Nebulous Concept? Let Your Characters Guide You
One of my favourite musical artists, Devin Townsend, was once asked about where his concept album Ziltoid The Omniscient sprang from. He answered simply that the entire story sprouted from the creation of his eponymous puppet, Ziltoid. He liked his fanged coffee-addict puppet so much, that he needed his own intergalactic saga.
This is where my fledgling writing also began--cool characters who deserved an entire world and story built around them.
Keep in mind, characters do not need to be entirely fleshed out in order to be dunked into a rough draft first chapter. As well, the first chapter's setting doesn't need to be a banger, sweating-bullets opener. For example, my first chapter takes place in a dusty library where two of my main characters meet to have a spot of tea and world-build through conversation. Even if a mundane sounding opening doesn't cut it in the end, this exercise in characters discussing their own station in life will help you figure out what sounds compelling.
Evolving Conflicts - You Need Time To Think
I have often asked myself if J.K. Rowling had planned the plot of Harry Potter in its entirety from the beginning. The seven books made unexpected connections in the end and came to one of the most satisfying conclusions of any book series I've read. However, I doubt she typed the first half of The Philosopher's Stone knowing how He Who Shall Not Be Named would meet his end or even how he would execute his dastardly plans.
What I do know is that J.K. was unemployed when she began writing Harry Potter and therefore had plenty of time to think and write. It feels as if it should go without saying, but contemplation is the best way to proceed in writing. But how can one facilitate quality contemplation time? The very brightest of people throughout history kept a schedule. For example, Maya Angelou slept from 10 pm until 5 am, rented a small office away from her home, and wrote at this office at a consistent time every day. Charles Dickens once said, “I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.”
Check out this website for an interactive look at famous creators' schedules - https://podio.com/site/creative-routines
Don't have an office? Have a chaotic work or school schedule? Try scribbling down a time, even just ten minutes in your day, dedicated to sitting (or strolling) in order to think. Shove all other thoughts of obligations aside to try and relax. Put that darned smartphone away, close your laptop and look out the window at the gulls. You'll be amazed at what scheduling a few moments to yourself can do for you, your story, or any one of your other pursuits.
Keeping The Details In Order
One thing I have noticed while attempting to write a fantasy novel is that details can become entangled, unclear, or forgotten altogether. After forty or so pages of writing, I found keeping a glossary of terms and names has been helpful in keeping things consistent. Making comments or sidenotes within the document can also be invaluable when brainstorming as you go along. Perhaps one benign-looking character turns out to be the main villain all along, but you have to keep their actions and words consistent for this to unfurl properly in the latter part of your story. You don't want videos to be made about how inconsistent or donut-like your plot ended up being!
Physical note-taking is also a great habit for creative writing. Sometimes I'm simply not at my computer when I have an idea for a chapter or character interaction. Having a small notebook with me most of the time has allowed me to jot, doodle, and plot what might happen along the writing process. Even unrelated musings can turn out to be useful when outlining a world or conflict in a story.
3, 2, 1, DRAW!
A story can take place in tiny locales, such as in a broken elevator, or in vast multiverses. Chances are your story is like mine and takes place somewhere in-between. Open up any installment of the Lord Of The Rings and you'll find a handy map of Middle Earth. Drawing where things are in your made-up world can aid in keeping things tracked and making your project feel more alive. Even if you're not the best artist, it can be a fun exercise to visualize where things are, where your characters are going, and what environments or predicaments they may find themselves in along the way.
The Review Process
Here's where I begin to speculate rather than give advice. I am not far enough into the process of writing to feel comfortable handing it off to be formally reviewed by a publisher. However, publishing a few chapters on the internet for curious consumers to comment on will garner valuable feedback. Let's hope it's no My Immortal.
The review process for books is less stringent than for news articles but still deserves the same critical eye for consistency, clarity, and grammar. At some point, you will have to submit your draft for a review and it will come back with all the marks and questions your high-school teacher or university professor gave you on your essays. But worry not! Editors and proofreaders are there to help you. So lean into the process and enjoy writing!
-Liz P.