Novel Building

How do you construct your novel? I've been thinking about this more and more lately because I'm currently working on my third novel for my series. When Realms/Charisma bought the Ravensmoore Chronicles I had the first book in the series complete and I knew a bit about the other two but not that much. Of course when my first editor got hold of the novel she cut 26,000 words and I rebuilt and rewrote my book.

When I wrote the second novel, Chameleon, I decided to test my skills at novel building. I'm a pantser at heart. I don't know how to follow an outline and I don't enjoy the outline process. I wrote my second book by completing scenes in a a very loose format. In other words, it was nowhere near linear. However, when it came time to put this book in sequence I had a multitude of problems. Looking back, I think it was my timeline. It was not well defined and I paid the price for this in having to figure out how everything would fit and where it would fit. Chameleon is done and in my humble opinion it's going to blow your mind if others can refrain from telling you how it ends. My second editor had a lot to do with getting me and my novel grounded.

In the January 2012 Writer's Digest article, Zachary Petit interviews Diana Gabaldon. If you don't know who she is I suggest you order her first novel, Outlander. Gabaldon's books are huge in number of pages and huge in story. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she's a pantser, yet I couldn't figure out how she writes such complicated books without an outline. She's got a method, and you'll have to check out the article for the details, but somehow she's able to keep track of everything including her timeline. She must have super powers, really!   

So I'm wondering what forms of timelines do you use? Do you complete your timeline while you plot? After the novels done? What's the method to your madness? I found this Creating a Timeline and am thinking of trying it out. Got any other great sites or ideas?

Timelines and Other Organizational Necessities

One of the first things my editor at Charisma House taught me during the edit of my first book was to keep track of my timelines. I'm now almost done with my second book and am doing a better job this time around. My editor, Lori, explained it this way.

TIMELINE (brief summaries of each chapter, with key events/timing noted. Not all dates are actually mentioned in text, but are given to help keep chronology and timing indicators accurate).

 

 

 

 

However, as I lengthen chapters and scenes or cut chapters and scenes I have to go back and look at the timeline to see where it needs tweaking. Timelines are important in your book. It's a  technique to help you keep track of what your characters are doing and when and where they are doing it.  Last week I read a post over at The Killzone that helps me to know that I'm not the only one that struggles with this issue. If you read through the comments section you will find some advice.

I've heard a lot about Scrivener lately. I don't think this will be new to any of you who own a Mac, but I don't. However, I have recently downloaded the Beta version. Scrivener for Windows  I think a newer version, also a free download is coming out February 25th. I'm hoping this will help organize me. I've also been using Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method. The Snowflake for Novel Writing 

Now when I write I put a date, time and place at the top of each of my chapters or scenes as needed. You'll also discover that it's important to keep track of your characters. I like Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Pro for this. You can keep track of it on paper as well but this way you don't lose it.:)

Since I'm also writing a series, The Ravensmoore Chronicles, with Book One being Secrets of the Heart I have to keep close tabs on what characters are in each book, what they look like, and all those other character traits and flaws that are important. It's a daunting task but as I learn I'm getting better at tracking timelines.

So how do each of you keep track of all these necessities?  How do you organize your writing? What's worked well for you?