It's great to see your process! Mine is similar. I have dedicated notebooks for each book as well. Though, an idea doesn't get a notebook unless I'm serious about writing it. Usually by that time, the kernel has lodged in my brain until it's actually a seed, and one that is insistent upon growing into a full story. Occasionally, I'll get stuck and put the MS aside for a while, but usually ideas with notebooks get at least a full draft. And the good thing about being hybrid is if my agent doesn't like it, or my editor passes on the option, and I still love the story, I self-publish it.
I love that time line sketch!!! It's simple and informative, I'm definitely stealing that idea 😁 I have so so many notes on my phone, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and something comes to mind I'll write it down. I keep mine separate but I think I'll try keeping them all in one note instead of many, because they do get lost around other ten million notes and reminders on my phone lol 😂 following trends is so hard, we never know what will be popular next, and it's sad that publishers chose based on that (I get they need to make money but we just want to read awesome stories). My ideas often change as I go. A story I started back in 2018 looks nothing like my first outline, the only thing that remains is my mc and the place. But then an editor I worked with suggested that I should switch my mc and make her a side character and have a different character tell the story and I tried, I rewrote the whole thing and I just don't vibe with that character and keep noticing that I'm just waiting for Demira's chapters, she is my favorite and I think she's more interesting than the other one ... Time to rewrite again I guess 😂 how many times have you rewritten a manuscript? Do you change a lot along the way? That was such an insightful post! Now I can't wait to be done at work so I can go write in my cave.
Scrivener is - hands down - the best writing app I've ever used. I can't imagine writing in anything else. Great post - lots of very useful info! Thanks.
This is such a good write up of the early life of a story! I have a similar process, down to the notes app! The notes app for ideas is new for me, though. Before, I was using lots of random documents scattered around my computer and you can imagine how well that worked...
It sounds like we all have a similar process! Although once I start a dedicated notebook, I also start a dedicated Trello board for the story. I find that really helpful for later in the process when I'm storyboarding or revising. And it's on my phone, so if I have a random idea and my notebook isn't handy I can still record the idea. My analog notebook is more for brainstorming or if I'm stuck. I'm curious for those who use Scrivener -- How much "extra" stuff do you keep in your project, aside from the actual manuscript? Do you use character sheets or the notes sections? Any interesting uses of Labels or Status?? I'm always looking for Scrivener tips. :)
Mine is pretty similar, although I do often jot them down in an analogue notebook rather than my note app. I usually have two with me - a pocket field note book and/ or one in my bag.
Sometimes it does go into a notes app but I have a habit of forgetting if they’re in there.
Thanks for giving us a peek at your system, Erin! It was very timely for me as I begin the process of "choosing" my next project while I wait to hear back from agents on my queries. I have to admit that I have a very sloppy system right now, but I love your use of dedicated notebooks and plan to implement it. I'm also willing now to give Scrivener a try. I wrote my first novel with Word and, while it wasn't a bad experience, your insistence on the superiority of Scrivener has me wondering . . .
I seriously could have written this myself! My process is really similar, from logging random ideas in a Notes app/a dedicated "random ideas" notebook to moving them to a dedicated notebook once they feel "developed" enough to work on. I recently talked with my agent about how to choose between several options, and she also looked at the market when giving her suggestions.
Also love your comment about shifting back to the notebook when you get stuck. It's completely true; there's something about analog that feels freeing, so you can mess up or try out ideas or sketch things out in a way you can't on the computer.
"I use Scrivener to draft and revise. It is my favorite writing software. I truly do not know how I used to write books in Word." This! A thousand times, yes, Scrivener is the best. Also, great to see your sketches. I sometimes draw maps and import them into my location folder in Scrivener, everything in one place, love it.
Developing—and choosing between—book ideas
It's great to see your process! Mine is similar. I have dedicated notebooks for each book as well. Though, an idea doesn't get a notebook unless I'm serious about writing it. Usually by that time, the kernel has lodged in my brain until it's actually a seed, and one that is insistent upon growing into a full story. Occasionally, I'll get stuck and put the MS aside for a while, but usually ideas with notebooks get at least a full draft. And the good thing about being hybrid is if my agent doesn't like it, or my editor passes on the option, and I still love the story, I self-publish it.
I love that time line sketch!!! It's simple and informative, I'm definitely stealing that idea 😁 I have so so many notes on my phone, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and something comes to mind I'll write it down. I keep mine separate but I think I'll try keeping them all in one note instead of many, because they do get lost around other ten million notes and reminders on my phone lol 😂 following trends is so hard, we never know what will be popular next, and it's sad that publishers chose based on that (I get they need to make money but we just want to read awesome stories). My ideas often change as I go. A story I started back in 2018 looks nothing like my first outline, the only thing that remains is my mc and the place. But then an editor I worked with suggested that I should switch my mc and make her a side character and have a different character tell the story and I tried, I rewrote the whole thing and I just don't vibe with that character and keep noticing that I'm just waiting for Demira's chapters, she is my favorite and I think she's more interesting than the other one ... Time to rewrite again I guess 😂 how many times have you rewritten a manuscript? Do you change a lot along the way? That was such an insightful post! Now I can't wait to be done at work so I can go write in my cave.
Scrivener is - hands down - the best writing app I've ever used. I can't imagine writing in anything else. Great post - lots of very useful info! Thanks.
This is such a good write up of the early life of a story! I have a similar process, down to the notes app! The notes app for ideas is new for me, though. Before, I was using lots of random documents scattered around my computer and you can imagine how well that worked...
It sounds like we all have a similar process! Although once I start a dedicated notebook, I also start a dedicated Trello board for the story. I find that really helpful for later in the process when I'm storyboarding or revising. And it's on my phone, so if I have a random idea and my notebook isn't handy I can still record the idea. My analog notebook is more for brainstorming or if I'm stuck. I'm curious for those who use Scrivener -- How much "extra" stuff do you keep in your project, aside from the actual manuscript? Do you use character sheets or the notes sections? Any interesting uses of Labels or Status?? I'm always looking for Scrivener tips. :)
Mine is pretty similar, although I do often jot them down in an analogue notebook rather than my note app. I usually have two with me - a pocket field note book and/ or one in my bag.
Sometimes it does go into a notes app but I have a habit of forgetting if they’re in there.
Thanks for giving us a peek at your system, Erin! It was very timely for me as I begin the process of "choosing" my next project while I wait to hear back from agents on my queries. I have to admit that I have a very sloppy system right now, but I love your use of dedicated notebooks and plan to implement it. I'm also willing now to give Scrivener a try. I wrote my first novel with Word and, while it wasn't a bad experience, your insistence on the superiority of Scrivener has me wondering . . .
I seriously could have written this myself! My process is really similar, from logging random ideas in a Notes app/a dedicated "random ideas" notebook to moving them to a dedicated notebook once they feel "developed" enough to work on. I recently talked with my agent about how to choose between several options, and she also looked at the market when giving her suggestions.
Also love your comment about shifting back to the notebook when you get stuck. It's completely true; there's something about analog that feels freeing, so you can mess up or try out ideas or sketch things out in a way you can't on the computer.
❤️👌
"I use Scrivener to draft and revise. It is my favorite writing software. I truly do not know how I used to write books in Word." This! A thousand times, yes, Scrivener is the best. Also, great to see your sketches. I sometimes draw maps and import them into my location folder in Scrivener, everything in one place, love it.