Writers Diary – Page 3 – Read First Chapter.com

WRITERS DIARY – Did I Send Draft Manuscript to the Editor Too Early?

FOLLOWING MY SYSTEM OF FIVE TO SIX REVIEWS BEFORE SENDING:

I am a diligent plotter and planner when I write. Starting in Scrivener, I construct the story and go over it from six or seven different angles before I even compile it to be worked on, massaged and proofread in Microsoft Word.

So after this process, the book never feels rushed to me. The last ten to twenty tweaks give me the feeling that I have finished.

IT FELT DONE – BUT WAS IT?

During the writing of my last book, Murder at the Car Wash, I had the same feeling — that the book was done and ready to go to the editor.

I had checked it constantly to make sure there was enough background information for the book to be read alone, even though it was written as part of the Jack Nolan Detective Series. I went over the plotline, the sub-plotlines, the balance of the story — everything, like I always do.

BUT MY MIND IS STILL PERCOLATING

However, once the book was gone to the editor, within a few days, I seemed to have a second wind of creative energy and had more ideas of deepening the intrigue or mystery ‘popping’ into my head.

I know when the book comes back that I will be adding to it with these ideas that have come to me over the month the book is being edited.

Looking back, I remember the same thing happened with my first few novels. I didn’t notice it like I did this time. Luckily, with self-publishing, you can fix something or even add something and then re-upload it! These are the gifts of self-publishing.

WAITING 2 TO 3 WEEKS TO GIVE IT TO THE EDITOR NEXT TIME!

Thinking about this in terms of the future, I will add this 2 to 3 weeks period of allowing the book to rest unattended to see what else pops up when my mind turns to other things. I write fast enough where this will not create a problem.

I have a list of things I check in the novels to make sure I cover everything. I will add this “process” of waiting a few weeks to let my mind get busy with other things and then see what else my creative mind throws up as it is still percolating with the storyline.

Although this is my 1th book, I still consider myself a new author and am still learning my way through all this.

Has this ever happened to you?

Writers Tip – Writers Tools – New Book Folder Hierarchy

I’m in the process of writing my 10th novel! I can’t believe it myself. It took me over a year to come up with one plotline to begin my first book!

This blog post about File Naming suggestions is aimed at those new authors writing their first book or maybe their second book. When I started out, between the first draft, the arc copies, the Bookfunnel copies, and more, I very soon lost track of where my last manuscript was filed or even what I named it!

The photo above is a List of the Folders I use inside any new book file. I’ll describe below what are kept in each of the folders. This is something I wish I had found seen several years ago when I was new!

BOOK FOLDER NAMES:

I write book series, usually 4 books per series, so my folder for a new book will be called Series 1 – Book 1 – Name of Book. By putting “series 1” first in the name, followed by the book number, the folders will line up alphabetically and they will be kept in order. Each series will be in order as well as all the books as well. This helps when scanning to find a particular book manuscript or book cover, etc.

BOOK COVERS:

I keep my book covers in a separate folder. Inside the Book Cover folder are sub-folders named Ebook-Covers and Paperback-Covers folders. This seems like a lot more work, but believe me, you may have four copies of one cover before you finish making all tweaks or corrections.

You also want to have a high resolution picture (300 dpi) as well as a web versions (72dpi) as you will be uploading to many different places and you want your web picture to be easily downloaded.

Keeping them separate and clearly marked also makes it easy to find the right cover when you are uploading to online book sellers like Amazon or Draft2Digital, etc. For example, I will name one cover “Darius-eBook-Cover-72dpi” and the other one “Darius-ebook-Cover-300dpi” so I know which is high res and which is low res.

BOOK IMAGES:

I like to find pictures of actors or other people who represent the characters when I begin a new series. I also like to find pictures of sets for the scenes to take place in. I may also buy several royalty free photos that I may use on the book covers. I keep these photos and any other general photos or graphics about the book in this folder.

I found this helpful to not clutter up the actual book cover folders.

PLOTLINES:

Using a Notebook document, I begin each new book with about four potential plotlines. Then I pick one and begin to outline. So I keep this document in it’s own file.

FIRST DRAFTS:

This is where I keep the scrivener folder and where I do the majority of my creative writing. If the storyline has a calendar that I’m following, I also keep that in this folder. Any research that’s done and any reminders to myself also go into this file.

For my first two or three books, I did work with Mindmaps in my plotting. I no longer use them as they are too cumbersome and too hard to change. I now just use a Notebook document and that serves me well. But if you are using a mindmap, it’s best to keep it in your First Drafts folder.

Manuscript-PrePublications:

In the PrePublications folder, I have sub-folders. One is “Copy to Editor” because often I choose to rewrite the beginning and end of the book a few times while the editor is working. So I want to have an exact copy of the document passed off to the editor when it comes back with corrections, etc.

Whatever rewrites I do, I clearly mark: “Rewrite of Chapter 1” and keep it separate.

While the editor is working, I find a few beta readers or advance feedback readers. I keep the copies sent to them separate. Lately, I have offered a coffee mug with the cover of the book as a small token of appreciation for the readers to answer a questionnaire. The copy is only offered for feedback, not for a review. One ARC/BETA copy I have been adding a link to the questionnaire for the reader to fill out. This is a short-lived offer as once I make the corrections when the book returns from the editor, I remove this offer.

The other ARC/Beta copy is without the link to the gift and questionnaire as I participate on the BookSquirrel and other ARC copy websites. So I don’t want that offer in those copies.

At some point after editing, the book will be uploaded for giveaway to my newsletter list and uploaded to Bookfunnel and SiteOrigin for a month or so as I arrange to have a PreOrder campaign with Amazon. So I keep those copies separate also.

MANUSCRIPT-PUBLISHED:

At some point, the book actually gets published! The Final Manuscript copies are kept in this folder and they are the only documents in this folder. I cannot tell you how many times between the editor and corrections and ARC changes, etc., that I lost sight of what my actual final copy was named and where it was! Keeping the final manuscript in a clearly-marked separate folder eliminates this problem.

TOBEDeleted:

As you go from first draft to second draft, to editors copy, to arc copies, to any rewrites, you will wind up with copy after copy after copy. I’m a bit paranoid about just deleting the copies I don’t need anymore until the end of the project and the book is safely uploaded. So as I save corrected copies, I put the old ones in the TOBEDeleted folder. Then when the book is safely published on Amazon and wherever else I’m uploading, that’s when I open this folder and delete everything.

INFO-BOOK NAME – BLURBS

This is a notebook sheet that I begin with the start of any new book. First I keep any working title, or I call it Book 10, etc. I keep a list of all of the character names, even if they are mentioned only once. This is helpful in writing a series because you may need one police office to pass off something in Book 2 and I don’t know about you, but I would never remember his name. So by having a list of all characters named in the book, I have easy reference to every character name at all times. I have this information sheet on every book.

Example-Info-Sheet-on-Distrust

I also keep any technical research I know I will be entering into the story. This also makes it easy when writing your first draft. It eliminates having to stop and try to remember where you put the research.

As you move through the process, you will gather links for your free uploads, and ASIN numbers and ISBN numbers, etc. I add them to this document and keep them neatly arranged on this Info sheet. I also add all links to the books. So when I’m uploading or doing any other kind of marketing, I have everything I need on this one sheet. This saves all of that scrambling around for these little bits of info. (I’m talking from experience!)

As you can see from the Info sheet on my last book Distrust, I have every bit of info I need, including the links, word counts, page counts, etc.

This is only the top 20% of the document. Below are all the character names, as well as the book descriptions and blurbs.

When you begin to upload either as a giveaway or a book sale, you will also need various blurbs. Some will requires a limitation of about 250 words. Another website may want a short 35 work blurb, and Amazon ads require about a 12 word blurb. So as I write and rewrite different length blurbs, I keep them on this Info sheet. This way, I have a blurb in various lengths for any uploading or marketing that I come upon. You won’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you want to upload your book somewhere. It also help you keep your descriptions and blurbs consistent.

I would love to know how other authors organize their books. If you would like to have a blog post done of your filing system and tips, I would love to write it for you!

Self-Publishing Tip – How to Add Chapter Header Graphics

START WITH A SIMPLE WORD FORMAT

I’ve been struggling with trying to do this for about three years! I finally figured it out, thanks to some other YouTubers, one of which was Derek Murphy — who knows all things when it comes to self-publishing!

I write in Scrivener and when it’s time to proofread, I compile into Word and do the proofreading and editing there. So I start with simple formatting. This simple formatting will make adding the chapter graphics easier. You need to trust me on this. You will want to embed your fonts in Word also.

We will be going from DOCX to an ePub file. So as a reminder, make sure you do your Table of Contents using the Heading 1 links. I only have 3 pictures that I use in my books. One is a small publishing icon, one is a small scroll I use on the Note to Readers page, and the last one is the Chapter Graphic itself.

IMPORTANT: One more reminder to do your Table of Contents in Word using the links and Heading 1. If you forget this, you will have to redo the entire process I’m showing you! (Speaking from experience)

IMPORTANT: See above. Leave one blank before your Heading 1/ Chapter Titles. You will thank me for this later!

Chapter-graphic-example

IMPORTANT: Only add one chapter header picture right before Chapter 1. Make sure it is wrapped “top and bottom” and also aligned to center. See above picture.

Save the document as a .DOCX file.

CONVERT TO A ePUB

I use a service called convertio.ca. (https://convertio.co/) I believe you can use this once for free, but I pay for it as I use it all the time. If you search for ‘free ebook converter’, you may find another free ebook converter. I used to use a Chrome extension that was similarly named, convertio or something, but it stopped working for me. You can see if they have another one in the app store if you don’t want to pay to convert.

Go to https://convertio.co/ and upload the manuscript.docx file and choose to convert into an ebook and then choose ePub. Then click on the convert button. It may take a few minutes to throw up a download button.

NOTE: During this process, your ePub will pull in all of your pictures and separate your chapters into separate files. That’s why you only want to add the one chapter picture. You can use the same one over and over in your document and keep the transfer cost down.

Once this is done, click on the download button. It will most likely save to your download folder. If you want to download it into your manuscript folder, you will need to choose that folder. In any event, it will be downloaded onto your hard drive.

DOWNLOAD SIGIL PROGRAM – THEN OPEN IT:

ONCE IT IS DOWNLOADED, open your Sigil program. If you don’t have it yet, it’s a free download. Go to https://sigil-ebook.com/sigil/download/ and download your version.

Once it’s downloaded, open the program up. When it opens up, it will be sort of blank, like above. This is what a blank ePub document looks like. We won’t be using the blank document.

Click on File => Open => Choose your recently-downloaded manuscript.ePub file. It will open it up in the Sigil program.

sigil open program

Once you open your manuscript epub file, it will pull in all of your chapters as individual html files.

Then there is a Styles folder. We will be making changes to the individual html files, the Title pages, and the stylesheet.css. Be sure to use the style sheet I have highlighted to the right.

Your images from your eBook will be pulled into the Images folder by the convertio process. You will be using the one chapter header graphic over and over. You have everything you need to begin to format the chapter titles.

LET’S ADD THE CUSTOM STYLES:

Sigil-css-styling

You will have to type out these codes. Each digit and space is important. If you forget one semi-colon or bracket, the codes won’t work. So double check your work before you copy and paste into the Styles document.

DIRECTIONS: Go to the File Listings on the left side. Find the Styles folder and double-click on the stylesheet.css file. When it opens, scroll all the way to the bottom of the file.

Copy and paste the above coding into the page and save. There is a save icon on the top menu of the Sigil program. Or you can use Control S to save.

** See below for further coding explanation

FIX THE TITLE PAGES:

Nowt that we have saved the new css codes, it’s time to change the files to pull in the new coding.

Looking at the diagram above, double click on the first file, marked index_split_000.html. This is the first page, which is my Book Title page. Now, even though I have coded this in Word to align to the center of the page, the ePub converter ignores this and throws my title onto the top of the page.

So I will change the class name from whatever it is (this will be auto-generated by your ePub converter) to “book_title”. (Note: Be sure to use an underscore, not a dash) This will then move the title down 20% from the top of the page. I use 20% because when someone reads on a tablet in landscape, I don’t want the title to disappear from the page. By moving it only 20% down, it is still ‘above the fold’. If you don’t understand this, don’t sweat it.

I do the same thing on the second Title Page in my manuscript. Make the same change to “book_title”. Changing the class name to “book_title” is the only change you need to make.

NOW WE WANT TO ADD THE CHAPTER GRAPHICS:

Sigil-book-image-coding

Double click on the first chapter page in the document above. There will be auto-generated html coding referencing the picture. If you look below, I have changed the coding to reference the class of “image_centered”. That’s the only part of your coding that needs to change.

Once you have made this change, copy this to your clipboard. (Control C).

Sigil-html-before-picture

One by one, you want to double-click each chapter to open it, and copy and paste this coding right above the CHAPTER 2, CHAPTER 3, CHAPTER 4, etc, in each file. It will be a little time consuming, but believe me, it is MUCH EASIER than hoping and praying that you can get a converter to get the spacing and alignment right.

Once you have finished each one, you can then save your work, and email it to your Kindle account and check it on your ereader and on your cellphone. I have had a perfect conversion using this method.

I hope I have helped you save all the frustration and hair-pulling I did in searching for a way to do this!

** FURTHER EXPLANATION:

The css codes added some alignment codes, to make sure they are centered. The max-widths of 25% are to make sure my publisher icon is not too big, and the max width of 60% is to make sure the chapter header graphic does not come up too big. The rest you don’t really need to know, but if you are curious, you can go to W3School CSS to learn more.

These codes are used to style my chapter graphics, the book titles and the small publisher icon and another small graphic I use. So if you are only adding the chapter headers, you will only need to add those codes.

Sign up below to get a download of a checklist on everything covered in this blog article. Learn how to use Sigil and create an eBook.

Book Launch – Early Market Research – Part 3

* EARLY MARKET RESEARCH *

While your book is still being edited, you can do early market research. Begin by going to Amazon.com and searching out your main category. Record the names of the authors, the name of the books, and any series names. These will come into play later on when I tell you about two YouTubers you should watch and subscribe to.

Below are two videos from these two YouTubers who really helped me the most when it came to marketing eBooks on KDP and also researching eBooks with marketing in mind. You should watch these videos and comb their video library for other helpful advice. The only additional thing I will mention is that I also scroll down the book pages on Amazon and notice what other categories my competition is listed in. Write the category names down. You will get many more categories this way as Amazon is adding new ones all the time!

PICKING THE BEST CATEGORIES FOR YOUR BOOK LAUNCH:

Below is the video from Self Publishing Titans. He offers a free tool that I have used and it is great for picking the best categories for your eBooks. The tool is free and it’s a cinch to install. He goes over the tool and what it can do in the video below. I would also recommend that you subscribe to his YouTube channel as he has amazing insights and his videos are straight to the point.

I learned from Self Publishing Titans about doing my pre-launch research. I found many more categories that I never knew existed. By doing this early research, I was ready with my 7 keywords and 10 book categories that I would need when it came time to upload my eBook. So have a look see at his video.

THE BEST LAUNCH STRATEGY VIDEO:

Below is a Best Book Launch Strategy video that I found amazingly helpful as a beginner. He also has wonderful insights into how the algorithms work, etc. Be sure to watch the video and subscribe to Dane’s channel as he has a lot of great information.

This could take several days, but your eBook is with the editor anyway, so you should have the time!

Below is a signup to download the entire 8-page checklist:

Book Launch – From Proofreading to Editor – Part 1

* FROM PROOFREADING TO EDITOR *

Go over your proofreading check list and make all the changes. Read it on NaturalReader.com or use Microsoft Word to read it aloud to yourself. Then hand it off to an Editor. They will take a minimum of one month to do a line edit.

Once the Editor has the book, I usually rewrite the first chapter to see if I can improve upon it. And often, I do the same for the last chapter.

* BEGIN ON YOUR BOOKCOVERS *

If you do your own creative work, make at least one eBook cover. The template for Amazon KDP is 1600 pixels wide x 2560 pixels tall. Make the front cover using the template and a back cover using the same template.

If you do not do graphics, find a eBook cover maker on Fiverr or somewhere on YouTube. Copy about 5 bookcovers from your genre to show to the eBook creator. Tell him/her that you want yours to “fit on the shelf with these”.

The Paperback cover will need to know the page count in order to get the proper template from KDP. When you have a page number for the paperback, go to the KDP Paperback Calculator: https://kdp.amazon.com/cover-calculator Once you have your template, you can add the front eBook cover and the back eBook cover that you made and blend them.

Below is a link to download the entire 8 Page checklist:

Writers Tip – Initial Proofreading in Scrivener – Part 2

PROOFREADING WHILE STILL IN SCRIVENER – PART 2:

Once my novel is now in Chapters and I have proofread it while still in Scrivener, I mark each of the scenes that have exciting events, vampiric events, even humor, to make sure the story is balanced and has events and surprised all throughout the story. Some books I read sag in the middle as everything is gearing up for a big bang at the end.

I like to sprinkle the books with enough to hold everyone’s interest. At least that’s what I’m trying to do!

I will be starting a new novel soon, and at that point, I will make a video showing this marking of the novel for a greater overview of all that is happening.

COMPILE IN SCRIVENER AND SAVE IN WORD – Name the Document “First Draft of BOOK TITLE”.

PROOFREADING IS NOW DONE IN WORD:

Do an initial spellcheck in word to eliminate any and all errors you may have missed in Scrivener.
Search for your usual mistakes. Below are an example of mine:

Awhile (a while)
going to (clean up verb tense)
it’s (or its? – check)
draw (drawer)
beginning to (check for verb tense)
in order to (check for verb tense)
going to (check for verb tense)
starting (check for verb tense)
Okay (how many times it’s used)
Just (how many times it’s used)
Really (How many times it’s used)
Very (Find a better descriptive word)
.” said (check glitch from auto correct)
.” whispered (check glitch from auto correct)
and all ly words
Search all quotes to check for opening and closing quotes.
Word spell check and Word grammar check.

SEARCH OUT A PROFESSIONAL EDITOR:

The one thing I need to spend money on is a line editor. I felt comfortable enough with the plot and character development in my own stories, so I limited myself to a line editor. They go over your work looking for grammar mistakes, confusion in the story, plot holes, any glaring mistakes.

I did a hard proofread on my work before passing it off, so the editor didn’t waste time correcting typos and things like this. So the better your ebook is, the more real pointers they will do for you.

The hard proofread ends with having the eBook read back to me by the AI reader in Word (Review tab) or NaturalReader.com which is a text to voice online reader. This is a great way to find mistakes you are reading over because you are too familiar with the work!

DURING THE EDITING PROCESS:

Put your eBook away for a week. This will allow your mind to refresh for the work that’s ahead. If you will be doing Advance Review Copies for your launch, get prepared to find Review readers.

I found two professional Beta Readers and Proofreaders on Fiverr. They read the book, found several typos and punctuation mistakes, and gave me amazing feedback.

Other Text to Voice tools: Grammerly, Ginger, PaperRater, Reverso Speller, NounPlus, After the Deadline

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CHEAT SHEET WITH THIS INFO:

Writers Tip – Initial Proofreading in Scrivener – Part 1

PROOFREADING WHILE STILL IN SCRIVENER:

There are two levels of proofreading. The first level is proofreading for plot context to make sure the novel is complete. Before I leave Scrivener, I go over the different chapters and scenes and mark the following beats and make sure that everything is included.

Before I post the checklist, I need to say that I did not invent these ideas below. I have been listening to videos by other authors for several years now and I have taken copious notes and somewhere along the way I took a little from one author and a little from another. I think them all for their generosity in sharing their experience and knowhow.

Proofread and make sure you indicate where the following items are
a. The Hook – This is the thing or the event that will hook the reader’s interest.
b. The Setup – This includes the setting where the story will take place. It also includes an introduction to the main protagonist/hero and what his or her wants or needs are in life, so to speak. This is the starting point of the quest. (The Quest)
c. Identify the subplot. Be clear on how the subplot affects the plot.
d. Inciting incident – This is the point where the story has it’s first twist or turn. The Hero is pulled into a quest that he starts out not really wanting to go on. This is going in a different direction than “the setting”.
e. Setback(s): Depending upon what type of novel you are writing, you will have one or more setbacks that create conflict and drama that move the story forward. You may want to clearly mark these as well.
f. Major setback: about 75% of the way through the book, the big setback happens when things look like they are not going to work out.
g. The final battle/The Climax – In high suspense novels, this can be a physical battle for life and death. In a less dramatic story, this is where the hero has to conquer himself or herself in order to be able to pull off their quest.
h. All is lost – Right before the Hero gets their second wind and has a breakthrough, they will have a moment of despair where all will seem lost.
i. The glorious/surprise ending – Hero wins/gets what they want
j. The aftermath – 99% point of the story – This is where the story wraps up and you see the “new normal” now that the hero has broken through their fears and saved things.
Check the following about the subplot:
k. “Subplot Development” – any crisis, suspense, etc.
l. Any plot twists or pathway turns for the subplot
m. Point out where subplot reaches high tension
n. Point out where the subplot is setback or fails, or feels at a standstill
o. Scene that resolves the whole story
Make a document to check your background and descriptions
p. Make sure you don’t repeat information in multiple places. Make a separate sheet and record which chapters your descriptions and background info is at. This way you can make sure you have included everything and also make sure you haven’t repeated anything.
q. For the series books, make sure you include enough background
for it to be a stand-alone book.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CHEAT SHEET WITH THIS INFO:

Writers Tip – Keeping Track of Background Info

DON’T TRUST ONLY YOUR MEMORY:

Reading through the first draft of my first novel, I realized that I had repeated background information up to three times! I had no idea I was doing this until I was already done writing the draft. Although Scrivener, which is a software tool for authors, has lots of tips, tricks and gadgets that are designed to help authors in every stage of writing, there was no way to check background info that was designed into the software.

What I learned the hard way was that I cannot trust my memory on what information I have written into the story. After my 8th novel, I have now devised a strategy that helps me eliminate that problem and am passing it on.

I make up a separate document inside scrivener where I track this background and descriptive information. Or if you are old school, you can write a list in pen and paper keeping track of the information as you add it into the book.

HOW I KEEP TRACK OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Technique 1: Keep Track of Background and Descriptions As You Write:

The first one is to keep a separate document with a table containing 2 columns. The left column has a notation regarding the background information or character description. The right column, I put in what chapter I have that information in.

TABLE DOCUMENT EXAMPLE:

Background & Descriptions	Chapter Number
Physical description of Hero	Chapter 1
Description of job history	Chapter 4
Reference to past case (for series info)	Chapter 10

The only drawback to this technique is interrupting the creative process. I was stopping while writing to record the background info, etc. I did this for a while, but that’s when I found Technique 2 which I describe below. That one worked better for me. You can pick which one you would like better.

Because I work with a plot outline, I write the entire story going from scene to scene to scene in Scrivener. I write using Day 1, Day 2, etc. instead of Chapters. This allows me to carefully watch my storyline and timeline together. Like I said above, I write the first draft and never look back. (You see how I like to repeat things!) I only re-read in order to “get my bearings” between writing sessions.

Technique 2: Begin Tracking Background after first Draft:

I stopped interrupting myself during the draft writing stage and paid no real mind to the background and descriptions. I added them as I was writing and kept moving. Then, after the draft is done, I shift into reading for context, to make sure the story is all there and all the dots connect.

This is the point where I begin tracking and checking on the background and descriptive info. This is the point where I made the table document and begin tracking the background and descriptions. If I have repeated something — and I always do — I remove it in one of the chapters.

This way, you can keep track of all of the background and other crucial info that you need to track. By putting it off until after the draft is finished, you prevent yourself from having to stop the creative writing process.

This is the technique I use now all the time. I wait until I’ve even set up with Chapters and I’m reading for context. That’s where I start checking on the descriptions and background info and anything else I want to keep my eye out for. Any repetition comes out easily in this stage.

WRITING A SERIES BACKGROUND:

This same technique works with writing a series. I write each book as a stand-alone as well as being a numbered book in the series. This means I have to include background information as well as series information in each of the novels, without spoiling the surprise if they read the novels out of order. Some surprises can’t be helped, but some can be hidden.

I make a list of all of the facts and background information the reader of Book 4 would need to read the stand-alone in context. I print out this list and as I begin to read through the novel for context (after the draft is done), that’s when I check off and make sure all of the needed information has been included throughout the book.

Writers Diary – Planning your Mystery Template

In my humble opinion, writing mysteries requires a bit more planning than a novel about other subjects. You have to manage character arcs, crime arcs, clue dropping, red herrings, passage of time, as well as add pressure and suspense into the mix. This is a lot for a new writer.

I found this overwhelming as I began writing back in 2018. The two biggest tips I can pass on at this point are (1) write in Scrivener as you get a bird's eye view of your project all all times and (2) you need a template or an outline of some kind to work from.

WHAT I WISH I HAD WHEN I WAS NEW:

The main reason I've started this Writer's Diary is because I had searched and searched for writer's diaries online and never found anyone who was sharing their whole novel experience. That's why I am doing this. This is another one of the things I wish I had when I was new. I still consider myself new, by the way.

MY OUTLINES WERE TOO FLEXIBLE:

In my first few novels, I would start off with a loosely-planned outline in order to give the characters space to organically develop. I had noticed within the first novel that the characters did develop their own voice and personalities. I thought this open template would give me the leeway to let the novel sort of write itself. It didn't.

In hindsight, I was too open-ended about how the story would end. The characters would take on their own voice at some point in the story but because I had this loose outline, somewhere in Part 2 or Part 3, the story would start to veer off course. As I got to Part 3, I would notice I was too far away from the ending of the story that I had planned originally. But I wouldn't have any great ideas for a better ending either. I would even forget what the original concept for an ending was. Or I would look back and realize the story had veered too far away from a logical ending of the story or solving of the crime/mystery and I would need to go back and start rewriting.

I NEED A WRITING DESTINATION:

What I found by about the sixth novel was that I can leave the beginning and middle of the outline very loose, but I need to know where I am ending the story. I need to know how the crime will be solved, who the bad guy is, and how the clues will be dropped in order to manage the suspects, the red herrings and the suspense.

So I still keep my outline loose in the beginning sections but I make sure I know where I am heading, what corner I need to lead the bad guy into in order to wrap up the story. This gives me more security while I'm writing. It also helps me stay on course.

REMAIN OPEN-MINDED BUT CHANGE THE OUTLINE:

There have been times when a better story did strike me during the writing process. I can go with the new direction, but I must alter my outline so that the new ending is the new destination. I rewrite my outline of how it will end so I will have the self-confidence that I still know where I'm going.

This is a much more workable way to remain flexible but still have the boundaries and guard rails I need to write tight scenes and know where I am in the story.

START BY PICKING A PROTAGONIST OR A CRIME:

I start by picking a crime. My inspiration can be from a novel I'm reading, or a news article, an episode of Forensic Files, or sometimes they can be a combination of all of these. I am beginning to think more like an author and am starting to envision crimes happening in strange places or interesting environments.

PICK YOUR PROTAGONIST/HERO:

The most popular choices for heros/mystery solvers are police officers/detectives, private investigators, and amateur sleuths. I chose a private investigator as my first protagonist as PIs are easier to write about because police procedure is very complicated these days and that would have been too much to take on as a new writer.

I pick a Protagonist/Hero based on a personality type I think I can write convincingly about. If you are planning a series, you will want to give your Hero at least a few people that are anchors in his life. This will also give you leeway if you need to come up with a second novel as the stories can come through people in his/her life as well as from working.

I will reveal my Template - Planning Your Mystery in our next writers diary installment and how I start organizing my mystery elements.

Writers Diary – Pantser vs. Plotter

CHOOSE A PATHWAY:

I was lucky when I started as I knew, without a doubt, that I was a plotter. I don’t write a letter without a short list of points I want to cover. But this can be a choice that can help you not get lost in the overwhelming number of things you need to keep in mind for any novel.

I won’t go into too much detail as there are hundreds of youtube videos about being a pantser and being a plotter by more experienced people than me. But in one sentence, a pantser is someone who sits down and begins writing ‘by the seat of their pants’ without an outline or a template of any kind. Steven Kind is a pantser. Being a plotter means that you start with a template, and then an outline, and then begin writing the novel itself.

There are natural-born pantsers like Steven King, and if you are one of those, that should be your pathway. However, my suggestion to a newbie writer, especially if you don’t know if you are a pantser or plotter, is to try to at least have a template and at least three-act play structure to keep you on track.

#WRITERS TOOL – MYSTERY TEMPLATE

There are probably hundreds of templates out there for you to choose from. If you search “writing template” at images.google.com, you will find hundreds of them. I incorporated several of them into my own custom Mystery Template. You can click here to download the template to have a look at it or use it.

This is the template I wound up using after at least a year of struggling with the other confusing templates. In time, I began to use a template that was divided into four acts, so to speak, but I’ll talk about that one next.