst. And sometimes I plunder a name from a book or movie, provided it’s not famous or made up. Because then: No.
For instance, my protagonist is named Toulouse after the fat orange kitten in Aristocats, even though my character is neither fat, orange, nor feline. I just think it’s a cute name. But there you go.
I let everyone know that I am WHOLLY UNAVAILABLE FOR A WEEK.
The only thing I can be summoned for is cake or sandwiches or if my book order arrives because #priorities. And if you’re thinking that I have no life to be able to do this, WELL THEN SIR YOU ARE COMPLETELY AND UNACCEPTABLY —
right.
But also wrong haha…a…little? I work from home so my boss (me) gives me time off when I need it (bless my kindness) and I pre-prepare many life-things so I will have the spare time. Plus I try to pick weeks where I’m not overly busy. Plus I’m very lucky to be able to do this and I’m well aware, but hopefully writing will be my full-time career someday SO I’M IN TRAINING.
THINGS I DON’T DO IN THE WEEK I’M WRITING:
- read
- blog
- review books
- listen to audiobooks
- communicate with specimens of the human species
- except for my parents. I talk to them so they feed me.
- exist except for inside my story
- sleep
- HAHA JUST KIDDING I DO SLEEP.
THINGS I ACTUALLY DO IN THE WEEK I’M WRITING:
- write
- nap
- write some more
- exercise copiously because it helps me write
- chocolate
- tea
- midlife crises scheduled for 4pm every day
- write write write write
- losing feeling in my eyes
But the fact is I have to be really focused or else I can’t concentrate on my story. And if I can’t focus, I might as well just turn into an unripe mandarin and sit in a dejected puddle. This is just how my 1st-draft process is!
One cannot write with words alone. One needs a pinterest storyboard of aesthetically pleasing coordination to bolster me through times of distressful writing darkness. I take my pinning quite seriously and I’m considering doing a post on how I put together my boards IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. (Yell in the comments if you are.) But I frequently look back at my boards while writing to remind myself my characters have faces and this is a thing and I should remember this thing.
This is a very very important step.
I have a brief emotional breakdown.
You think with all this preparation I’d be absolutely confident and ready to go, right?!? Like what could go wrong! I have a 12,000-word outline! I have a pinterest! I have mild research! I have enthusiasm for this story which I love with all 206 of my bones! I should be CONFIDENT.
I always have this moment where I have no idea how to write anymore. What even do I do? How do I start a book? What if I can’t write fast this time? What if this book doesn’t work out like I intended and I fall into a plot hole and end up in Wonderland instead of an 18th century French-inspired fantasy world? What if it’s not funny? What if I can’t remember my characters names? (This is actually a legit worry because I spent 90% of my last book checking my outline to remember who was called what.)
WHY DID I NOT CHOOSE THE LIFE OF A HERMIT WITH SHEEP IN ICELAND.
This is a perpetual ongoing crisis and probably will end never.
But before I begin writing, I watch my crisis thrash about like a squid of doom and faceplant in the carpet for a while and then, miracle of miracles, I write anyway even though I’m not confident.
I do the writing thing even though half the time I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING.
So rest assured if you, too, go to write and realise that words are confusing and your plot is a hot mess and you’re writing ALL THE WRONG THINGS and your humour feels like someone with an apricot for a brain wrote it, then just know this — YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
But my 1st-drafts aren’t perfect. As I’ve said before, my 1st-drafts are wild and bad and their only purpose is to exist and I’LL MAKE THEM BETTER IN ROUND #2. Right now I just meet my characters and set things on fire and then everyone dies * and it ends. **
* This is a lie. One of my characters starts off the story being dead. Ghost stories FTW.
** The second lie. Sheesh. What is this???? But this is actually a duology I’m writing currently so it doesn’t end completely. It just ends with my protagonist mostly dead, the love interest very unloved, and everything on fire, and someone crying. Probably me. Because I’ll have to edit this beast.
So I best go get started on Step #8 now!
I’ll see you in a bit! Honestly I’ll be back posting next weekend so don’t even fret. And as much as it pains me to have had you all vote recently on my project I ACCIDENTALLY AM ENDING UP GOING ON THE BOOK THAT CAME 3RD ON THE POLL. But this is how inspiration works. It is fiendish. And I just finished the sequel’s outline, so I had to go with it since it was fresh in my brain!! My Phantom of the Opera retelling with ghosts, ballet, tap dancing, and evil walls that are alive and want to destroy everything is coming to a laptop near me.
Also I may post snippets on twitter if convinced. Unless it is a hot mess and then I’ll love it for the dysfunctional child it is but yet pretend it’s not mine. (I’m a lovely book-parent.)
Just remember: no matter what your writing process is, own it. There’s no “right” or “wrong” there is just being an artist and creating beautiful things that will inspire or bite people or both, hopefully.
Whoa, this is a pretty deep process. For novel sized beasts, I do have outlines (sometimes) and world building (sometimes) and like character lists. The one I’m doing right now I have planned until chapter 10 and beyond that it’s the wild anything.. But I definitely imagine specific scenes and snippets of dialogue, and often craft the whole story around those. Also, yes to being snarky. I have to transcribe interviews and to cheer myself up I do little lines like [shanti says nothing, because she is confused. you can’t tell in her voice] Also naming characters is hard. One of my short stories currently has a character called ‘lawyername1’ I know.
I totally craft scenes around my need to make someone do something stupid/snarky/both.😂 And I love how after chapter 10 it becomes a wild beast for you. Aww, all grow’d up and making its own decisions!😂 LOVELY. But being snarky to oneself is A+ way to keep motivated for outlines and things.
I love lawywername1. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. Imagine your children’s names!😂
I had a writing phase about a year ago where I wrote thousands of pages, became discouraged, didn’t write for a while, and then came back to it. What I found was that after I let all of that writing experience soak into my psyche, it became so much more natural for me to write, and I could also pick out the mistakes I had made before… with ease. Albeit I have a long way to go, it absolutely feels more comfortable now. The only problem is that I never actually finished anything… I was too hung up on perfecting the fine details, that I never got to see how the entire story transposed. Time to buckle down on finishing this bad novel.
*envy*. I don’t have the option of seeing other stuff aside to write (even when there’s nothing going on I tend not to have the holidays from my Office Job Of Doom.
Also *envy* because I’ve finished like, one draft of anything ever and that was two years ago. I’m doing quite well with my current project, but it’s my third drafting method and my fourth story and I just #wishIknewwhatIwasdoing by now
I mostly blog to keep myself motivated, since regular progress is the only way to keep going and not sink into Despair.
…anyway, great post and good luck with this draft!
I’m sad for you. *gives you cake to make up for it* I totally get that my process is definitely not one a lot of people would do, or even want to do? Haha.😂
But definitely don’t sink into despair! The trick is just keeping at it and keeping yourself excited about your work!
This was so interesting to read, I’m still working on my process at the moment. Getting back into writing everyday in the hope that one day my childhood dream to finish a novel will actually feel plausible 😂🙈 That ‘history of olives business’ sounded pretty interesting tbh. I’d read that 🙂
I’m SO DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF for not having any olives in this book though.😂 Wasted research. :’)
Oh but good luck finishing your book! I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.
This is really helpful because I am currently at the point where I am outlining and getting ready to do a long writing session. I think the idea of writing the novel in your head first is cool. I would be so worried I would forget something though, and the scenes would get so jumbled in my mind. Often I stick to mentally picturing a few scenes then writing them then repeating which works better for me because I can’t take days off to write (you’re so lucky).
It is a problem trying not to forget all the things!! I tend to go over scenes like half a million times in my head and then sometimes I’ll even write the outline down while I haven’t even got the end done and I just keep adding to it. Depends on how complicated I’m making the plot.😂
It’s so great to see other writing processes! I think we share a lot of the same steps, especially Step One – I plan my outline as a playlist on iTunes! I’m midway through my third draft of my first book now, and it has been a fairly organic process. I’ve had months where I’ve been involved in something else so it’s floundered a bit, which has involved a lot of rewriting (and a lot of “what even is this chapter?!”). I used to think I had to have the perfect working environment, a nice desk and nice surroundings and appropriate music, but my house has turned into a madhouse with no space and animals all over, so I’ve had to adapt. Since the new year I’ve been following a self-set target of 500 words a day, minimum. Some days I’ve missed for various reasons but I’ve written, to date, 18 chapters and I think that’s down to having a manageable target!
Best of luck with your writing – you have a wonderful voice in your blog posts which I am absolutely sure will come through on your book!
Katy xx
I love hearing about your process too!! IT’S SO COOL TO COMPARE. And omg I totally used to think it’d be nice to like sit at a desk with a lovely cup of tea and everything…but haha. I am on my bed half the time and just wearing headphones to block out the family.😂 I so admire you for writing every day though! THAT IS INCREDIBLE. I couldn’t keep that up at all.😂
Aww, thank you! That’s so encouraging. <3
I love this!! I really want to write but I suffer from writer’s block so always lose ideas. I think I know my problem now because I never do outlines. I have a grudge against them because in school, while doing creative writing, the outlines were the boring part.
I always feel like if one writing method isn’t working for you, definitely try something else! I used to just wing it when writing and I got stuck SO MUCH and all the time.😂 But with outlining I never get stuck while drafting. <3 GOOD LUCK!!
Yes, please post snippets on Twitter!!! I shall be very upset if you do not. 😀
I’m definitely not as much as an outliner as you are, but I do like to do some basic jotting down of scenes that I play out in my head. Then when I first draft I have to find the links between the scenes, which is actually way more difficult than it seems, and I often end up ditching my vague outline for something questionably better.
It’s lovely to see your process; good luck writing! <3
I’ve posted one!! I’ll probably post another tonight IF I GET BRAVE. It’s such a rough draft this time haha.😂
I love hearing about your process too! It’s awesome how we can all end up with a book, but we get to it via such different ways, right?!
Haha, it’s so great to see your writing process 😀
I’m so jealous you’re able to write days at a time. I seem incapable of committing, which is killing me.
I always get SO EXCITED when I start a new story but then… the excitement fades, I lose my motivation, and I have no idea how to proceed.
Oh great Cait, have you any advice for me? (:
I’m glad you liked it! And honestly half the reason I write fast is because I’m sooooo bad at keeping focused.😂 If I write intensely for 4 days then I don’t have a chance to lose interest.😂
CAIIIIIITTTTT YOU ARE ACTUALLY MY SPIRIT ANIMAL (which is obviously a dragon and that is you). Also you are my Queen. Can queens have queens?? YES. I DECIDED SO MYSELF: In any case I also make a super detailed outline, except it takes me 68780 years, and then it takes me 6786590 years to actually WRITE the book???? I seriously need to channel some of your powers. I’ve been stuck on one chapter outline for the last 2 weeks so…#thestruggleisreal. My current outline is at 8k words. AND I’M ONLY ON CHAPTER 12??? I may be secretly actually writing the book…disguised as an outline??? This is a problem. Ha. ANYWHO I shall miss you greatly while you disappear, but I KNOW ONE DAY IT WILL BE WORTH IT WHEN I HAVE YOUR GLORIOUS BOOKS ON MY SHELVES.
YAS WE ARE DRAGON TWIN SOUL SISTERS. THIS IS JUST NATIONAL FACT NOW. And I can be Overall Queen. It’s a title I plan to take anyway so you can totally like just accept it now. *adjusts crown*
But seriously the speedy part of my writing process is honest just practise! I used to write pretty slow. Like a month to write a book…or three years. OH. I have a half manuscript that I consider “still going” even though I haven’t touched it in 7 years. But I’m going for a record for how long it’ll take me to finish that. Haaaa. *buries self* But that’s awesome that the outline is also sort of the book.😂 TRUE THOUGH, RIGHT?! Like it’s nearly like if you write a detailed enough outline it becomes draft #1 and then you can get right not draft #2. :’)
EXCITING EXCITING and good luck! I honestly usually leave character names until I’ve finished my first draft and just write [character name X] instead because I can’t think of names on the spot but don’t see why this should stop me writing something while I’m in the mood. I’ve only ever written short stories (because passing high school takes a lot of time, apparently) (so does procrastination) (Okay I’ll stop now)
But good luck with your writerly beast! You can do this! Don’t forget to eat food!
Names are totally overrated anyway. :’) I mean why NOT call all our characters “lady” and “hey you” and “character X”??? I’m sure that’s how the author of Xmen came up with that title. (Also I legit wrote an outline where I called a character “my smol son” the ENTIRE TIME. He still doesn’t have a name. #awkward 😂)
Good luck with passing highschool!! I never wrote very fast when I was doing highschool either.😂
GOOD LUCK I BELIEVE IN YOU ❤
THANK YOU INGE. MUCH APPRECIATED. <3
For me, it’s different every time. My first big project came from a short story I was writing. When I realised that I was going to turn it into something longer, I made a brief plan, and then I sat down to write every evening after (school and tea and homework) for 3-4 months. For the Gothic one I’m doing right now, I plan to write it during the Easter holiday, so I have until then to plot it. I’m taking it nice and slowly. Getting all the details sorted in my head. I might write the odd scene beforehand…maybe. It depends how many essays and stories I have to write for my course.
You name your characters REALLY late. I usually have names before anything else. 😉
I love that it’s different for you every time! That’s really awesome! 😊 And omg honestly I know I’m terrible with the names. It’s like I just have all these characters running around my head and they’re legit just identified by their hair.😂
I sometimes write an outline. But my outlines are very wacky. Which might explain why I’m stuck. No, I know what’s going to happen, but I can’t write it. I have a fear of word docs. 😛 So maybe I’ll write it by hand……
Most crazily, ~Olive😜
I admire you writing by hand! I can’t do that at all before I quit after like 2 sentences.😂 Plus my handwriting is pure chicken scratchings.😂
Aww, I love this post! Great job, Cait. I think it’s really important for all writers to read posts like these, because in the end, we know that not everyone has the same process and that’s okay. I wish you luck on writing! (And wish I could write as fast as you. But you know. Everyone’s different. And I just need more experience. Ish.)
Also, YES DO A POST ON HOW YOU MAKE YOUR STORYBOARDS. I currently don’t have a Pinterest account (but I need one REALLY REALLY BADLY MOM DO YOU SEE MY AGONY), but when I DO get one (’cause I’m totally confident in my convincing skills, what…?) I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO CREATE THE AMAZING STORYBOARDS YOU MAKE.
Nooooo Caaaaait don’t gooooooo but I know you have to so good luck and don’t die.
Yes I agree! That’s why I wanted to share my process! I always also find it seriously interesting when I see other writers say what they do, because sometimes I think “omg that’s a good idea I’ll steal that”.😂 Like once I read advice somewhere that’s like “write your blurb/query before the book that way you don’t have to do it after” and it’s actually REALLY so much easier to do that?! You’re not so bogged down in details. #nice
I WILL DO THE STORYBOARD POST.
Yes, it can be really helpful to read others’ advice/writing process. Or it can be just downright unhelpful. XD
YES.
good luck!! this was so interesting to read! i’m also a crazy who plots and outlines down to the number of times a character breaths. (it really does make me a little more confident to know where the story is going though) sameee about names! i need to get the perfect one or else the whole story doesn’t feel quite right.
oooh *yells* please make a post on how you put together your pinterest boards! i would love to see that!
Yay another outliner!! *hi fives* I think clearly we have the best idea with writing good outlines.😂 Names are so hard though!? Like seriously how am I supposed to pick a name and make it perfect. THE PRESSURE. I’M DYING.
(I’ll definitely do that post!)
I LOVE NAMEBERRY. I use it to look up totally weird names because I adore those. Even if I can’t pronounce them. (Haha). And Pinterest. I use it all the time. It’s an addiction. Seriously. But if you’re interested in looking at my storyboards, my username is Rationally ill.. Why? Because it’s an anagram of my real name and that’s awesome.
I do have a question for your magnificent (and soon to be dead, probably) brain: when you show your Pinterest boards on here, all the comments and titles and stuff disappear and you’re left with just the PERFECT WONDERFUL PICTURES, DEAR ME. What wizardry is this, and how might someone less skilled than your mighty queenly self accomplish this?
Also…I AM SO EXCITED YOU’RE WRITING THE SKELETON DANCE! I *adore* the Pinterest board for it, and the story just sounds so so great! Gah! I can’t wait to hear how it goes. Good luck, and please don’t melt into a puddle of goo. I don’t know what we would all do without you and your very strange but lovable sense of humor. (Probably join you in your depressed puddle of goo.)
oh pronouncing names is overrated.😂 (Shh, I’m kidding! I do look up name pronunciations sometimes…but really also no.) But nameberry is awesome for the lists and also because they’re constantly saying “so and so just looked up this name” and I’m like “YA THANK YOU I’LL TAKE THAT”.😂 I also like how it tells you if there’s too many famous people with that name. Saves me much agony.
Okay that’s easy with the pinterest boards! I’m just embedding them! I’ll show you how when I do my post.😂
(Also it went REALLY WELL and I’m 99% sure I’m going to just go and write the sequel right now eeeeeep.) (Also I’m glad you like my entirely cracked sense of humour. I don’t even know what myself finds amusing these days. I’m mad.)😂
Haha, I have name problems as well! However, instead of naming a character “Lady” I usually pick a random but average name as a placeholder. And then sometimes I forget that wasn’t intended to be the final name. Like for instance I’m really thinking I should change the name of a character named Harold, but I picked it randomly for the first draft and it’s been around so long now that it almost seems wrong? And then I had an Empress I didn’t have a name for, so I was gonna call her E, which turned into Eve, which now I think is a bit too much considering she’s supposed to wreak destruction on her known world.
Yeah.
I’m glad someone else has emotional breakdowns! Perhaps someday I will try to write a book in five days. However it will probably be after I graduate college, because studying+binge writing=a bad grade on something or other. In the meantime, I guess I will plan for summer!
OMG, FAITH, I RELATE!! I DID THAT ONCE!! Last year I named a character “Norman” as a placeholder because I think it’s horrible name and now..I love it??? He’s Norman permanently??😂 I’m so glad we have such wonderful naming abilities.😂 I admire these people who have like characters named for their meanings and like cultural connectivity to a peanut or whatever and I’m like “HE’S NORMAN BECAUSE I WAS BEING RUDE TO MYSELF.”😂 Ahem.
I’m going to be honest with you, until you said that you got the name Toulouse from Aristocats, I was pronouncing it Tollhouse (as in the cookie dough). XD I know that’s not how it’s spelled, but that is just where my mind went.
bAhahahahha. I DON’T BLAME YOU. I’m horrible at pronouncing names. That’s why I steal names off Disney movies.😂
Omg I do the procrastinate-naming-thingy too lol. I’m almost done with my current first draft and I literally have named like, three characters and I’m definitely dreading going through the second draft and having to actually name them. Poop. I will check out nameberry though!! Sounds good.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE WRITING!!!
Good luck with your naming too!!😂 I’m just glad I’m not alone with the no-name thing. Like why is it so hard to name people, omg??? Nobody let me have children. They’d be unnamed until they were like 4 years old. 😂
We all want to be Sherlock when we grow up. <3
*yells in the comments as you directed* *because pinterest* *because I'm obedient like that*
I love hearing about your writing process. ^_^
"WHY DID I NOT CHOOSE THE LIFE OF A HERMIT WITH SHEEP IN ICELAND." <– This, honestly.
I have no idea what my writing process for getting ready is WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY I WRITE SO LITTLE??
Anyways have a fantastic break writing your book! ^_^ BEST OF LUCK!
YAS WE DO AND IT’S A GOOD GOAL. We should all attempt to achieve this Sherlock goal. *envisions the world filled with sociopaths* 😂
But I’m so glad you liked the post. <3 YOU ARE SO NICE ALWAYS, DEBORAH.
I envy how organized you are. Sometimes I have a system, and sometimes I don’t. But it usually ends up being pretty much a jumbled ball of mess every time. At least I finish my projects sometimes?
I only discovered the beauty of outlines like two years ago, and they are LIFESAVING. Yours are way more detailed than mine, though. I outline before doing anything else, that way I can discover my story as I’m planning it out. Then halfway through the story I discard half of my ideas and stumble around blind. Because I’m problematic like that. Yours are hysterical, though, ohhh my lord. xD
How can you leave your characters unnamed like that?! Honestly, that’s my favorite part of the planning process. I name every character first, even if it’s just a barista who shows up for three seconds. My name document has over 400 names in it at any given time. I totally agree about last names, though. They are EVIL. I hate them so much, I’ve probably used the same last name in four different stories and forgotten about it.
PINTEREST YES PINTEREST IS THE BEST AND ALSO THE WORST FOR PRODUCTIVITY. Do the post, Cait. Do it.
Something else I do is create playlists for each of my novels on my iPod. Like you mentioned about planning your book like a movie in your head, I do that with a movie soundtrack. It’s about thirty songs longer than usual movie soundtracks are, but who’s counting?
Finishing is the important part, right?!? So long as you get it done, it doesn’t really matter how you get there.😂 But omg outlines though. <3 I couldn't live without them. I used to write with just like 3 paragraphs of outline and THAT SO DIDN'T WORK FOR ME I WAS SO STRESSED. But I definitely outline all the details, like I even will put in notes as to what they're wearing/eating/posture sometimes if I know what it's supposed to be. But my guilty confession is that if the book is getting long and I'm tired, I'll just start cutting out scenes.😂
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S A PROBLEM. I got 60% through writing this draft and realised I hadn't named an important character. I was like flapping about wasting time grabbing the first French name I found.😂 I collect names avidly but somehow I still don't even know which to use??? Do you ever "save" names too? Like I keep going "no I love this name too much I can't use it yet".😂
SOUNDTRACKS ARE GRAND. I love soundtracks for my books too.
I loved this aha it was so great reading your writing preparation. <3 And omg your Pinterest board looks so pretty and dark and aethetically pleasing I LOVE IT. I would definitely be more than okay with a post on how you put it together! (AND YES SNIPPETS pleaseeee) I'm super envious of your talent though haha and your ability to finish writing a novel in such a short period of time. It is impossible for me to actually stick with something for long and I always end up changing my mind about what I wrote. But good luck to you, your WIP sounds so good!
It is so dark and creeeeepy MAWHWAHAH I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THIS PINTEREST BOARD.😂 BUT THANK YOU! And I’ll definitely do that post! And trust me this fast writing thing just takes practise. I used to take a month to write a book and thought that was fast.😂 And now I can churn out 90K in 4 days. PRACTISE!! IT’S GOLDEN!!
I’d love to see a post about your Pinterest boards! 🙂 And this entire post was pretty helpful, actually. I’m definitely a person who needs to let the story marinate in my head for a few months before I write it; when I don’t, it turns into a mess. Then I Pinterest, then I outline, then I character, then I write. Oddly, I tend to find that when I develop the characters before the plot, I have a hard time plotting? But when I start with the plot, the characters follow naturally. This is SO SO HARD to stick to, however, as my characters are my favorite parts of my stories.
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Oh good! I’ll definitely put that post in cue to write up! And omg I was about to say “yes yes I must let my books marinate too”…but honestly this book has been alive for less than 2 months and I just finished the draft and it worked.😂 But GENERALLY my books are swimming around my head for about 4+ months before I write them.
I feel like writers either prefer plot or characters?? Like they seem to always have one that’s a preferred strength? I definitely do better with plot than characters. All my characters end up sounding the same. Sassy and belligerent.😂
YES YES I WANT AND NEED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR PINTEREST ROUTINE. I ‘d love to do that as well but…I just end up looking at tons of random things and not getting anything done, so… But then again, isn’t why Pinterest was made, to let us get LOST IN EVERYTHING?
I love all of your writing steps, and it’s so good to learn about them all. I’m trying to write but it’s hard and unmotivating at times and also, I can’t take a week off life to write like I wish I could. BUT I am trying, so… I guess that’s okay?
BEST OF LUCK for your book, Cait. Please do share tons of snippets? 😀
Pinterest was 100% created to make us just get LOST IN ENDLESS RABBIT HOLES OF AMAZINGNESS. I’m sure it was designed with writers in mind so we’d never get any writing done.😂 But I’ll definitely do that post!! We can all get lost on pinterest together!!
And I totally get how unmotivating writing can be. *gives you encouraging cake* But just think of the finished project. IT’S WORTH IT.
I really need to write outlines. I feel like it’s the most useful thing when writing a book.
And btw, Toulouse is also the name of a city in Southern France 😉
It is so useful! And YES I did know Toulouse was a city too! Is that weird in France? To have people named after cities? Eep. Because I blame Aristocats too then.😂
I guess so ^^
OMG GOOD LUCK I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU! And I would very very much so appreciate a post on pinterest boards. Mine are an absolute mess.
My writing steps are not very clear, since I’m still working them out for myself (I’m also an excessively slow writer so that doesn’t help much either). I’d like to be able to plot more easily, but dang it kills me. But the times that I have made outlines, it’s been super helpful? So I plan on doing that for my next projects and maybe I’ll become slightly less slow. Like I’ll move from snail-pace-writer to… tortoise-pace-writer?
I totally get the hardness of outlines still, though.😂 Like I LOVE them and I really enjoy writing them, but honestly I procrastinate actually sitting down and starting them so much.😂 Bribe yourself with cake tho. #winningsolution
This is awesome! Thanks for the help. Also LOVE all of the Elementary gifs! 😀
I’m so glad you liked it!! ELEMENTARY FOR THE WIN TOO!!
OMG this is so inspiring and now I shall return to my WIP for draft two which I have been avoiding like the plague for fear of realising my writing is terrible and my story is boring and I am good for nothing. 😀 I love your process, I’m a huge plotter and planner and outliner too, I need to know exactly what is going to happen at almost every point of my story before I can start, even if I change my mind half way through. Good luck with the draft! Your plot sounds amazing, can’t wait to read the finished article one day!!! Lyndsey x
OH YAY FOR DRAFT #2s!!! I mean, writing is hard, but it’s so rewarding and worth it in the end, right?! It’s so relaxing to know what’s happening, though, with the outlines, right?!😂I’d much rather be prepared than wing it. hehe.
YAY for bullet-point outlines that are as much snark as actual useful information! Though for me, it’s 30% useful information, 30% “maybe this happens?,” and 30% snark/talking at my characters/telling my characters to shut up when they talk back.
Also, YES PLEASE STORY-PINTEREST-BOARD CREATION POST! I joined Pinterest fairly recently and I have story boards going but I’m not sure I’m doing them right? So yeah.
Anyway, best of luck in your writing endeavors!
Your outlines sound slightly more sensible than mine then.😂 GO YOU, YOU’RE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
And honestly there’s no “right / wrong” way to do pinterest, but it is handy to know where to go to find all the pins you need so YAS I WILL DO THE POST!!
Hehe. Danke.
YAY I can’t wait to read it! Thanks!
This was such a fun, interesting post to read! And will you be putting the finished product up on Wattpad at some point? I’d love to read it, ’cause it sounds so good. Good luck with your writing!
I’m glad it was interesting!! SO GLAD.😂 It’s kind of me just flailing around madly tbh, so I’m always glad when people find my weirdness interesting. And hopefully next month I’ll let everyone know what my plans with wattpad are next!
Your plotting process is super amusing. Maybe I need to try it out, because I’ve tried doing the traditional outlines because and they’re just SO BORING to write that I never finish them.
Also, this book. sounds. awesome. Like it really, really does. I can’t remember what I voted for in your poll thingy (possibly the library one?), but this one…I love ghosty characters and creepy dance books. Although I’ve never read a creepy dance book. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD TOTALLY FIT.
Ugh boring outlines are noooo fun. One has to make them exciting! And honestly my outlines are like a general commentary on my character’s bad life decisions anyway.😂 I stumbled upon this line I’d forgotten about the other day where I was just all caps yelling about everyone being a drama queen.😂 AT LEAST I’M HAVING FUN. I THINK.😂
Omg thank you, Aine! <3 That means so much to me!!
Ohhhh, Nameberry seems helpful! I checked it out and I really liked it. I will therefore use it, since the overlord paper fury recommended it;) I haven’t really been writing but I have ideas. I guess since I have school and bookstagram and other priorities. I think for next Nanowrimo I will write them all. Instead of writing one novel I think I will just write three or four short stories. My outline process is kind of like yours. Just a bulleted list. If I get stuck outlining I have this thing I do called, “A Series of What If’s…” Basically I just ask myself what if questions (ex. what if there were tattoos?[this usually ends with me on pinterest for hours looking at tattoos], what if she secretly had a sister but her sister is dead to her?) Meanwhile I cackle at my creativeness. I will not show my work to anyone though. Unless I think its brilliant. My mom doesn’t see the point in writing if no one sees it though. Oh, well. I also have a hard time with names to. My sister pointed out I like the name Aaron one day. But I like it spelled any other way but the normal way. Like Eryn, Aryn, Erin. You know? Originality! This post makes me want to get into writing again though. Thanks! Bye.
You’re most welcome for that link.😂 I also like how you can search for names specific to what country you need or what letter or gender. IT’S SO HELPFUL. Especially for me who has no idea what to call a character until two seconds before I need to use the name. Ahem.
I love the idea of “what if” questions!! That is actual genius and would so help make things more complex and twisty.
hahah, my parents are constnatly like “so can I read it” and I’m like “IN 99 YEARS MAYBE WHEN IT’S EDITED AND I’M DEAD AND CAN’T BE AROUND”.😂 It’s easier to let strangers read my works over my family.
Oh I totally get you with the name variations. I really like versions of Shay…but like everything from Shai, Shia, Sasha, etc. It’s becoming a problem within all my books haha. (Oh and I love Aaron spelt like Arin. <3)
I’m glad I’m not the only one who makes little movies in my head before writing. The only problem is, the little movies don’t transfer well to my laptop,
My novel steps go something like this: Step one: Have idea. Step two: Freak out about idea. Step three: Make a Pinterest board. Step four: Make a playlist. Step five: Make a head-movie. Step six: write. Step seven: cry.
Character names are probably the first thing I choose because I have to call them something besides Precious Cinnamon Roll.
It’s downright INCONSIDERATE of our ideas not to translate well from our head-movies onto the page, right?!? It’s so rude.😂 But at least I’m not alone haha. My books just are so much better in my head omg.
I like that freak out is your step #2.😂 ME TOO. I basically freak out in all the steps honestly. I think it’s a writer thing.😂
I literally went through a whole outline referring to a character as My Smol Son.😂
YAS do a post about how you Pinterest because your boards are awesome!
And that writing the book in your head thing??? I REALLY NEED TO TRY THAT NOW!
I WILL, JUST FOR YOU. (Okay and for the dozen of other people yelling at me.😂 I didn’t realise everyone would be interested in that!)😂
YOU DO NEED TO TRY IT THOUGH. It’s so fun to just be lost in your own head. :’) I mean, my family keeps yelling at me because I’m not paying attention but whatever. My head is an awesome place.
I am you’re complete opposite, I usually have some semblance of an idea in my head and I just sit down and write and make stuff up as I go along. I have the same problem with names, I can never pick just one and have changed the characters names so many times, and for some reason last names are ten times more difficult. Good luck with your writing, I hope it goes great!!!
WELL I OFFICIALLY ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH THEN!! 😂 Like I can’t even imagine sitting down and just typing whatever comes into my head. My imagination is like completely not that good. *bows to your skills*
Also why are names so hard, omg?!? I’ve changed characters’ names dozens of times trying to find that perfect one.
THANK YOU. I had such a good time with this draft. <3
I haven’t tried to write a book in so long but I usually love making we heart it collections and spotify playlists to inspire my writing. I also love to take my notebook and jot (scribble!) down ideas to come back to! Also, I usually tend to get to half way and then scrap the entire book because it turned out to be rubbish #oops
Honestly collecting is one of the best parts. 😍 It just makes it all so REAL and I love it so so much ahhh!!!! But seriously, you have to finish sometime!! I promise that everyone feels like their first drafts are rubbish at times, but you can’t make it better if you don’t finish it. 😉
*SOBBING HYSTERICALLY FOR HOURS* SORRY. SORRY, I KNOW, YOU ARE COMING BACK IN FIVE DAYS…. BUT I CAAHAHAAAHAHAHAAAAAANNNNTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *WAILING AND SCREAMING* *THROWS A BOOK*
*sniffles* I’m sorry, I shouldn’t get so worked up… but but but you are my inspiration! You and your posts are the highlights of my week! After reading your blogposts, I always feel upbeat, and inspired to do somthing, and that contented feeling you feel when you have a good laugh. I just… don’t know how I will bear it…
Of course, you are leaving for a very good reason, and one I should be HAPPY for you to do! I CAN ALWAYS TRY TO BRIBE YOU INTO LETTING ME BETA-READ A STORY OF YOURS. But but but I just feeel saaad you are leaaaving and where will I get my inspiration???? I don’t know.
Well, onto the commenting on your fabulous words… Though in a subdued tone… since I am still in mourning.
I am a semi-organized writer. I mean, I like to be organized, and I usually am, but I am not AS organized as you. I feel like if I were to plot the outline like that I would end up tired of the book before I started writing it??? It’s weird, I know. I don’t know how it happened, maybe my older brother dropped me on my head as a baby.
(True story: when I was learning to walk, my brother would casually stick his leg out right in front of me so I would fall on my face. I would cry, get up, and walk some more only to be knocked down again by him. MAYBE THIS IS WHY. BROTHER MINE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE????) (good grief, I was supposed to be subdued… I guess it’s iMPOSSIBLE!! YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME WANT TO JUMP UP AND DOWN AND FANGIRL AND SCREAM AND HAVE FUN.)
um YES, I AM INTERESTED!!!!!!!!!!! OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD LOOOOOVE ANYTHING AT ALL FROM YOU, BUT THIS ESSPECIALY!! I AM NEW TO THE WORLD OF PINTREST, SO I WOULD LOVE ANY TIPS YOU HAVE TO OFFER!!!! PLEASE DO THIS DO THIS DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For me, when I get ready to write, I get an idea, and then I brainstorm for a bit. If I have a character or two, and a goal to reach I deem myself ready. I write a few paragraphs to get a feel of the storytelling and get into my characters heads, then I outline. I make a beginning, and an end, and then I figure out how to get to the end. Sometimes I get quite a few chapters in before I know what is going on at all. Then I write like a fiend… or just write when I feel like it and never get anything done at all. Jeez, I am not organized at all….. 😛
I WILL BE SENDING LOTS AND LOTS OF SUPPORT AND CAKE AND CHOCOLATE AND TEA, DEARIE, AS YOU WRITE!!!! EVEN IF IT’S JUST IMAGINARY. (hey, if I had your address, I would REALLY send you a box of stuff… just saying.) AND I WILL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TO CHEER YOU ON IN THE AWFUL EDITING PROCESS, AND COMMENT ON YOUR NEXT MAGNIFICANT POST. BECAUSE DUH.
YOU ARE THE GREATEST.
-E
*gives you cake to calm you down* YOU’LL SURVIVE, E, JUST THINK OF IT AS A HOLIDAY WITHOUT ME OVERSEEING YOUR LIFE. *twirls about majestically and disappears into the darkness*
(Also omg how do your comments make my DAY every time?!? *squishes you* You make blogging 100% worth it.❤️❤️) (I will definitely ask you to beta a story when I get to that stage. DON’T FEAR.)
And that’s totally fair about the outlining! It’s totally not for everyone! It makes me rabidly excited to write the story and if I CAN’T write the story straight away, I feel like I have the heart of it captured and I won’t forget it. Like I outlined a pirate book nearly 4 months ago and I’m STILL in love with it because I’ve got it all outlined, even though I don’t know when I’m going to get a chance to actually write it properly.
I love hearing about your process too! 🎉🎉
*stuffs face with chocolate* THANK YOU.
Ah, here’s where I fall over. Step 1: idea for a book!
Aww, I understand!!😂 Not everyone has to write!!😂
I’ve been working on my wip for such a long time, that I think I need to move on. I am not sure it’s working or will ever work. An outline is great though, I had to do it for one of my classes in uni and it helped a lot. Thanks for this post.
I get that, Angel!! And like you don’t have to abandon it! You could just try another project for a change of pace and then go back to the original another time? I abandoned a book for 5 years and then last year I went back to it aND IT WORKED.🎉🎉
I AM NOT ALONE!!!! YAY!!! It’s such a relief to know that I’m not the only one who has absolutely no clue what they are doing. And your Pinterest boards???? WHATTTTT??? How is so much amazingness captured within one board??? Please share your secrets!!!!
I also love your take on how much research to do. I often find myself bogged down in details, which tend to way down on my creativeness, so I’m going to try and let my creativity roam freely before doing as much fact-checking next time. And number seven is SOOOOO true…
WE’RE PRACTICALLY SISTERS NOW, KENZIE. Like why would we want to know what we’re doing anyway, right??? So weird. Nope. *throws brain out the window* I SHALL DO THAT PINTEREST TUTORIAL THEN!😂 I didn’t realise so many people would be interested in that, haha.
And YES. I think research is 100% important, but I just don’t think it’s the first thing to do for that first draft. Plus what if I finish the manuscript and hate it? I wasted so much time researching then. So I totally prefer to dive into it when I’ve got the bones of the story out.
Oh my goodness, YES!!! We shall be the brainless sisters, mwahahahaha!!! *rips brain out*
Ugh, that is so true. Sadly, I never even thought about whether or not I would even like this story when it is finished??? I just sort of threw all my chickens into one basket with this one.. (Or is it eggs??) Either way, I better love this story, or I’m going to spend 3 billion years weeping and ripping out my hair until I am bald.
I am completely the opposite, I literally just sit down at my laptop to write and words spill out of my head! No planning, no outline, no nothing, just my crazy idea and my laptop! I wish I could write super-detailed outlines of absolutely everything that was going to happen in my novel, but then I would start overthinking and everything just goes to shreds! Good luck on your novel! I just finished my first draft of mine last week and am about to dive into the deep dark scary world of editing!
That’s so awesome though! I 200000% admire you because HOW DO YOU EVEN DO THAT, JO. 😂 I just would end up staring out the window. There’s nothing that terrifies me more than a blank screen and complete instructions on how to fix it hhaha.
Thanks! I honestly have no idea, it’s just how I’ve always worked! Never been much of a planner 🙂
ahhhhhhhhhhhhthisismeyellinginthecommentsforthepinterestbloghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I HEAR YOU! I SHALL OBLIGE!!
I love your posts. That it all. Enjoy your writing week!
THANK YOU JEN. I SHALL HAVE A GOOD TIME!! *waves*
Naming characters is.. an event. I once wrote a short story for a class without naming my main character, and then handed it in without giving her a name. One could argue it was for narrative reasons, but it was secretly just because I didn’t want to figure out what to name her. For me, naming characters is either a) the easiest thing ever, they just arrived with that name or b) one of the most difficult parts of writing anything, so I just up it off for ages.
I love that you were blaming it on narrative reasons.😂 That is EXACTLY something I would do. Honestly I end up naming my characters at the very last minute and then I got 60% through writing this book to realise I didn’t even have a name for one of my characters?!?? What is my life.😂 I REALLY like when they arrive with names. Like I know 100% that the ghost would be named Gavriel. Everyone else….omg. Bury me. *buries self in names and wishful thinking*
YES SOMEONE ELSE WHO DOES BULLET OUTLINES! *hugs you*
Awesome list, Cait! I can’t wait for your new novel! 😀
I do have a ?, tho…how do you plot – or recommend plotting – a short story? I’m writing a (clean) romance but have no clue how to plot a short story? Like, does it need a plot since it’s shorter, or…?
Hi Grace!
Sorry to butt in on your comment, but I’ve written a few short stories before and thought I’d offer what works for me. I usually find it best to use one plot only, and keep it to as few characters as possible. Just a few months ago, I wrote a short story about a girl whose brother had died, and we followed her life as she tried to move on. He stuck around as a ghost, and the whole story was just snapshots of her trying to adjust to normal life. The only characters I spent time flushing out were the two of them, and any others only got brief mentions: a Christmas conversation where she tried to hide she was seeing a ghost, a guy she was interested in and told her brother about, etc. I didn’t spend so much time plotting because this was really short, just over a thousand words, but I knew what scenes I wanted to start with and end with, and a few in the middle, and I worked with what I had. Basically by writing half of it in one day, taking a three month break, and finishing it in another day, then editing.
That went longer than I thought it would. Basically, I would suggest figuring out what you’re story’s really about, and figure out the scenes you need to show that. Then tie them all together. So I guess it’s like writing a novel, only with one plot??? So if you’re writing a romance, that’s the plot, right? So the characters need to meet, they need to get to know each other, and they need to end up together. Ta-da. Spruce up those scenes to make ’em yours, and have fun writing!
I really hoped this helped, because it seems kind of ramble-ly to me. Good luck!
@Grace: HELLO MY BULLET FRIEND!! (Okay that sounds strange typed out but…you know what I mean.😂) And omg I’m actually the exactly worst person to ask about short stories because I’VE NEVER WRITTEN ONE. I imagine it’d be like writing a chapter that started and ended conclusively? But I have no idea. It’s like 60,000+ for me or nothing.😂
I like the idea of going through the whole book in my head scene by scene, but like you I would forget most of it, so I usually outline the bigger scenes I know I want to include and then when I’m at my computer I visualize the scene I’m about to write. Then I don’t forget as much lol! I also don’t name my characters when doing the outline either, unless I know I want a certain character to have a particular name. I’ve never heard of nameberry! I usually use babynames.com, but I’m going to check that one out! Your process is so awesome!
~Sara
I totally get that!!😂 I have to go over every scene at least 2 million times in my head as I’m writing the whole book…and then I even get to outline and realise I don’t even know how to connect these scenes. HAHAH THE WRITERS LIFE IS SO FUN. *howls* 😂😂
I’m really glad I’m not alone with the name-failing though!! Names are so hard?!? I actually was 60% through writing this book when I realised I STILL didn’t have a name for an important character. *facepalm*
Cait HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! *waves frantically* I haven’t commented in FOREVAH and I’m so, so, so fearfully sorry!!!! But it wasn’t *quite* my fault; my email stopped giving me updates about your posts somehow? Idk how that works. I didn’t unsubscribe or anything. Must go put on my Sherlock hat and investigate. *nods sagely*
So: book-writing! Such fun! Such bliss! (I’m being partly sarcastic here. But only partly.) Your process and mine are actually quite a lot alike; except the steps aren’t divided up so neatly. I kind of mix them. But the basic idea is the same: Write it all in my head first (although this is an ongoing process, I mean I continually refine the story in my head even after I’ve started the other steps); then outline everything (but definitely not as detailed as yours); then write it all down. Although I write at a much slower pace than you (I don’t feel bad about this because I know you are the dragon queen and possessed of special dark-magic powers 😉 )
Interestingly, though: I HAVE to have a) names and b) pictures of my characters before I can do anything with ’em. I can’t even imagine the story without that, let alone write it. I have such a terrible time getting pictures off of Google . . . I really, REALLY ought to try Pinterest . . .
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NOVEL, DRAGON QUEEN. SENDING GOOD VIBES AND CAKE FROM ACROSS THREE OCEANS OR WHATEVER ELSE IT IS SEPARATES US. (I’m so bad at geography . . .)
P.S. I’m halfway through my Holocaust/WW2 novel now! The end is in sight! (barely)
OMG HELLO JESSICA!! HERE’S A VOICE FROM THE PAST!! HOW ARE YOU?!? *gives you welcome back cake* I’m going to go glare at wordpress for like unsubscribing you?? That’s so so strange that it would do that. You might have to unsubscribe and then re-subscribe? Because honestly I have no clue. 😭😭
Oh writing is such bliss. Such fun. All the time. 😭😂😭😂 I MEAN, IT’S WORTH IT. But oh, don’t we all like a few grey hairs to commemorate the journey? And hey, it’s awesome that you write slower! We’re all different! And I totally rewrite the story as I’m going too *nods* Like the movie-in-my-head is still slightly different from the outline and then the actual book will be a little different too. And also *whispers* I often end up cutting scenes when I get tired during the actual writing.😂 I’m so lazy.
Pinterest is really good for finding faces!! I have like thousands of faces saved for all these book characters I’ll never get around to writing.
(OMG GOOD LUCK FOR THE HALFWAY WRITING POINT!!! THE END IS NIGH!!)
your writing process is just goals!! Also I look at your pinterest a lot because it’s so AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, good grief, so if you did a post telling us how that beautiful thing came to be I would be forever thankful!
Have a wonderful week writing!! I wish I had a week to take off so I could just write, but grade eleven won’t let me *cries* Make sure you eat lots of chocolate and cake to keep that writing brain whirring!
Aww, that makes me smile!! I will definitely try and do that post sometime soon!! And omg I totally get that taking time off to write is just so not always possible. I never did this when I was in highschool either. *gives you cake and chocolate to keep you going through year 11 too*
FYI, I taught Holmes everything he knows, just saying. I’ve written “head stories” for YEARS. When I was 10 I tried to be a writer and type out all my stories, but my poor slow fingers stood not a chance of keeping up with my brain (I also did hunt-and-peck, so that might have been part of the problem??). So I began writing the stories in my head. Literally at this point I’ve written hundreds of stories in my head and like… ten… on paper. So. Working on that. But most of the stories I do write down I’ve already done a dry run on as a head story, so I know where it’s going and if it’s really as epic as it seemed like at first.
It was all my idea, tbh. Holmes stole it from me. I shall have to sue him.
Also I love your snarky outlines. They’re the best. And I hear you on the research!! I find also that even if I try to research ahead of time, I’ll research all the wrong things. I delve deeply into something that I end up spending two sentences on, and talking for eight pages about [the history of olives or the like] and didn’t think to research that AT ALL and honestly am just making it up as I go. 🤣
WELL WE ARE CLEARLY SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE MAKING. *hi fives* It’s actually so fun to always have a story going on in one’s brain, right?!? I definitely always have at least one, and if I finish them off and don’t have anything to go onto I AM LOST. I need stories. All the time. Always. Omg. I’m made up of stories and cake, let’s be honest here.
Yas. Go back to the 1800s and sue Holmes. Can I also come too?? Just like for the trip??? I want to frolic around London.
And that’s exactly me with researching. 😂 Plus I find I can’t actually RETAIN what I research??? So I end up having all these docs and I just forget while I’m writing anyway. So it saves time to slow down and just focus on it in the 2nd draft. (The problem is when the correct research makes plot holes haha, but we figure that out later. *throws self onto the floor and howls*)
I WANT A PINTEREST BOARD POST! I ALSO JUST LIKE AESTHICALLY PLEASING THINGS!
OKAY FOR YOU I SHALL FOR SURE. <3
Oh, Cait, My problem is ALWAYS the direct opposite of yours: I have NO. IDEAS. Like- I have characters in my head. And they have personalities, and relationships with each other, and I want to write ALL the things about them. The problem? They don’t DO anything. They have no goals. They have no plot. They haven’t even an endgame. So I write them, hoping I can come up with some crap along the way, right? WRONG. I mean, sure, SOME stuff happens. Sometimes it is even mildly distressing, or what have you. But what is the ULTIMATE finish? NO. IDEA. This is why I have TWO, yes two, first drafts that are about 60% finished. Because no one, least of all me, knows what happens after that. (Actually, in fairness, one DOES kind of have an endgame, BUT that is the one that is just not… inspiring me right now and so I cannot.) And then I thought up a NEW ONE- a world, CHARACTERS, of course, but plot? NOPE. Only like, the start of a plot, never the end.
So while you run through Steps 1-8, you can catch me when you stop at Step 7, where I will have set up camp. I will have cookies, so you know, I will try to get you to sit and wallow with me for a spell 😉 GOOD LUCK!! I am sure you will write amazing things! ♥♥
Agh, I actually can’t even imagine that, Shannon.😂 Clearly your characters need to come and hang out in my billions of empty plots who need actual characters in them. I always feel like I’m rewriting the same like 4 types of characters BECAUSE I’M JUST SO BAD AT CHARACTERS. But hey endgames can just be “and everyone dies”. That is my go-to. Shh, don’t tell me that shouldn’t be a thing, but it is. *nods sensibly*
Thank yooooou for all the cookies, kind bean. <3 I hope you finish a story you love really soon!! I BELIEVE IN YOU.
You actually win the award for Most Aesthetically Pleasing Pinterest Boards EVER. They’re so nice *sobs in happiness*
Also, it’s great to see a little inside your crazy mind. I can’t imagine living there.
And you win for Most Kindest Wonderful Bean Of Ever for sure. <3 :')
And I can't imagine living in this crazy brain half the time either, don't worry. It's a worry.😂
So you’re not writing Scorpion Deep? But you ARE gonna write it though aren’t you? Because I’m pretty sure you promised me or I may have made that up, but either way you must write this. I insist.
A phantom of the opera retelling sounds amazing! Is that what Roseblood is based on? I’m just going by the mask on the cover really. Good luck with your five days of furious writing smushster, looking forward to you sharing snippets with us <3
NO. I’M THE WORST. 😭 Like it absolutely won the poll hands down and here I am….not writing it…but I swear I’ll put it in line to do for April’s NaNo! Unless something else, you know, steals my attention because my brain is the worst.
And yes! Roseblood kind of sparked me into actually getting this down, although I was first inspired to do the retelling from Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine, which was a Phantom retelling but like set in a slaughter house??? Which was weird. 😂
This was actually really humorous, helpful and…. (can’t think of another word beginning with H, happy? ugh no. XD)
Thank you so so so so so so so so so much for this! I’m no writer (i love to write) but I can never finish a book. Your writing process has me in awe, cait and i need to read your books because they all sound soooo exciting!
Aww, thank you, Mahriya!!😂 I have a lot of fun with my random shouty writing posts. (Humours, helpful, and horrendous?😂😜) But hey it’s okay that you haven’t finished a book yet! YOU CAN STILL DO THAT. It just takes practise honestly and you can do anything. *twirls majestically*
PLEASE DO A POST ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOALS!!!!!
ALSO, I LOVE THIS POST!!!!! I’m SOOO excited for you, too!!! <3 <3 <3
I WILL, JUST FOR YOU, MY FRIEND.
*yelling* I WOULD LIKE TO READ A BLOG POST ABOUT HOW YOU USE PINTEREST, CAIT.
GREAT IT’S COMING TO A BLOG NEAR YOU VERY SOON THEN.!!
YAYYYY!
Love, love, LOVE your post. 🙂
And yes, by all means, PLEASE do a Pinterest post. I’ve never been able to get one to work for me, but I’ve always wanted to do it!
And besides, whatever you write, I’m sure I’ll be dying from laughter. 🙂
Aww, THANK YOU. <3 I'm so glad you like them! And that pinterest post will definitely come!!
It’s interesting to read the comments. So many different paths to take to arrive at the same destination! That’s really cool.
So true, right?! I love how writing isn’t a “you must do it this way to write a book” and how you can literally do it HOWEVER your inspiration/gut leads you and we can all end up with books and creations we love. <3 It's inspiring. :')
HAHAH! So me, right now I’m writing too! I’m currently on my second draft of my novel, Ever the Stars. It’s SUPER boring, but SOO worth the editing. (In case you didn’t gather what I just said) I HATE EDITING! I much prefer the amount of daydreaming a first draft brings to the table. Good post!
OH YAY WRITING TWINS. *hi fives* I hope your draft is going well! 2nd drafts can totally be more difficult than the firsts, right?!? Because so many details to try and sort out. And plot holes to patch up with like duct tape and tears and hope. #Legit 😂 First drafts definitely win for being more exciting/fun to write though, I agree. BUT STILL GOOD LUCK. PERSEVERE!! MAKE YOUR BOOK AWESOME!
PLEASE share your method on how you make aesthetic boards. PLEASE! Please? I’ve just learned about these and I think they’re SO awesome! But I struggle with the right platform on how to create them, how to share them and ensuring I’m not stealing other people’s photos. Would love to see how you got about it!
OKAY I TOTALLY WILL!! Although what do you mean by “right platform”? Because I just use pinterest honestly.😂 I don’t take it onto any other platform unless I’m embedding it onto my blog haha.
YAY! I can’t wait to see it!
And I suppose I get a little lost, because all the boards I always see are SO pretty! But people always seem to use fancy things like Photoshop or Canva or some other impossibly difficult to use program, and I’m just sitting here like, Why am I so laaaaaame T_T I would really love to find a way to make pretty boards of my novels to put on my blog or my Tumblr, but apparently I’m unbelievable inept when it comes to technology.
Ohhhh, you mean like doing photo edits? I don’t do any of these because I do think that’s copy right infringement. I just repin on pinterest.
EEEEP I LOVE THIS POST CAIT!! First of all I admire and envy you at the same time because you write so fast hahaha I do a lot of preparation but well… 😂😂 anyway, I also imagine the scenes on my head first! It helps a lot though the downside is actually translating my imagination into the writing hahaha and yes to the research! I used to research everything FIRST and then got overwhelmed so I think it’s best to do a little research first, and then go on a full mode as we go 😀 AND LOLOLOLOL ABOUT THE NAMES?! Hahaha I name my main characters first but side characters can wait because coming up with so many names is difficult! 😂😂
Through the process of writing, I go through a lot of self doubting. Like some times I love my writing but most of the times I hate it?! IT’S NORMAL RIGHT? But like you said 1st drafts aren’t perfect so I keep reminding myself that it’s okay and I have time to edit later 😀 great post! <3
YAS I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT!! *flails about happily* And honestly the writing fast is just about practise. Last year I thought I was dead after 20K in a day, but this year…haha…I managed 30K and am still conscious.😂 So honestly it’s just practise!! (And, of course, having the time to actually just shut down and write for a few days. Which not everyone is able to do, I do know that I’m lucky in that regard.😜) But YAS the translating that head-cool-epic-awesome-book-movie into an actual book is. so. hard.
I do a little research too, don’t get me wrong. 😂 But I was honestly texting my sister halfway through writing and going “what do you call the room where a stage in a theatre is”…because apparently I don’t remember words when I write.😂
IT’S TOTALLY NORMAL. I absolutely freak out before I start a book and I’ve written 23 of them. Hating your writing is just part of the process, and it means you know you need to get better. That’s how I feel about it! And as bad as those 1st drafts are, the next thing you write is going to be better, and the next, and the next. :’)
This is so inspirational! I am a writer and now I have so many more ideas for how to get myself writing. Thanks!!
Oh that’s really exciting! I AM SO GLAD, LENNA. *gives you cake to aid you*
IT WAS FABULOUSLY INTERESTING TO READ ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS. I’m an organizational (word?? idk) fiend as well aND TBH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND PANTSERS??? like my sister is a pantser and it’s really fascinating to watch how brilliant stories come out of her brain and SHE DOESN’T WRITE ANYTHING DOWN. I’ve legit had to write down ideas FOR HER on sticky notes just so that I can sleep at night. :”’) Outlining is so much fun, isn’t it?? THAT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS. Because it can be totally incoherent and messy and only make sense to you which is my favorite kind of writing. Also hiding jokes for oneself in the outline = YAAAAS. *nods approvingly* Although granted most of my jokes to myself are private jokes that only I understand (??) so everyone else be like “how is that funny” but oh well. ALSO THE BOOK MOVIES. MMMHMMMM. I do that so often, man. Especially to epic soundtracks. <3 everyone thinks I'm daydreaming but I'm like NOPE CONQUERING THE WORLD INSIDE THIS LITTLE HEAD OF MINE. *happy sigh*
BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK MY DEAR I'M SURE IT WILL BE INCREDIBLE. <3
Organisational sounds like a word?!? Like spellcheck isn’t yelling at me SO I’M GONNA AGREE IT’S A WORD. And I love that you write your sister’s ideas down.😂 Omg that is the best thing I’ve heard. You obviously are a gift she doesn’t deserve with how thoughtful you are.😂
And outlining IS so fun!! Like I often get stuck, but when it all works it just kind of makes me so rabidly excited I cannot even. How do people not be writers???? It is literally the best thing in life???? <3
Also "conquering the world inside this little head of mine" needs to be on a tee shirt.😂
I write stories in my head to help me get to sleep. I can’t write the story on the computer because it just doesn’t write well. When I’m thinking of it in my head, it’s AMAZING. But then when I try to type it up? NADA. It just doesn’t work for me. HAPPY WRITING, CAIT!
I totally get how you feel! But if it makes you feel better, the more you practise writing them down, the easier it gets. 😉 (But seriously my books are always WAY better in my head too.😂)
THANK YOU.
Freaking awesome process Cait! I totally agree about what you say about books making better movies than books in our head? All my stories are like that 😛 Also about thenames! I name my characters at the start but change it a gundred times? AND I HAVE A NOTEBOOK FULL OF NAMES CATEGORIZED BY NATURE, MEANING AND ETHNICITY 😛 i’m paranoid about names 🙂 Also I research obsessively 😀
Good luck Cait!! Sending writing energy towards you 😛
I meant hundred!!
Names are haaaaaard. I don’t understand the writers who are like “I have a named character I just need a plot!” Because I’m fully like “I HAVE A FULLY DETAILED PLOT AND I KEEP CALLING MY CHARACTERS DUDE #1 AND DUDE #2”.😂😂 I’m so glad you’re obsessed with collecting names too!! SAME. *hi fives* I have a whole word doc full of them.
omgosh I do the movie book thing too. And it always happens at the worst of times. I also do the bullet point outline thing, though sometimes I don’t write it down and end up forgetting what happens next. #oops.
I wish I could write as fast as you. Seriously, you are a writing wizard, Cait.
It’s so awesome having a movie going on in your head, right?!? Until you realise all the, like, special effects are really hard to write.😂 I always put WAY too many explosions into my “movies” and then realise they kind of suck translating to writing haha. Ahem.
HERE, HAVE SOME CAKE. IT’S THE WAY TO WRITE MORE.
I was stage-whispering ‘Toulouse, Toulouse’ in the kitty cat voices after reading your outline as was pleasantly surprised when you confirmed that it was pretty orange Toulouse you were talking about 😀
That is the only reason I even know how to pronounce it.😂😂 THANK YOU, DISNEY, FOR INSPIRING ME WITH A FAT ORANGE CUTE CAT. (Toulouse also has a pet cat in the book, because, ya know, references.)
This post was actually super helpful!! I should definitely use some of these tips, because I never have any writing time lately >< Also, I'd love to see a Pinterest post <3 😀
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I will definitely do that pinterest board post!! Everyone can see the full depths of my obsession. 😂 I hope you find some time to write soon though. IT’S SO WORTH IT. <3 But hard to balance with all the reading that needs to be done, right?!?
This post is actually really motivational. And I just showed up for some snark and cake. Man, I wonder how quickly if my draft out of I quit doing other things like internet. I really should try
Drafting quick is really quite fun. 😜 I don’t have time to start hating my book TOO much before I finish ahah. I’m glad you liked the post! 🎉🎉
As usual…love your post! I’ve only published one book, non-fiction, and have more in the series I want/need to write. But I also have this novel that I keep writing in my head…I’d love to be able to carve out 5 days to write it but I’d need someone to babysit my kids though. Volunteers?? 🙂
Still, maybe it’s better I stew on it for longer. It’s already evolved and grown in the last few months to a much more interesting, complex story than it was when I first conceived the idea. My only worry is, like you, that I’ll forget most of it before I write it!
I probably need to try your bullet point idea. I have tried to write down a few notes in the past but they quickly turn into paragraphs, then in to me actually writing the book, which does NOT help with me getting down an outline!
All the best with your 5 days, hope you love what you come up with in that time.
Ooh definitely write down some things before actually writing the book then, so you don’t forget! I used to just keep EVERYTHING in my head…but I can’t. I have such a bad memory now. 😂
(And thankyou! I really did love writing this book. It was a lot of fun. :’)
This post is just EVERYTHING! Your humor and writing process just perfectly sync with my writing soul.
I know exactly what you mean about mentally writing a book, but then you end up directing a mental film instead of planning a book.
Also, have you ever dreamed that you wrote a book and it was amazing and destined for greatness, but then you wake up and find you’ve forgotten everything about it? (I have many times. It’s a tragedy how successful a writer my sleeping brain is.) lol
THANK YOU, THIS MAKES MY DAY.😂🎉🎉 And omg mentally directing the film is the best. The soundtrack…the effects…it’s like downright Oscar material and yet we have to kind of try and get it onto paper?? #rude 😂
I dream some ideas that I kiiiind of might turn into things in my books but not dreamed I was actually a good writer.😂 I need to do that.
It is always so fascinating to read about how you write your books. I still have no clue how you get a book done in like 5 days, you are a machine!!! I totally understand the naming thing, I don’t think I’d be able to name them straight away either. THAT IS SO HARD! I have tried, especially on this story I have been wanting to write for like 5 years now. The MC still doesn’t have a name! It’s a tough decision… OBVIOUSLY.
Aww, thanks, Charnell!! 😜 It just takes practise honestly.😂 NAMES THOUGH. They have to be perfect and like not too overused and easy to spell and also all sort of match…*throws papers in the air and has a crisis*
*yells incrementally to write about Pinterest*
This has made me feel a lot better about my weird process. I really thing acknowledging the breakdown that can come is important.
Thank you
I WILL!! IT’S ON THE TO-DO LIST I PROMISE!! And I think we should all definitely schedule in these breakdowns. *nods* They’re pretty much part of the writing life, right?!😂
LOVE your writing process! (And yes, I would be TERRIBLY interested to learn more about your pinterest for writing! I tried this once and just ended up with a bunch of period clothing and nothing much useful; blah) I usually outline the major bits and some of the minor bits (seriously my outlines range from being on the order of “something happens here” to having micro-managed snippets of awesomeness like witty dialog). But I’m totally with you on the names thing. My protagonist has changed names 3 times since I started my most recent first draft. At some point I should reconcile this problem but … Meh. My antogonist is the only one with a firm name, and I think that’s just because he’s the antagonist. Otherwise, I keep having to look back at notes to keep track of who’s who. And most of my people/places just have an “” in my first draft. Names will be worried about after I finish figuring out the rest of the outline. I mean draft. And then SECOND draft will be where I actually write this stuff for real.
Good luck with your Phantom retelling!
I’m so glad I’m not alone with how hard names are!!😂 I feel like I always end up choosing super cliche names or else super weird ones.😂 Like Toulouse. What even is with that. (I also admit that sometimes I have to check my own character file while I’m writing just to remember everyone’s names. I’M HOPELESS. MY MEMORY IS A GRAPE.)
Enjoy your writing!!! Sounds like you’ve got this process down.
Eeep, thank you, Nicole!! It was so much fun to write this one.😍
Love this, Elementary and your book writing process thingy.
I needed this, writing is hard!
Yaaas another Elementary fan! *hi fives* And omg writing IS hard but worth it but HARD. 😂
Your process is literally the best thing ever. I love it so much. XD
YOU ARE THE BEST EVER, THANK YOU. <3
Movie book thing is the same for me. I’ve had one or another going for as long as I can remember. It’s how my stories come to be. Now the only thing is to get them written.
Naming characters is not an easy process. Sometimes they change names on you and other times they choose one straight away and other times you go for weeks or months with a character in your head with no name.
Yes interested in how you put your pinterest boards. I’ve tried doing it before but have really only barely done them.
My process is new and shiny. I haven’t written a full draft before and I came to realise that plotting would be a whole lot of help. So usually I do a lot of movie story in my head and then start plotting. And by usually I’ve actually only just started. I hope to get a good portion plotted and then in March I plan to write at least 20,000 words for the story. We’ll see how I go. 🙂
I’m glad I’m not alone with the failing on naming sometimes.😂 It’s just so hard to think of the perfect one?! I’m currently plotting the 5th book in a series where one of the main characters still has no name LIKE WHAT AM I DOING. WHAT IS THIS LIFE.😂
Good luck with your plotting!! It’s not for everyone, but I find it insanely helpful to keep me on track and know what’s coming *nods*. Oh oh and I hope you get that 20K done in March. I shall be cheering for you!
I’d love to see how you put your Pinterest boards together! I love Pinterest for about an hour once a month and am rubbish at it at all other times, so I need the inspiration! I’d love to use it more, I just– There are so many social media sites, Cait. So many!
I prepare to prepare, too, and the outlining is my happy place. So many possibilities! So many ways in which I could really mess up my characters! <3
I hear ya! I DO. There are so many sites to balance.😂 I basically only use pinterest when I’m deep in the midsts of plotting and then I totally get swallowed by it. SO MANY IDEAS IN THERE.😂 I’ll definitely put that post on the to-do list!!
Eeeep, outlining is so fun. 😍 So so sooo many possibilities and excitement to see what evil one’s brain can come up with.
You are so inspiring. I’m in Highschool and I think writing is the way for me but I get so intimidated. Your blog really helps me. I recently submitted a 100 word story for a competition and it took me like an hour to hit the send button. I suffer from writer’s block so often and end up forgetting my ideas. I wish I could write like you.
That’s totally understandable, Adaa! But don’t let the intimidation turn you off. Writing IS a huge thing and honestly when I was in highschool I wasn’t writing half as much as I do now. It takes practise and just building up to things. Just keep writing. <3 (And it takes me like 9 years to send any emails to do with writing too.😂)