January 31, 2007
Stages
Written by RobynDeHart in Writers and WritingOnce you’ve written several books, you can look back and begin to notice the different stages you go through from the start of a book to the completion of it.
Here are mine:
Idea – either I spontaneously get an idea or a manufacture one, either way, pretty exciting stuff.
Brainstorming – this is just the rudimentary brainstorming, not really specifics, just possibilities, again exciting.
Character work – while this part can be challenging, it’s also fun, it consists of finding the right picture to use as my inspiration, and filling out my worksheets (archetype, Myers-brigg, GMC, conflict and connection b/w hero & heroine, character arcs).
Plotting – this comes right out of the worksheets I filled out for the characters so that the story rises from their GMC, their relationship and their growth, again, this part can be challenging, but is also in the fun category.
Proposal – this is the three chapter/synopsis stage and this is where it becomes painful. While working on the synopsis, I’m never more aware of the fact that I’m just making stuff up (I realize that is the case ALL of the time, but it doesn’t always feel that way). The synopsis is certainly not easy, but I find this exercise so useful because it takes the jumbled mess in my head and it puts it into a semi-organized state. It also forces me to look at the external plot a bit more – I tend to build from the internal stuff and forget there has to be action going on. When I hit the chapters, sometimes the opening scene is clear in my head and flies onto the page, but frankly this is rare. Most of the time it takes me much longer to write these first 3 chapters than it does any other chapters in the book. They are daunting to me. I know the characters, or at least I know things about them and I know how I want them to come across, but I haven’t yet let them loose to walk and talk on their own. And with the series, it adds even more complexities of taking a secondary character who thus far has only had dialogue and digging into their internal thoughts. I often call my critique partner to whine about the fact that I’ve forgotten how to write a book, I’m a total hack and I’ll never get done. This stage is hard, and painful and really not all that fun.
Rough draft – the pain from the first three chapters usually lasts until chapter 5, possibly 6, and then I begin to hit my stride. I get into the fun part of the book, the middle. I know, some people call this the sagging middle, but for me, it never sags, it flies. Not to say it’s easy, hardly, but I tend to know more of what’s going on, I get to really get that relationship going and it’s just the best part of the book. And then I hit the ending, the last 2 chapters for me usually go at lightening speed during this draft, sometimes only ending up 10-15 pages worth of material. I rush it, I admit it. Because by now I’m just ready for it to be over with and I know the ending will probably have to change. I should mention that at some point during this rough draft (possibly more than once) I make a frantic call to my critique partner for emergency brainstorming because I’ve realized that I’m missing something huge (almost always my big, black moment, which I swear I had at the time of synopsis writing, but it has since shrunk to a small, slightly grey moment). I should also note that I do not revise as I write, so the rough draft is full of notes, questions and blanks for me to catch during the next round. This used to be my favorite part, but not so much anymore, but it has its moments.
Read-through – this is what happens after I’m done with the rough draft and usually ends up with another phone call to the critique partner where I whine and complain that the book is total crap and I won’t be able to fix it. But during this read-through, I make notes to myself on everything, big (new scenes) and small (punctuation or word choice). Then I write a revision letter to myself. This part is not fun.
Revisions – these are my revisions, not those from my editor. This used to be my least favorite part, but I think that’s because I didn’t know what I was doing. Now I kind of like it, but I’m only just getting used to saying that, so don’t make me repeat it. I’m a layer-er – which means that I go through the manuscript 4-5 times at this stage. The first two being the biggest moves. I add new scenes, I delete stuff, I fix all the things that are inconsistent with character, because now I really know them, I layer in emotion and texture and make sure I’ve been clear about all the elements of each character’s GMC, I look up research questions that I left blank in the first draft, sometimes I rearrange stuff. It’s major surgery. My rough drafts are often 100+ too short, so the layering really is significant. So begrudgingly I say this is the fun part.
Critique – I have a few readers that get the whole thing at this point, the first time they’ve seen it and they give me feedback. I sometimes take it and sometimes ignore it, but it gives me reassurance having other eyes look at it before I turn it in. This part is just fine.
Finished - And then I’m done and can turn it in. At this point, I know it’s the best I can do, but I’m still nervous as hell that it’s awful. But I’m still feeling happy that it’s over with and I’m beginning to fall in love with my next idea which is sure to be easy and wonderful…
So why am I writing all of this? Well, I’m at the Proposal stage right now and blogging is much easier than facing the fact that I’m still on chapter 1 and I don’t know my characters very well. So it’s hard. Whine!
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Kathryn Says:
I’m drawing a blank… what is GMC?
It’s certainly interesting to read the how-to for someone else. So much angst!
Robyn DeHart Says:
Sorry, Kathryn, and thank you for asking. GMC = goal, motivation and conflict. It’s based on Debra Dixon’s book of the same title, which you can find on gryphonbooksforwriters.com and if you’re wanting to write romance or any other commercial fiction, then I highly suggest buying a copy. If I lost you any where else, please let me know and I’ll explain it further. You can actually find a deeper explanation of GMC on my website on the For Writers page in a series of articles (the secret decoder ring, give me a “g” and the strength of your book). Also Kathryn Smith blogged on this at Romantic Inks this week and you can find their link on our sidebar.
Anne Mallory Says:
This is great, Robyn! Very neat to see (and sympathize!) with someone else’s process.
Your character work blows my mind. Very cool!
Isabel Says:
Thank you, thank you, thank YOU, Robyn
I’m printing this, I hope you don’t mind, to keep with my notes. I love it that your process is, as Anne said, so neat. I love structure, especially at this stage since I’ve never done this before.
Out of curiousity, how long does it take you to go through this process you described? Do you write everyday? Do you have any particular writing exercises you do before you do any actual writing?
Whew! Sorry all the sudden I just had all these questions pop in my head.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Thanks, Anne.
Isabel, you’re so cute. Of course I don’t mind if you print it out. Okay let’s see if I answer all your questions.
How long does it take me? Well, this can really vary from book to book and if I’m not careful the prewriting stuff can really go on a long time, so I try to keep it to 2 weeks start to finish - that’s idea through plotting. The proposal can take me anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, just depending on how difficult it is to get going and how many times I have to stop to redo something (fix GMC or brainstorm something new). With this current one, my agents wanted to see my synopsis before I started writing, so I took three days to work on the synopsis, then I sent it to them. I’ve since started the chapters, but I’m trying to go slow in case they have changes they want me to make, but without keeping my head in the writing, it gets really hard to get back to it.
Do I write everyday? Well, I kind of answered that above. Yes, I try to. I tend to work 5-6 days a week, but some weeks it’s 4 or 7 days, just depends on whats going on. But I find that if I’m consistent with my writing, even if it’s just a paragraph, it keeps my mind in the story and with the characters and makes it easier the next day to get started.
I’ve never been too keen on writing exercises though other authors swear by them. Since I’m a firm believer in what Anne Lamont calls the shitty first draft, I just use the book as my exercise and plug away, knowing fully that I might have to cut pages of it. No writing is ever wasted though and while something might not work, writing that something might reveal what will work. So that’s how I do it. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Lacey Kaye Says:
I think you can read my mind, Robyn…
Robyn DeHart Says:
Actually Lacey, I can read your mind, but I didn’t want to say anything.
Shirley Karr Says:
I feel your pain, Robyn. I too am at the proposal stage, and I’d much rather be writing the story than writing *about* the story.
The first five chapters take me probably as long as the next ten. I’m getting to know the characters better and building the foundation for the rest of the story. Chapters 15 or 16 seem to fly, since for some reason that happens to be where the, um, most intimate scenes take place. And I too have had emergency plotting parties when I realize the big black moment has somehow become a pale grey moment.
When the going is tough, I give myself permission to write crap ‘cuz I can always go back and fix it. I can fix anything but a blank page. And quite often it’s not nearly as bad as I thought it was.
Each book I swear it’s going to be different…
Shana Says:
The Jaunties have actually been emailing back and forth about this topic today, so Robyn knows this, but I actually like writing proposals. I think the first 3 chapters and the last chapters are the easiest. For me, it’s chapters 4-9 that are tough. I could write proposals all day; just don’t make me actually write the rest of the book (well, until the end!).
I admire your revision letter to yourself, Robyn. I can’t ever be that objective. Fortunately, I have great critique partners who are very objective and tell me (especially in chapters 4-9) what I’m doing wrong.
Isabel Says:
Thanks again, Robyn.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont? Oooh I have that book! I have yet to read it, though.
Any tips for keep those brainstorming ideas organized? Do you use index cards at all?
Robyn DeHart Says:
Shirley, I had to laugh at your “each book will be different” comment - I do that too.
Shane, let’s collaborate. You write the beginnings and the endings and I’ll do all the stuff in the middle.
Yes, Isabel, Bird by Bird. She even has a chapter by that name. As for brainstorming the scene ideas, yes, I do use index cards (pink is for heroine, blue for the hero and yellow for mystery). I actually have worksheets for these that I do the actual brainstorming and then I put them on index cards to try to put them in some sort of order. From the cards is usually how I build the synopsis.
Clarisse Says:
I think it would be nice if you could just create the characters, do the set up and send the book out that way, with blank pages for the reader to finish it the way they would like it to go. But then I wish I could just put [insert your own sex scene here, whatever floats your boat] at the critical point, too. It could be the Avon Blank line? For readers who like the book their way?
Pat L. Says:
Very interesting blog. Thanks for sharing.
AndreaW Says:
I’m taking Isabel’s lead and printing this out. Thanks Robyn. You know, between here and RI I’m going to have to buy new ink for my printer! LOL!
Isabel Says:
Andrea, LOL, I have printer…it’s the ink that’s killing me. LOL
But it is most definitely worth it. Thanks again, Robyn!
Lacey Kaye Says:
LOL
Rainy Says:
Robyn,
Thanks for the great info and I’m definitgely printing it out. Again, I am so impressed at the pre-work and more that goes into getting a book out.
You sound super organized and I think that’s part of my problem(I’m not). Does you organization spill into other areas..like your home. Do your closets have towels in color coordinated piles and are your kitchen cabinets neatly organized into categories?
I just want to know if there’s hope for me since I attempt organization, but……..
And, I’m doubly impressed at getting all of that done between two and eight weeks.
I know it all come down to hard work, but I’d like someone to tell me about some little secret voodoo doll or something that could magically pump out chapters.