While my first novel has been with beta readers, I’ve taken a break from that manuscript and started planning my second novel.
When I first started planning, I was a bit nervous about whether I would be able to write another novel. I’m still a bit shocked that I’ve managed to complete one novel in the first place. Can I really do it a second time?
I’m so new to this that I am still following the outlining advice of others. I don’t feel I have enough experience yet to develop a system of my own at this stage. So, I started outlining in the same way I did the first novel.
I’ll admit, I like to have quite a lot of details in the outline, and I’ll even include some dialogue in the planning as it comes to me. But, I’m not inflexible. With my first novel, the finished manuscript diverts wildly from the original outline, so the same could happen again.
I follow a fairly standard planning process. I like to start with the characters, and their desires and fears. I feel by establishing their greatest fears, and what they might do if those fears became a reality, helps me to develop some solid character arcs and possible plot lines.
I then move on to developing the story world. I’m sticking with historical romance for now, and this usually highlights what research I may need to do before I start writing.
Then I move on to the scenes. This is where I got nervous. With my first novel, I had daydreamed so much that the scenes virtually flowed out of me. This time, I felt empty when I started to outline the scenes. It was a struggle to start with, but things improved as I moved through the novel.
I finished the planning on Friday and I was eager to get to the writing. My fingers were literally twitching with excitement. I’ll be up at 5 am again to start writing, but I have similar feelings as when I started planning.
Will I be able to do this a second time? In all honesty, I don’t know. I need to remember the joy that writing the first manuscript gave me. If I give up now, I will no doubt regret it. I guess it’s time to get cracking. I won’t know unless I try.
