From pantser to planner: Sticking to a schedule

​When I started writing years ago, I was a ‘pantser’ all the way. I would sit down whenever the mood struck me and type until I could write no more. Who needs an outline? I would scoff to myself. Certainly not me!
 
Then I sent my initial manuscript to an editor friend of mine who kindly told me that what I had written was full of great ideas but was ultimately a mess.
 
I read back over her comments and realized, with a heavy heart, that she wasn’t wrong. Manuscript No. 1 was full of plot holes, entire chapters that served no purpose, and side characters who did nothing for the narrative. 
 
So I became a planner and a planner I have remained. 
 
(Note: I’m not knocking pantsers here. Y’all do you. I’m a firm believer that there’s no one right way to write and if your process works for you, you should stick with that!)
 
When I started working on Book Two at the beginning of this year, I began with an outline. Though it’s changed a bit as I’ve written, it’s really helped keep me on track in terms of what needs to happen when in the manuscript.
 
And then I realized yesterday that it’s going to be August on Sunday. When did that happen?!
 
So, I sat down last night and matched my outline to my calendar. I now have a better idea of what it’s going to take for me to get Book Two’s initial draft done by the end of 2021. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to stick with my plan!
 
A Thing I Enjoyed This Week
 
I got a massive library haul this past Monday and picked The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa as the first to read. What a fantastic choice! If this book isn’t on your TBR, you should add it. The tone is gloomy and foreboding, but the prose is so excellent you won’t be able to put it down. Highly recommend!

Latest book haul.