I know other authors who plot out their book chapter by chapter in a 26 page document before they even begin to write Chapter 1.

I start with an opening scene and the end. Then on occasion, I write out the 4 major turning points, with the two pinch points.

And then I write, freehand, the ideas of the first chapter before I write the chapter. And so on and so on.

But then, things change and I veer away from what I had intended. This last weekend, I spent my days trying to figure out where I go from here. The four major turning points remain, but the subplot had changed and so had the pinch point.

Thankfully, I am still moving forward, still writing. I’m 50K in and just about have the halfway point. It’ll be a long book, but I just might finish by April.

Until next time.