by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch
We are writers. We come in all shapes, sizes, preferences, and personalities. Yet one thing is true. In order for our books to reach the hands of readers, we must have a plan. Some of us are great at planning. Others of us are true pantsers. We want to write when we feel the story, and that’s it. But one thing remains true whether we are plotters or pantsers or fall somewhere in between: our writing must come attached with a plan. I like to think of it in 3 phases with a bonus.
- Plotting and Writing
Plan the time to plot or work on character charts but have a date on the calendar to begin. Chapter 1 needs a strict start date, otherwise you may get stuck in the plotting phase. Research as you go. Keep a running list of things you don’t know and check them off as you discover the answers but keep moving. Have a goal for the week, whether it is a certain number of scenes, chapters, or words.
If you need to write a 90,000 word book, set a realistic timeline for yourself. Look at where holidays or big family or work events fall. Set yourself up for success. If you can only write 8,000 words a week, then make a plan to get it done and stick to it. Give yourself more time for the big events. Grab a calendar. Write your weekly goal. Tell several people so you have accountability. Give yourself a consequence. But keep going!
- Editing
During the editing phase of my first book, I learned that this part of book writing will always need more time than you think. Plan time for several rounds:
- A personal edit of the whole manuscript before an editor sees it
- A content edit from a professional
- Revisions of the content edit
- Another round of content edits (depending on how the revisions went)
- Personal edits
- Then line edits. I saw my line edits 2-3 times before we finally went to print on my first book. It may vary depending on your needs, the publisher you signed with, or your editor.
This is where your book transforms from caterpillar to butterfly. It is worth it to spend the time here for a true metamorphosis. This portion of your journey may need more time allotted than you think.
If you are indie publishing, plan a couple months for this to give your editors and you time. You can condense based on your needs. If you are traditionally publishing, you will most likely have a helpful connection at your publisher who will keep you on track. Set personal goals for yourself to make sure you are known as an author who meets those deadlines.
- Marketing and Launch
Ideally, you are starting to plug your new story during the writing and editing process. But if not, there will be a dedicated time leading up to book release that you will need to focus on giveaways, posts, plugs, and launch teams. This part can be detailed but fun. The strict deadlines are over. Don’t ease up on the gas just yet. Figure out which of these tasks and how many you need to accomplish in a given week. Give yourself time to write newsletters, blogs, guest posts, create graphics on Canva, etc. Be specific with making a list, dividing it up realistically, and conquering.
- BONUS: Celebrate and rest from your labor
It’s time to celebrate and sleep and maybe treat yourself to something fun. But don’t ease up on the discipline of this moment. If you are signed with a publisher, it’s on to the next deadline.
Writing a book is an adventure in creativity and a character-building exercise in discipline. When it all comes together, it’s a beautiful thing to behold. You’ve got this!
When a car almost runs over him in the middle of a snowstorm, ex-Navy SEAL Micah Richards knows he’s hit rock bottom. After the deaths of several of his teammates, Micah is sure of two things: he only hurts those he tries to protect and their deaths are his fault. He has one family left on his list to pay his respects but stranded on the side of a mountain in the middle of the night, Micah has run low on options until Casey Stewart comes careening into his life.
The last thing Casey wants is a man, especially one as charming and handsome as Micah who reminds her of her heartache from high school. And especially not when she has so much on her plate: kids trapped in the middle of bad neighborhood cycles at home and a sister who needs out from under their mother’s roof. But helping is in her nature, and something about Micah makes her want to let him in.
Now in the same city, Micah and Casey just can’t seem to stay away from one another, despite Casey’s best efforts. The more, he gets to know the community, the more he wants to stay. When a local drug dealer goes awry, Casey has only one person to turn to—the one who could hurt her heart the most. Micah must face the demons of his past to fight for his new team and new dream—a woman with the heart of a warrior who fights for others. A woman he would die for.
Kariss Lynch is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves writing romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. In her free time, Kariss goes on adventures with her own personal handsome hero, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.