How an author plans out their next novel
- Aug 12, 2023
- 2 min read
How a best-selling author plans for their next novel
It might not work for everyone, but it works for me!
I often get asked how I go about planning a novel, mapping out the plot points, characters and whatnot.
Some writers will be surrounded by hundreds of Post-It notes jam-packed with minor plot progression details. That meticulous approach (similar to the image below) has never really worked for me, although I concede that it would be nice to know what I'm doing rather than 'winging it' as I often do.
I've just started my next novel and I thought I'd share the extent of the planning for my next book. This detailed document (pictured below) was crafted during a nice walk along the railway line on the Isle of Man this morning and essentially maps out the entire journey for me. It's certainly nothing glamorous or overly detailed. But this is all I need to get going. It's also an approach that's worked for me in my previous 22 novels. But you just have to find the approach that works best for you. This is essentially the skeleton of my novel and I just need to develop subplots to put some meat on the bone.
Also, when you start a book, the thought of writing 20 to 30 chapters/75,000 words is exceptionally daunting. I just break it down and treat each chapter almost as a short story. Typically, it takes me 12 to 14 weeks to write a novel. This usually equates to around 5/700 words a day...not that much when you think about it! Be structured and try to write something every day. For me, just get the words down, complete the book and then look back and edit once you've finished.
If you need any creative writing assistance or would like a writing mentor, you can find details of my services by clicking the image below:
In my experience, if you spend too long mapping out and planning you don't tend to get much done or often never even start. Sometimes, in my humble opinion, it's better to jump in and get going and see where the journey takes you.
Oh, I've reversed the image and blurred bits out as I don't want to give the game away on the plot at this stage
Welcome inside the whacky world of a novelist. If you'd like to ask any questions about planning your novel or, indeed, would like to share how you do, it'd be lovely to hear from you!
Currently, I'm also desperately working through the edits on my latest completed novel Life's a Pitch Rock the Rock which is due for release on Amazon in September. I'm not a huge fan of the editing process but it's a very necessary evil. If you've spent months writing a novel, then why would you let it down with poor editing?
You can pre-order my new book by clicking on the book cover below. Whatever you're working on or, for that matter, reading, then I hope you enjoy it.
Do something today that your future self will thank you for :)
Author planning a novel intriguing. As a PhD student who works part-time at Last-Minute Assignments, I love creative processes. I was so curious that I'd search for assignment help just to outline. Your post is a behind-the-scenes. Thank you for that. Plot, characters, drafts. Grateful for the peek. Keep planning. Seriously, my own writing improved. Here's to novel planning. Thanks for the post. Cheers.
It’s fascinating to see how much preparation happens before writing even begins. I once used write my assignment examples to improve my own project outlines, and planning definitely saves time later. Every writer seems to have a unique process that shapes their creativity. It showed me how self care matters. It helped me understand large projects better. Nice post . Your post make me smile.
When a writer plans a new novel, they focus on new ideas and different aspects of the story.
I enjoyed reading about how an author plans their next novel because it shows how much preparation happens before the writing even begins. I once tried outlining a longer story and quickly realized how important planning can be for keeping ideas organized. During that process, I referred to Get an A in My Math Lab while managing several other commitments. It is always interesting to see the creative methods people use to turn ideas into finished work.
This post gives an interesting look at how an author plans a new novel, from organizing ideas to building a story step by step. It shows that good planning plays a big role in any successful project. During a busy semester, I was trying to manage assignments, exams, and other responsibilities all at once, and that was when I used an online exam help service because my schedule felt impossible to handle. It reminded me that having the right support and a clear plan can make stressful situations much easier to manage.