Did you outline your novel, or simply proceed with the ideas that inspired you to pick up your pen?
I started off as a pantser and wrote a first draft, but I was far from satisfied with the end product. I decided to start again using most of my original ideas and writing. I already had the theme and genre of my novel. I also had the beginning, middle and end.
I divided my ideas for the beginning of my novel into a series of chapters, and did the same for the middle, which had the most chapters, then I made a list of chapters for the last section and the ending. Lastly, I reduced my list of characters to eight, including the protagonist.
After much rewriting and many thorough edits, I am happy with my manuscript, but I still have work to do.
It has been a long, exhausting, mind-bendingly hard struggle with many head-scratching moments. My brain feels like a worn-out piece of chewing gum, but I felt more confident writing to a plan.
Hi Adrian. I always use ideas that inspire me. I always run with the saying 'write about what you know.' Everything I do is about the familiar to me. I know my characters, their personalities and querks and I always know my beginning, middle and end. I can't work any other way. But one day I might pull a character from my imagination and see where it takes me.