The best advice I received from an established author was to try different approaches to writing. Either make up the story as you go or write an outline; decide on the length; book/chapter titles and content of each chapter.
I’ve tried both.
The first trilogy, I did my research; decided on the book/chapter titles, did a plan for each chapter, then each scene and created the characters. And finally, penned the prologue and worked my way through to the end.
In version two, after finishing my research, I wrote the beginning and the end, then filled in the bits in-between. This, at least for me, was more fulfilling.
Nowadays, if offering advice (which I’m not qualified to do being a newbie) is to say that you really do not need to think of a plot before starting. Give your imagination free rein, and put pen to paper, or fingertips on keyboard and make up the plot along the way. In truth, although I hadn’t written anything down, I knew how the story would progress and its conclusion so this method was easy.
Plans do change. I rewrote the ending, then changed the story. Not a good idea when the tale covers thousands of years. But it worked out, in the end, although I’m certain there will be errors. They are inevitable!
While living in Spain, my somewhat disorganised method of research irritated Lisa so she took me in hand, offered advice (which I heeded), then suggested (after reading my first feeble attempt) that I should develop a new writing style.
“Business English,” Lisa claimed, “does not go well with fantasy fiction.”
She was right. So, I binned the book, and started again.
Did it end here? Hell, no. During lockdown I extensively revised the three books. These will be published on Amazon KDP (when I sus out how to publish them) from September to December 2022. New series title: The Elderns. Book titles: Book 1, Rising; Book 2, Resurrection, Book 3, Retribution.
llamememeg 