How to write a book and how not to write a book

I’ve been writing League of Scientists #2, currently titled “The Magician’s War”. And:

It’s done!

Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. Let me rephrase that to something a little more accurate:

It’s not done, but it’s getting pretty close, particularly if
one considers the effort spent and the results to date.

Yeah, I know, the first one sounded better to me too.

I’m not completely lying here: I really am done with most of book #2. I’ve written the beginning, the final ending chapters, and a whole bunch of chapters in between. 26 of them, actually.

Here’s the method I currently use to write a book:

• I develop a basic story, character motivations, secrets and other plot details.
• Then I break the story into definable segments. This becomes the book’s basic outline.
• Then I start writing Chapter 1.
• I keep writing, chapter by chapter, following the outline.
• At some point, I realize that the story isn’t following the outline precisely. So I deviate.
• At some point, I realize I don’t want to be writing this chapter right now, I’d rather write that chapter instead. So I do.
• Then I go back to the outline and revise it as the new story dictates. The outline isn’t set in stone – it’s just something to help me go in the right direction, to remind me about scenes I want to do, things I want the characters to say, plot points I need to hit.
• I finish writing all the outlined chapters. (*** THIS IS WHERE I AM NOW ***)
• Then I look at the outline, look at the story, and realize I’ve missed a whole bunch of pieces – characterization, description and all the interesting bits that flesh out the story and actually make it fun to read.

That’s where I am now: one step before the end. Granted, the last step is still a doozy. But I’m close.

Is this writing process a good idea? Yes and no. Other writers crank consecutive chapters through to the end. Others write stream-of-consciousness with no outline to guide them. But the above method is what works for me, and what my brain seems to want to do. The words flow easier.

So I do it.