Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a book? How do we as authors actual take it from idea to published novel?
Every author is different, but I thought I’d give you a bit of a behind the scenes look at my process.
One thing that is a bit strange for me is that I choose the cover and title first. Those often spark further ideas for the book itself. For example, I chose the title “Dancing with Dandelion” almost 3 years before I ever thought about writing the book. But the title gave me the idea for dancing to mean sparring, and the idea of sparring led me to want to write the story as a “hate to love” storyline!
I’ve worked with several cover designers, and I love seeing them bring my future book to life! It gives me all kinds of motivation to write the story.
Once I have a title and cover, though — I let the ideas marinate. Sometimes for months and months as I’m working on other projects. Then, by the time I’m really ready to tackle the writing of the book, I’ve got lots of thoughts and impressions about how the story will go.
Some authors make detailed outline. And some write with no idea what will happen. I prefer the latter… For me, it’s more fun to write and discover the story along the way! But, because many of my stories are (mentally) in process while I am writing the previous books in the series, sometimes I leave myself bread crumbs in previous books of the series.
For example, this week, I am beginning the process of writing “The One She Can’t Forget”, book 2 in my Second Chance Fire Station book.
But… we already met these two characters in book 1 of the series, and I already knew there was *something* going on between them… it wasn’t until I wrote the ending of that book that I knew what it was. Now… I get to write the rest of their story. And I don’t have any idea what’s going to happen!
First, I’m going to spend some time inside Jake and Monica’s head and get to know them. I need to know their wants and fears and backstory before I can figure out how they are going to grow through the story. I have a spreadsheet I use to write down those various aspects of their character. I don’t spend long on unimportant things like detailing their favorite color or food. But I am going to dive into that deep, dark thing that happened when they were a teenager that has shaped them into who they are today. I’m going to figure out why my characters need each other, and then why they insist they can’t possible be together.
Then, as I write — even though I don’t plan the story of the book ahead of time, I know where my characters need to end up emotionally and spiritually, and I can get them there as the story goes on.
Now for the writing: My first draft is bare bones. I’m telling the story, getting the conversations down on paper, and figuring out the journey. It will take me about 40 hours of writing to get the story down, sometimes in 10 or 15 minute segments or by talking into my microphone while I walk.
After I finish the first draft of this book, I’ll go through and make my major edits. I’ll adjust the character arc as needed, deepen the emotion, improve the setting and detail of the story. In this phase, I often add about 10-20% to the story’s length. I layer in sensory details, spiritual nuggets, character thoughts or actions, and really make the story come alive.
Then, I’ll send it for some additional feedback. Sometimes, I pay an editor for a manuscript critique. Other times, I’ll ask some writer friend or two to read it and let me know how the story hits them. I also have (believe it or not!) an automated manuscript evaluation tool that will help identify issues with pacing or emotion in a five minute scan!
After I get that feedback, I’ll make any changes I need to. This might mean strengthening or adding scenes, clarifying places where what I was imagining didn’t translate to words how I wanted it to. Often, it is adding visual details! Strangely enough, I don’t see any of my book in my mind, and I always seem to forget to describe what my characters or settings look like!
After it is done, I send it to my copy editor. She is amazing and works fast, so I usually have it back 1-2 weeks later to make any final corrections she sent me. Then I format it with some fancy author software before it goes to two more proofreaders as well as my review team who all hunt for typos!
I’ll fix the typos, and get it uploaded to Amazon before the pre-order deadline. Phew!
On release day, I buy myself flowers and order dinner from someplace local to celebrate the whole process being complete. And then, pretty soon I start on the next book. :)
Like I said, I’m currently working on writing “The One She Can’t Forget” but I’ve made Book 1 – The One Who Got Away free for my newsletter subscribers!
I’d love to know — what part of the process seems the most interesting to you? Did anything I said surprise you? Let me know in the comments below! I’ll be checking in through out the day and responding.
Jeannette says
I was fascinated that you chose the title and the cover long before the book, but I guess that’s what songwriters call “the hook”, the thing that points them in a particular direction.
ausjenny says
The fact you pick the cover and title first is fascinating to me.
I love hearing how you write the book. After spending the day drafting and writing letters to the editor over an issue for a group I am secretary for and then getting it edited (so to speak) and then sending to the president of the group to finally sending it to the local paper, and counsel. I am ready for a long sleep. This is a tiny part of what you do.
It also makes me wonder how some authors seem to churn out a book every month. (While some do it well others its clear not enough time is spent on all the steps).
I think besides the editing one of the most important steps is the feedback and being willing to accept constructive feedback.
I think of an author many years back wrote a book that was set in Australia but she got many historical facts wrong. A friend who is also an aspiring author contacted her and they struck up a friendship and she wanted my friend to tell her where she was incorrect and in the ebooks and reprints the errors were corrected. She could have done what I know some have done and thrown a hissy fit but she asked for help. She also asked my friend to read upcoming books set here to get them right.
Laurie Larsen says
I’ve never heard of the software that tells you when your story’s pacing is off! Isn’t it amazing how many electronic or “AI” tools are available to the author community now?
Jessica B. says
It was surprising to me that you don’t see any of your books in your mind and that you have to make a real point of adding in the visual details.
Trudy says
I’ve brainstormed with one of the authors I proofread/edit for, so I have an idea of how she does it, and I’ve read how others do it. I find it interesting how many different things each of you do!
Tara Grace Ericson says
That’s exactly it! It helps give me direction for the story and gets me excited to write it. I do think I’m a little different than most in that regard, though.
Tara Grace Ericson says
Feedback and being willing to accept critique is super important. I will say, it’s still an area I need to work on. I get so nervous about sending my books for feedback — there is a part of me that would almost rather just put them out into the world and see what happens then be vulnerable to a specific someone.
How wonderful that your friend was able to help the author correct some of her story, and that the author was open-minded. It’s easy to get defensive and proud when it comes to something we create!
Tara Grace Ericson says
It really is! I think we’re a long way from a computer-written novel (at least I hope so!), but it is helpful to see big picture analysis.
Tara Grace Ericson says
It’s very strange! I don’t see anything visually when I read or write… So one of my beta readers is specifically tasked with pointing out that I haven’t mentioned my characters’ appearance in the first five chapters, haha!
I think it’s one of the reasons my book tend to be a bit shorter… I don’t spend a lot of time or words describing the scenery or clothing. And when books I’m reading do devote a lot of words to it, I lose interest pretty quickly.
Tara Grace Ericson says
I love how every author is different! There is no “one right way” to do it… A fact which the rebel in me absolutely revels in, haha!
Andrea Conner says
Wow! Thanks for sharing your process! Is there a special software or app you use for writing?
RuthieH says
Ooh I love hearing how authors work, it’s fascinating!
Like the others, i’m interested you start with a cover and a title – I thought that would be the last bit! Also how you do the first draft sometimes by speaking into a microphone rather than physically typing or writing, it’s really storytelling!
I also love the idea of the software that can critique pacing – amazing!
Thank you for sharing such an interesting post.
Merrillee Whren says
Thanks for sharing your writing process. Each of us does things differently. I took me a while to learn that I had to find my own process, not try to copy the way another author does it. I also like to do the title and cover ahead of time. It motivates me to write the book.
bn100 says
interesting process
Debra Pruss says
I do not think anything in the process surprised me. The part that I find intriguing is that you pick a title and cover before you write the book. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy New Year. God bless you.
Kendra Muonio says
I haven’t really thought about the process of writing a book but I don’t think I could write a book I’m too busy and just couldn’t with a big family of 12 sibblings and 3 nephews and 2 nieces and a niece on the way I would get to distracted iread the one who got away now I’m waiting for the next in the series to come out.
Akemi Furuyama says
It was so interesting to learn about your writing process! I like how the characters almost help write the book as they come to life. I never knew such things like an automated manuscript evaluation tool existed, but that’s really cool! Thanks for helping us catch a glimpse of what it entails for you to write a book.