Saying there’s one true way to start writing is as ridiculous as saying there’s one way to read a book. Some people are read-all-nighters, some people are page at a timers.
Within the online writing community, or #WritingCommunity, there are two main religions with many denominations. They are pantsers (flying by the seat of your pants, just free associating through the project), and plotters (even if it has to be replanned, it IS planned out, either a chapter a time or start to finish!)
A while ago I wrote a rambly post attempting to help GMs use author methods to plan out campaigns in which I ground one heck of an axe.
But even if I have no authority or qualification in the how, I have found a method which saved my ability to write.
I get block quite a bit! I have a few chronic whatchamacallits and when I am better I have to be able to get back into writing. So I have my block beater (“it reminded x of the first time they saw [something natural and awe inspiring] [5 senses in memory + why it reminded them + 5 senses in present… erase later]”) and I have…
marcherwitch’s method for plotting and not letting anxiety stop you writing…
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The Mind Map!
Mindmapping works great for visual learners/processors. If you’re not, try listing under categories! This one is for my wip which +sighs+ look, I’m working on a name. Maybe The Major’s Murderous Mistress because I’m sure everyone wants more violence in their regency! Right? But the working title is Discord.
As you can see, I do bubbles for tropes, themes, characters etc
When I get block I can come back and see what my characters’ motivations and direction should be. I can see what tropes (romancelandia’s main import and export is tropes), themes, etc I wanted and it helps free my mind of the panic of not knowing where I’m going!
You can add and subtract as you like throughout writing. Love my mindmaps!
So then I make one of these. Romances in general, like all of us, have peaks and troughs. (Or peeks, depending on the kink level +winks and clicks tongue+)
So the Big Events tee-em, the happies and angries go on the peaks, and then calmer or sadder bits in the troughs. It should also in general grow throughout the book so the greatest peak and lowest trough come at the end. But I got lazy drawing my wiggle!
This is another way to be able to check back and see what you should be building towards.
So…
In general a romance novel is 70,000 to 80,000 words long, depending on publisher. Chapters are 4000 to 6000 words long, depending on writer. I aim for 4000 in the first draft, usually switching pov at least once per chapter when writing dual pov! That way both characters get a look in and if a reader prefers one over the other they aren’t stuck or tempted to DNF or skip.
I therefore aim to write 70000 words first draft divided by 4000. Up to 17 chapters. (I actually usually end up with 12 chapters cos books have to have “description”…. urgh… raise your hands people who skipped tolkien’s description in lotr?
raise your hands who skipped frodo depressioning along because aragon/gimli/legolas banter was where it was at! because you are my people. my bestie knows so much about middle earth she can outline how they should have canon done the rings series and had it be freedom fighters of colour against white invaders and tbh i only remember some of what she said, there was a lot of naming people not in any of the published books… where was I?
so your chapter by chapter can be as short or detailed as you like! you just separate it according to the wiggle.
Again, um. Well, take Ashwolf for an example. Plan was that Mawde and her hunky love interest would have a huge fight, she would then be competing for her life, dignity, and his mother truckin’ crown. And what happened? The bastards had a nice, grown up chat about trust and communication and I had to replot the second half of the book.
Do I rant about it?
Yes.
Did it make the book better?
Also yes.
Listen to your characters. If you can’t hear them a) maybe you’re not ready for this WIP yet! no shame! shelve it and come back to it! b) maybe you are trying to force them to do something that’s out of character, and the fuckers are sulking!
So here are more tips I have learned, honed, or been given:
- Ask other writers questions. We will do anything to procrastinate and we like talking about writing in general! The good ones are also always up for helping new writers.
- Never. Delete. Anything. Have an outtakes file or doc where you dump large sections you take out. Maybe it’s good for another book, maybe it’s gonna go back in later, maybe it’ll never see the light of ereader but at least you’ll have it!
- If it’s gonna be a series, have a paper notebook or sheaf of paper where you record character names, appearances/faceclaims*, dates, ages, major events in lore or history… because it is harder to get lost in searching through documents. Plus… yuh know… notebooks!
- Know that this works for me, but I am not a prolific author. I’m likely never going to be. Someone at Harlequin Historical told me “write what only you can” and now I’m writing out of my lane so I don’t let down writers I esteem so, so highly, and self-pubbing because I’m scared of querying agents. So… grain of salt!
Block will get you, but notes help “i have been starting this story for 20000 words”, “character adhd”, and “fuck… it’s been 3 years… where was I?”
And hey, if in doubt…
It reminded her of the first time she saw the sea. Vast and glittering, the ever-present roar filling her soul while wet brine salted her cheeks and tongue… Now she was once again humbled by something far greater than herself. But she was not frozen in awe. No, she was braced and bent and ready to kick ass, ready to face the roar of the crowd and the salty spray of blood. [< remember to delete this] She took a step toward the arena. The second was easier. Soon she was running, and grinning, and ready for violeeeeeeence.
Yuh know?
*faceclaim – roleplay term for casting an actor as the character. Pro: consistency. You can frickin’ google their eye colour/height when you forget. Con: image rights.
marcherwitch: online home of writer Holly March 
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