I still don’t have my writing process down pat. This has become bleeding obvious with my two most recent projects.
The Production – a high gothic YA novel – was a constant struggle, getting out 60k words was like passing a kidney stone. Whereas my current Nanowrimo project – The Ravens of Ambrovna: fantasy – is flowing out like maple syrup.
What’s the difference?
- A well defined plot plan
I went a bit pantser on The Production, whereas The Ravens is an idea which has been knocking around inside my head for years. I created a Foolscap Method outline and character sketches about a year ago and it had time to breathe and marinate.
- Years of background thinking through the characters and situation
With The Ravens, I have tried (and failed) to write this story in a few different genres over the decades, but fantasy seems to finally fit. Hoorah. The Production was a few lines of an idea and it took 30k words to work out who the characters were.
- A more familiar genre
While I’ve never written fantasy before for a full novel, there are elements of fantasy in The Monolith series, whereas The Production is high gothic horror. This was a real change for me and bloody hard to get the tone right.
Who knows whether the different processes affect the end result, but I know which seems easier.
Danielle K Girl
I’m trying something different on Book Two of my YA series – I’m actually going to try and be a plotter *gasp* – this should be interesting. Usually I’m like you were with the Production and end up writing about 3 novels to work out one.