Working with my Plant List
I’m a month and a half to my deadline, so things are a little frantic here! I thought I’d share with you where I’m at in the process. Anyone who’s followed my blog knows that I’m not one of those “sit down and write the book from start to finish” kind of writers. How I wish I were, but alas, my brain doesn’t work that way. So as I write, I keep a list going of things I need to “plant.” For example, as I write chapter twelve, I may decide that my character needs to have a conversation with her mother, but I’ve never mentioned her mother up till then, so I make myself a note to go back and plant her mother’s existence in an earlier chapter. By the time I finished the first draft, I had zillions of sloppily written “plant” notes all over the place, so on June 4 (see the date on the notepad) I sat down to organize them. And here is the result! Needless to say, I have enough work to keep me very busy from now till deadline, so I’m going to get off the blog and get to it.
It is refreshing to see that so much thought and research goes into your books. Some authors don’t have that depth, and you can really tell the difference.
You truly have a great gift.
Sarah
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This post is such a great insight into your process. I have always wondered how writers keep their stories and characters straight.
I am a new-to-you reader and your stories have made me an instant fan. I read Summers Child in less than a day, then followed up with Keeper of the Light. It took me two days to read that one, but only becauseI had to go to work. Ha! Keep up the great work… I look forward to reading Kiss River next.
My husband and I will be in the Outer Banks in a few months to celebrate our anniversary. Maybe I will see you at one of your events!
Thanks for the compliment, Sarah. This book is particularly research-heavy.
Mandi, I’m glad you’re enjoying my books and hope you have a super time in the Outer Banks!
Not only are you talented, you have lovely, clear handwriting, Diane.
It would be interestesting to see what a handwriting expert made of it.
When I saw the word ‘Plants’ I was getting ready to share my list of GARDEN plants with you! lol
I am not actually a neat person but when it gets to a certain point in the “structuring a book” process, i have to be very orderly or I go crazy!
Wow, Diane – what a mammoth amount of work – already achieved! Just in your plant notes you have achieved more writing than I do in an entire year! Good luck with your deadline – I await in eager anticipation for whatever it is you are creating! x
Inch by Inch. Row on row Diane. I love the way your garden grows. Your words are the seeds that you share with us all that lets us escape into the garden of your life:)