Strengthening Weak Areas in Your Writing

I'm writing a first draft. I'm not a fast drafter, and I'm not a revise-as-you-go writer either. I'm somewhere in between.

There are days when I have to glue myself to the chair in order to achieve my word count goal. I should have invested in superglue this week. Yikes. The first fifty pages are slow and torturous for me.

Each writing session starts with a review of the previous scene. Weaknesses glare at me. I tidy up the details before writing a new scene.


Here are the weaknesses I'm fighting in this book:

1. Boring, useless, overdone gestures/action beats (I fight this weakness in EVERY book!)

2. Piles of backstory

3. Not enough motion to ground the reader physically in the scene


Here's how I'm strengthening these weaknesses:

1. I keep The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale next to me so I can use better descriptors. Some of the action beats I just delete.

2. The backstory? I highlight any obvious sections and move them when I've written a scene they'd fit into.

3. I add movements within the scene so the reader has a better mental picture of what's happening.

Each book brings a new challenge. I'm constantly on the lookout for lazy writing. I've successfully strengthened my writing by actively trying harder.

The weaknesses I've made progress with over the years:

1. Setting the scene

2. Giving each scene weight with either a story goal/conflict/failure or an action/reaction/decision

3. Weaving the spiritual thread throughout the story

4. Balancing dialogue and introspection (my earlier manuscripts had tons of dialogue and not enough introspection for what the romance market requires)


I still have plenty of weak areas that will scream at me when I finish the draft and start revising, but it's good for my soul to fix what I can in the first draft.

By the way, many experts recommend you turn off your internal editor and just write the draft. I think that's really good advice for anyone who struggles to make progress on a manuscript. It just doesn't work for me.

When I've turned off my internal editor in the past, it created so much extra work because the story veered off and my word choices were lazy. I'd rather keep my internal editor on and write slower in the first draft. It saves me tons of work in the revising stage.

Works for me, but you have to find what works best for you. :)

If you're a writer, how do you fight your weaknesses? I'd love to hear your tips!

Have a terrific day!

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Did Summer Derail Your Writing Progress?

Has it been weeks since you added words to your novel? Or revised? Or started a story idea?

Is your heart racing? Does a feeling of dread at your lack of progress eat at your stomach?

I know. Whenever I take more than three days off from a writing project, I panic. Let's just say I've been high strung a lot lately! My usual summer writing schedule hit the skids in early July due to new sports' obligations. My daughter joined a runner's group. My son started weight-training. And now that August is here, they both have mandatory cross-country and football practices every morning.

Instead of acting like a normal human being, I had a series of ridiculous thoughts looping around my brain constantly.

I'm wasting my whole summer in the car and I have nothing to show for it!
I should be working on a new plot.
I should be scheduling my day better.
The house is a disaster. Why is the house always a disaster??
Why is there an appointment/meeting/practice every five minutes?
I'm getting nothing done! And I'm not even having fun!

After about a week of that nonsense, I mentally slapped myself. Then I wrote down every writing-related thing I'd accomplished since June 1. I was shocked at how much I HAD gotten done! And knowing I'd completed quite a few tasks gave me the push I needed to start a new project.

This week has been crazy. But I brainstormed character names during a walk Wednesday night. I squeezed in three short sessions of Pinterest searches for the right hero and heroine. I told myself five to fifteen minutes here and there are better than nothing.

Thankfully, I had three full hours yesterday afternoon to relax and work. Did I take a twenty-minute nap? You betcha! Did I work on my new plot the rest of the time? Yes!

Next week will be busy too, but I'm setting small goals for each day. School will be back in session before I know it, and writing will take top priority. Until then? I'm trying to chill out!

Do you get more done in the summer? Less? What season seems to be the best time for you to work?

Have a fantastic weekend!

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How I Make My Writing Life Easier

A few years ago, I was starting a new novel and I wasted time trying to remember my process. I also stressed about if I was forgetting anything. That's when it hit me. Why not write myself a template--a checklist--of steps to do each time I start a new book?

YES! 

Since I'm a plotter, I used OneNote. I created a Notebook with several tabs. The first tab was named, Plotting. I added several pages for character guides, GMC chart, Romance Journey, and Plot Points. Additionally, I typed up a numbered list of what order to fill the pages out. 

In addition to Plotting, I created tabs for Business, Research, Scene List, and Revising. 

This template made my writing life a whole lot easier!

Why? Having written instructions, an ordered way to tackle the project, and one place to keep all of my data frees my mind to focus on the book. I don't worry I'm forgetting anything. And I have every piece of information at my fingertips that I will need later. 

I called this OneNote Notebook my Book Plotting Template. I use it whenever I write a new book. So easy! 

Now that I'm facing new responsibilities with an actual editor (!!!), I created another section in the Business tab. It includes title lists, deadlines, and how-to-fill-out-the-Art-Sheet. I'm feeling much less stressed now that I've typed up instructions to myself. 

What is your best tip for making your writing life easier?

Have a terrific day!

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Why I'm Resubscribing to Entertainment Weekly

Many of you know I have a slight (or major?) magazine addiction. It's not unusual for me to have 8 or more magazine subscriptions. Yes, I read them all! I'm not a skimmer. I also like to save inspiring pictures and put them in binders to browse when I'm hungry for ideas.


I don't automatically renew, though. Sometimes I find a magazine isn't holding my interest the way it once did, or maybe the cost of renewal skyrocketed. Either way, I'm not afraid to let a subscription expire and try a different magazine.

I always thought it was a bit self-indulgent to have all of these magazines, even though the cost is minimal; I only subscribe at the most discounted price I can get. My opinion has changed. I no longer think it self-indulgent at all. I realize how stimulating these publications are to my creativity.

Our library carries Entertainment Weekly. I checked out a few recent issues (I stopped receiving EW over a year ago, but I have ordered it off and on for ten years). Every other page I got ideas for blog posts. I also wrote down new artists I wanted to hear on iTunes, new books that sounded intriguing, and DVD's to add to my Netflix queue.

When I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly, I try new things. I'm more engaged with current music, literature, movies, and television shows. They spark my urge to expand my horizons, and that quality is valuable to me.

So I found a great deal on EW through Magazines.com, and I'm treating myself to a new subscription. Investing in my creativity will always rank high on my list!

What sparks YOUR creativity?

Have a fantastic Wednesday!

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The Most Important Question in Writing

We question our world on a daily basis. Rarely do we participate in a conversation without either voicing a slew of questions or letting them circle our brain. We want to know: How was that possible? When did he do that? Did something happen? What's her problem? What's going to happen now?

But most of all, we want to know why.

Why does he want that? Why did she behave that way? Why did that just happen? Why does this information make me want to jump up and down, shouting hooray? Why did she say that? Why am I upset about it?

Writers take this curiosity and we apply it to our writing. Sometimes we wonder why we write. Or why we're writing this story? Why is this book important? Why is this scene important? This sentence? This word?
We wonder why our characters won't behave or why we used the same word 17 times on one page. We wonder why we haven't opened our work-in-progress in three days. Or why we hate revising.

In the actual story, we wonder why our character is acting the way she is, and why she needs her goal so badly? Why do the other characters respond to her the way they do? Why did this scene goal change? Why doesn't the ending work?

We're constantly asking why, and because we're willing to ask this, our belief in ourselves as writers and our storytelling skills grow stronger.

The most important question for writers? Why.

Tell me, why do you write?

Have a marvelous weekend!

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What Keeps Me Writing When Life Gets Rough

I have a secret. Occasionally I'm hit with a terrible mood that won't lift. It not only affects my daily life, but it kills my writing. Any number of things might cause it--you know--bad news sometimes gets us down, but I work very hard to not let the mood stop me from working toward my dreams.


My secret?

Well, I have more than one. Since I like to go big or not at all, I have five.

1. Prayer.

Only through daily conversations with God am I able to find the strength to turn on my laptop and open my manuscript.

2. Sugar.

Many of you know I am a chocoholic. When life is going great, I eat healthier and rarely snack during my writing sessions. But...when life runs me over, I turn to my stash of candy bars. I kid you not, Nestle Crunch and M&Ms have salvaged more writing sessions than I care to admit. I also stock hard candy, such as Lifesavers, during the crazies.

3. Permission to do whatever it takes.

If I'm struggling and sitting in front of my laptop with a glazed look on my face and pigeons fluttering through my brain, I give myself permission to watch a silly YouTube video. Maybe I wrote 125 words and feel a massive urge to crack a can of Pepsi open? I go ahead and do that. And while I'm in the fridge I tell myself that if it takes four sodas, I will get my daily word count in. Whatever. It. Takes.

4. I whine.

My local writer friends listen to me whine a lot. They're wonderful. I could not make it without them.

5. I remind myself that the mood will pass.

Everything really WILL get better soon. I just have to ride it out. Moods come and go. Seasons come and go. Good times come. Then they go. It's the way of life. :)

So if you find yourself in a mood darker than a starless, moonless night, and the very thought of opening your manuscript makes you tremble inside--take a deep breath. Pray. Eat a candy bar. Give yourself temporary permission to be unhealthy, whine, and remind yourself that this mood will end.

How do you keep writing when life gets rough?

Have a wonderful Monday!

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First 3 Chapters: From Blah to Bang!

Early last month I wrote the first three chapters of my latest manuscript. I knew the characters, had the plot nailed down, and felt great about my scene list. Yet when I reviewed what I'd written, an uneasy feeling settled over me.

The chapters didn't wow me.

Now, first drafts are first drafts--we all know it. I certainly don't write the perfect first draft--far from it--but the draft itself wasn't the problem.

The first three chapters were blah. They could have been in any current book of my genre. Technically, they were solid, but something was missing.

Rather than forge ahead and keep writing (sorry, that's one writing "rule" I don't follow), I took an hour to think about the problem. I had full confidence in the plot and knew if I tinkered with it, it could become outlandish. The scenes were fleshed out reasonably well for a draft, and the setting and pace were appropriate. The area I kept coming back to?

My heroine.

Sure, she was likable. She had clear goals, motivations, and conflicts. But she could have been any heroine in any other inspirational contemporary romance.

I spent more time brainstorming what would make her stand out. It only took thirty seconds for me to slap my forehead. I'd squandered her individuality. By sprinkling thoughts filtered through her unique mind in the first three chapters, I would give the reader something to be excited about.

Once I fixed the problem, the rest of the chapters have been much easier to write.

By the way, this wouldn't have been apparent to me if I did not read many different authors in my genre. Only by knowing what is out there could I figure out why my book wasn't as good as it could be.

If you open your first three chapters and aren't "wowed," try brainstorming for an hour. Write down any areas that might be weak, then evaluate them. Trust your instincts. The solution will come to you.

Have you ever started reading a book and wondered if you'd read it before? I've picked up books I've already read! That's sad!

Enjoy your weekend!

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Why Our Characters Must Fail

I recently read a novel but struggled to get into the story. Each time I put it down, I had no desire to pick it back up. Tempted to stop reading, I decided to forge ahead and figure out why it wasn't grabbing me. I made a list of its strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

- Excellent writing. The author balances dialogue, thoughts, action, and narrative with ease.
- Modern, relatable characters. The hero and heroine (it's a contemporary romance) are realistic and have believable conflicts and goals. Plus, I liked both of them.
- Logical progression of plot. The story arc made sense and proceeded in a way I would expect.

Weaknesses:

- Too many characters introduced in first chapters. This book is the second or third in a series, so extra characters should be involved, but too many too soon only confuses the reader.
- Sunday drive pacing. While the plot progresses logically, it does not progress quickly. There doesn't seem to be any urgency.
- The hero and heroine do not share enough scenes in the first half. They are in scenes together, but they rarely interact. How are they supposed to fall in love if they don't talk to each other?

Not every book is perfect, and the strengths in this one more than offset the weaknesses. However, I pinpointed one major area that needed work.

Each scene had a point, but the stakes were never high enough for me to want to read the next scene. 

Jack M. Bickham discusses what an effective scene accomplishes in his excellent book, Scene & Structure. I'm paraphrasing here, but basically each scene should be told from one character's viewpoint, and the character must have a clear goal, which is obvious from the beginning of the scene. The character will then experience conflict in reaching that goal until the scene ends with the character failing to meet the goal.

Summary of Scene Essentials:
1. Introduction of the viewpoint character's scene goal.
2. Conflict threatening the character's ability to reach goal.
3. Failure of character to meet goal.

But...the character has to win sometimes, right? Yes. This is why it's important to be clear about the character's scene goal. If the book requires your heroine to convince her coworker to attend a wedding with her, you might choose to split the section into two scenes. The first scene will be told from her viewpoint. She gets the courage to ask him, he puts up a fight, and the scene ends with him refusing.

1. She asks coworker to be her date for wedding. (Goal)
2. He gives lame excuses. (Conflict)
3. He refuses. (Failure)

But...he has to agree. It's a vital plot point. Okay, no problem. The next scene will be in his point of view, and his scene goal will be to get out of the wedding invitation. But the heroine is very convincing, and he finds himself saying yes when he wants to say no.

1. He must not agree to this wedding invitation. (Goal)
2. She has lawyer-like convincing skills. (Conflict)
3. He accepts. (Failure)
If we ignore the scene essential of the character failing, we waste an opportunity to keep the reader on edge. We could have written the previous scene in the heroine's point of view and had her ask the hero to the wedding. He could still put up a fight, but in the end he agrees. The problem with this is that the heroine wins.

As readers, we like to watch our heroes and heroines suffer. We love that gnawing feeling in our gut when things go wrong. We need the hero and heroine to fail repeatedly for us to keep turning the pages. If they only win, what's the point of reading more? Our goal as writers should be to provide a sense of urgency--regardless what genre we write--and have the reader constantly ask, what comes next? How is the main character going to handle this? I've got to find out more!

Let's talk about this. Anything to add? Any questions? 

Have a terrific day!

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4 Steps for a Fabulous Fallow Time

Each step in a book requires a different set of skills, and for me, completing a project--performing the final round of revisions and polishing the proposal--demands the most. Just over a week ago, I finished a much-loved book. The exhilaration, I did it! I gave this book everything I have, and it's the best I could do, soon gave way to exhaustion. I knew a fallow time was in order.

4 Steps for a Fabulous Fallow Time

Step 1: Get Away (if only to your bedroom)

We spent most of last week tent camping in gorgeous Holland, Michigan near the shores of Lake Michigan. Camping takes more work than a hotel, but I find it nurturing to the soul. We spent almost all of our time outdoors, either on the beach, hiking, or sitting by a campfire. Our meals were simple. We happily lived without television, computers, and other technical gadgets. We did NOT live without coffee, though. That would be cruel. :)

Step 2: Rest

One thing I noticed from day one was how physically tired I was. Non-writers may not realize how draining it is to pour every iota of brain power into honing a book. The cool, fresh night air lulled me into a deep sleep, and during the day I fought to stay awake in the sun's warm embrace as we listened to the rhythm of the waves.

Step 3: Zone Out and Snack

I leafed through one magazine and read one book (which you will be hearing all about on Wednesday because it was awesome!!). My brain was too tired to read more than that. And after we returned home on Friday, I spent most of the weekend reclining on the couch, watching pre-season football and snacking on bagel chips and chocolate-covered raisins. For the record, I'm pumped about the Lions and sporting at least three extra pounds.

Step 4: Be Productive in Other Areas Until Your Creativity is Primed

Just as God commanded us to rest on the seventh day, He also commanded us to let our land lie unplowed and unused every seventh year. As a writer, I know the necessity, the value, in giving myself time off between projects. I will rest more, read more, spend time on the other needs of my business, such as continuing the design of my new website and fleshing out plot points for potential books. Regular exercise and a lighter diet will be my friends. And I'll do a big cannonball of joy back into the social media pool--I love interacting with everyone! Slowly, the tiredness will ebb, and ideas will pelt me until I'm ready to plunge into my next project.

Do you take time off between projects? What are your tips for a successful fallow time?

Have a magnificent Monday!

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Three Tricks to Keep Your Eyes Fresh When Revising

The problem with revising? Keeping our eyes fresh when reading our manuscripts each time. After the third or fourth read-through, we can't help but skim problem areas. They become all but invisible. And while I always advise waiting a minimum of two weeks between finishing the first draft and starting revisions, we don't have the luxury to wait weeks between each revision pass.

The tricks I use aren't new. I found them from other writers. But they're worth repeating because they work.

Three Tricks to Keep Your Eyes Fresh When Revising:

1. Save your manuscript in a new file, single-space it, choose a new font, and change the size of the font. Print it out and read it.

2. Mentally read the book in first person if you wrote it in third person or vice-versa. This helps with point of view. You'll notice where characters see things they shouldn't, and it will help you find holes in your writing.

3. Read the manuscript out loud.

After I work through the major revisions (plot, character, pacing, and so forth), I use all three tricks, in order, with every manuscript. Sure, it takes extra hours, but by the time I'm reading the book out loud, I've eliminated most of my repeat words/phrases, tackled point-of-view issues, and am confident the book is ready to submit.

What tricks do you use to keep your manuscript fresh when revising?

Have a fabulous Monday!

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1 Odd Cure For Writer's Block

Have you ever opened your work-in-progress, fingers poised to add words, but nothing comes? If you're like me, you sprint through a cycle of emotions.



1. Wariness: Oh no! I wrote all of the good stuff already. What in the world is supposed to happen now?

Time ticks by.

2. Anxiety: I've read through the previous scene and have no idea where to go next. Only one sentence congealed in my brain and it stunk.

Twenty minutes pass.

3. Panic: I only have so much time to write and I'm blowing it! What's needed here--dialogue, action, introspection--what??

Now, I'll be the first to admit I don't believe in long-term writer's block. When we make writing a habit, somehow the words make it to the page. But I occasionally have bouts of the above, where everything that comes to mind could be read in a Dick and Jane book and I want to pile my laptop, notebooks, writing craft books, and every pen, pencil and paper into a large paper box and throw them in the river because I'm not worthy.

I have an odd solution.

One Odd Cure for Writer's Block

Pamper yourself for a few minutes. Concentrate on something that makes your soul sing.

When I can't find the words, I grab the softest blanket I own, wrap it around my shoulders, and sit on the couch for a while. I focus on how the blanket feels as I rub my fingers over it. Ahh...soothing. And as I relax, my brain gets unstuck. I realize I need to write the Dick and Jane sentence because it's better than nothing and I can fix it later.

Not everyone has the same pampering-pick-me-up. I'm a tactile person. Softness matters to me a great deal. My husband's place of business sells carpet among other things. If he and I head to the showroom, he'll select five random carpet samples and lay them down on the floor. Then he'll ask me which one is the softest. Based solely on touch, I can determine the most expensive carpet, and I can figure out the order of price of the remainding carpets. (Hey, I can't juggle, but I know soft!)

I must pet every fluffy dog or cat who cross my path. I've purchased sweaters based solely on how they feel, and yes, some have been on the ugly side. The rabbit barn at the fair? My kids have to drag me out. Soft things act like a balm to me, and they trigger my creative side.

Maybe yours is oratory--certain sounds or music relax you. Or maybe it's taste? A special cup of tea, a soft drink, a beer might be just the thing to wake your muse. What about scents? Could a mandarin orange scented candle tease your senses? Or maybe you're visual. Browse an online museum for ten minutes and bask in the beauty of art.

The next time you're stuck for words, pamper yourself for ten minutes and see if it helps.

Have you ever stared at your manuscript and had no idea what to write next? What pampers you? Could you take a break and use it the next time you're stumped?

Have a fabulous Friday!

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The Surprising Truth About Romance Characters

You've read the advice, right? To craft a compelling story our characters must grow. I read this over and over, and I agree. If our characters start and end in the same emotional or mental state-of-being, the reader will probably pitch the book across the room before finishing it. I think I actually just heard the thud of it hitting the wall.



But...not every genre calls for the same type of character growth.

In a thriller, readers will put up with a gruff, hard-drinking, hot-tempered hero if he's dead-set on finding his daughter's abductor. In a women's fiction novel, readers will put up with a spoiled, self-centered heroine if she's going through a painful divorce and just found out she has breast cancer.

Throw either of these characters into a romance novel, however, and you might have a very tough sell.

The surprising truth about characters in romance novels?

The reader has to fall in love with the characters in order for the reader to believe the heroine and hero will fall in love with each other.

Well, sure, of course the reader has to like the characters. That's true in all fiction, right?

Wrong. I'm not talking about liking the characters. I'm talking about flat-out swooning for them. When I read a romance novel, I want to experience the rush of falling in love. How can I do that if the hero acts like a jerk? I don't love jerks. I'm not attracted to them. I'm going to have serious doubts about the heroine if she is attracted to them. **I've written jerky heroes before, and guess what? Editors didn't like them either.**

What about the heroine? Do I like abrasive, self-centered women--or needy, desperate ladies? Not really. I'm friends with caring, strong women who know the difference between standing up for themselves and acting like a shrew.

Writers of romance have a tricky dilemma with this. How can we show character growth AND make the reader fall in love with our heroes and heroines?

Jody Hedlund wrote an excellent post, "How to Avoid the Trap of Creating Unlikable Characters," last week. The full article is linked and I highly recommend reading it. She gave three tips:

1. Avoid giving our characters too many negative traits
2. Avoid giving an unforgivable trait or action
3. Bring out likable traits too

My first books had likable characters but boring plots. I knew nothing about goals, motivations, and conflicts, and I knew less about scenes, sequels, and turning points. As I studied, I took the "your character needs to show internal growth" concept too far. My next books featured unlikable characters and interesting plots. If my heroine was likable, my hero was obnoxious. I couldn't seem to figure out what I was doing wrong.

I'm not sure what turned the switch--maybe all the romance novels I've devoured for years seeped into my pores or something--but I made a connection that's made a big difference for my characters.

In romance, our characters can become better people without overcoming a terrible flaw. If they have a very bad flaw, make sure they've experienced the growth before the story begins. Their character growth can be an offshoot of this, but it shouldn't be the main conflict.

What do I mean?

If Susie can't say no to men who treat her poorly, the reader will struggle to like her. So don't make Susie's main internal growth  hinge on her getting out of a doomed relationship and into Mr. Right's arms. Instead, have Susie realize she has a problem before the book begins--maybe even six months ago--and now she's single. She knows she needs to change, but she's not sure she's up to the task. Mr. Right won't be fixing her problems. She'll be working through her issues because Mr. Right is worth the trouble.

We are tempted to show Susie in a bad relationship and making dumb decisions to prove she's changed at the end. This alienates the reader--we don't want to read about doormats. Susie can still grow if she's already learned her lesson before the book starts. Now, the reader sympathizes with Susie's struggle to find a worthy man.


Or...

If John has a hot temper and can't hold a job--this should not be his growth either. We're tempted to start the book with him slamming something against a wall and getting fired to prove he's changed at the end. But what women is attracted to a guy with such a short fuse?

Maybe a year ago, he lost his job after punching the boss. Now, when the story starts, he's learned how to rein in his anger, but his lack of recommendations keeps him unemployed. His internal growth will be honing his patience and proving he can be a trustworthy employee as opposed to controlling his rangy temper. Who knows, maybe the heroine is his new boss? Hmmm....must write this down...

Readers will love John if he already dealt with these issues before we meet him. They will sympathize with him having to deal with the repercussions of his past.

Do you see how tweaking the main internal conflict can create a swoon-worthy character?


As I said earlier, different genres call for different character conflict and growth. If you write romance, strive to create believable characters who readers can fall in love with. Tweak their growth arcs until you find one that casts your characters in the most sympathetic light.

What genre(s) do you write? Do readers of your genre have specific character expectations?

Have a fantastic Friday!

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My Secret: Organizing Book Notes

Plotting worksheets, scraps of paper, URL's, e-mails, research--everything needs to be organized. What's a writer to do?


When I started writing my first book, I threw all my project notes in a manila folder and called it good. But as time wore on, my work-in-progress files became more complex with detailed plot sheets, and pages of notes, charts, and writing logs.

I knew I needed to create a time-saving, easy-to-use filing system. It took several different attempts to find the right method, but after a devastating computer crash last fall, I stumbled on my current--and ideal--system: Microsoft One Note.

There are other programs similar to One Note, so it's really a personal preference on what software you use, but I find One Note perfect for me. I'm very organized and a massive plotter, and I find thumbing through a stack of manila folders too time-consuming, not to mention, I often forget to print pertinent information.

One Note allows me to keep every tidbit of info needed for a book in one spot. Think of it as a virtual file folder. You can pop just about anything into a page. I routinely copy/paste URL's of research sites into an unfiled note and transfer them into the correct notebook later. Text and photos are easily manipulated too. You can move them all over the page and resize them as needed. The best part? Anything you copy and paste from the Internet is tagged with the URL it's from. Easy reference!

You can also create tables and perform simple calculations--a big plus for me.

Here's my method.

I created a master notebook as a template for my books. When I start a new book, I create a new notebook and save it as the title of the book. Then I copy/paste each tab and notebook page into the new notebook.

My tabs for a book:

1. Plotting

I have pages for all of the worksheets I fill out before a first draft. I also have a page for the summaries and blurb.

2. Research

I copy/paste any info I find. I also save future unfiled notes in this section. All I have to do is click on the URL to go directly to the source.

3. Write/Revise Log

I keep two pages, one for my writing log and the other for my revising log. When I'm writing a first draft, I keep track of the date, the amount of time I wrote, the pages added, the words added, the total amount of words and the total amount of pages. I have a similar log for revising. It's interesting to see how long a first draft or a complete revise takes me.

4. Scene List

I have only one page in this tab and it consists of a long table. I create the scene list before I write my first draft. The sections in the table are: Scene Number, POV (which character's viewpoint the scene is written in), Setting, GMC (the character's goal, motivation, and conflict in the scene), Mood, Growth, Chapter, Notes.

5. Revise Notes

I let the first draft sit a while before I revise it. This section allows me to jot notes about problems that jump in my brain during the in-between phase. I also write notes here while I'm revising (like, remember to add conversation with mom in chapter three or four).

6. Business

I keep track of my estimated schedule here. Start date, finish first draft date, begin revising date, end revising date, date I send the book to critique partners, and date I send the proposal to my agent. I also create a page to copy/paste any important e-mails from my agent.

You don't have to reserve One Note solely for your books.

I keep track of my 5 Easy Questions interviews in a virtual notebook. It contains a table of authors I plan on asking as well as the authors I've already asked. Monthly tabs allow me to copy/paste the answers, links and bio's the authors send me. I'm able to keep track of a ton of information in one spot, which saves me time.

Other possible notebooks:
Business: I keep my business plan, monthly goals, and promotion ideas in one.
Writing Craft: Possible tabs--dialogue, plotting, descriptions, genres...
Writing Business: Possible tabs--agents, editors, platform...
Marketing/Promotion: Possible tabs--e-newsletter sites, blog information, Facebook ads, etc...

My favorite part of using One Note is that I can access ANY piece of information on a project just by opening the notebook. No more hiking upstairs and shuffling through different folders or wondering if I filed the slip of paper I jotted a note on. The program has made my life easier. I hope you'll give it a try!

How do you organize your book notes?

Have a fantastic Friday!

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