Family Tree to Novel, 2

There are many ways to write a novel.

Some might be planners, using outlines and index cards and many other tools.

I, however, have been a "pantser," a term coined to describe those of us who fly by the seat of our pants.

Initially, I sat down and typed like a mad woman, resulting in a substantial first draft. The effort seemed to come out of nowhere.

I was, some would say, "in flow."

However, I soon realized I had unknowingly engaged in pre-writing, spending days and even years contemplating ideas that eventually found their way into a story.

Maybe I had more in common with planners than I thought.

By the time I wrote my fourth novel in a series, I began to appreciate the benefits of planning tools, such as character and plot development apps to ensure consistency throughout my entire saga.

Apps can help bridge the gap between planning and winging it. There are countless ones on the market, most of which you can explore for free for a time.

Fortunately, I understand the value of editing. It is like starting with a bar of soap and shaving it into a swan, or at least one that has potential.

Begin with editing for grammar and spelling, while changing obvious things to enable better flow. Work on paring down, throwing out elements that do not serve the plot or which are awkward or boring. If this is difficult, put the deleted parts into another document to possibly use later.

By the time of my first draft of my fourth novel, I had no problem taking out large sections, deleting without saving my precious words.

Nope. I slashed and moved on, using tools such as the many apps you can try for free. Trusting in creative instincts and using planning and editing tools, produces significant improvements.

Though I will continue writing and publishing my double trilogy before doing anything else, I'm considering re-writing those early novels.

One can always improve.