My Personal Writing Tips| Author Jeanne Olivier

A dive Into The Entire Process

By Jeannè Olivier

[Author & Book Lane Contributor]

My Best 3 Recommendable Writing Tips

• A quote by EL Konigsburg I heard or read somewhere years ago keeps coming back to me, often daily: "Apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair. Don't talk about doing it. Do it."
• Just as important, the next tip is to: "Just keep writing." Even when you're not feeling it. You can always go back and edit later, but don't wait for the right inspiration, circumstances, or anything. Just keep writing.
• And then, perhaps the most important tip is that EVERY WRITER has to READ OBSESSIVELY. I do not think you can be a good writer if you don't read every day.

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Courtesy - Splash.com

The Entire Process

When I'm writing a novel my process is something along these lines:

Planning:

• I write out the basic idea of the book, and most importantly, what is the HOOK?
• What is one big challenge the main character has to overcome?
• Extensive character profiles. I know exactly how my characters look, sound, and behave, what they like and don't like, what their quirks and mannerisms are, where they live, what they eat, what they listen to, what they read, what they watch, what their family and friends are like. I know my characters as well as I know my closest family members, or myself. I make mood boards with photos of people who look and dress like them. I find properties that are similar to the places they live. I map out where certain locations will be. Even if they are entirely fictional, I look for similar places, properties, whatever. I have a clear image of my characters and everything involved in their lives.
• A few lines about each scene. This is usually only a couple of pages long.
• A timeline to see how the scenes and sequence of events will play out and to make sure there are no gaps or discrepancies in the timeline of the story.
• Then, I just expand on the scenes until I have as much detail about the book as possible. However, a while ago I watched a video where Gillian McAllister explains her writing process and on this step, she sets up a spreadsheet, with the main hook (the challenge the main character has to overcome) as a heading at the top. Then there are about 40 rows down, and a column for each of the main characters - in my case usually 2 columns. Then in each box, you write out a scene overview and keep filling out as much detail as you can. So, I've adopted Gillian's method and I think it's such a great way to see your entire novel planned out on one spreadsheet. This way I can also see where I need to swap things around to keep the pacing right, and where I need to add in some conflict, or anything else.
• After this stage, I just started writing

Writing

• I try to do at least 1000 words each day. But, some days, I only do 100. Or, I rewrite 500 of the 1000 I wrote the day before.
• I struggle to keep to a schedule and set a word count each day, but I try to keep going.
• I also don't strictly stick to the planning I did. Sometimes something just doesn't work, and then I cut it. Or, sometimes I come up with something entirely new, then I add it in. This phase is fairly fluid, but it still helps me to have that structure in mind and to know I can go back to look at the original plan I had for the book, as it is easy to get sidetracked when you're deep in the flow of writing, which in itself is fine, but you just have to be aware of not leaving plot holes.
• I try to write out the first draft from beginning to end, without editing too much. This is a challenge for me, as I often start reading Chapter 1 every day, and then fiddle around there. Or, when I'm further down the line, I will start a few chapters back from where I stopped the night before, and then fiddle around there. This way I can waste days and weeks of writing time by moving around commas, adding in or taking away minor details, which doesn't change anything in the plot. So, when I catch myself doing this, which is more often than I like to admit, I try to move on. I tell myself that I need to write at least 2 or 3 paragraphs before I am allowed to read back.
• When I come to the end of the first draft, I try to put the whole thing aside for a week or so. I usually read lots during this time, so that my mind can clear as much as possible before I start on the edit.

Editing Part 1

• With my first novel, this stage happened several times. I kept going back to it and probably wrote 2 or 3 more drafts before I sent it to my editor.
• But, with this book, I might send it off to my editor for a developmental edit, right after I've completed the 1st draft.

Editing Part 2/Developmental Edit

• This is the feedback from the developmental edit. I will work through these in detail and spend a lot of time to make sure everything is perfect.
• When I come to the end again I will send it off for a beta read. I only had 2 beta readers for my first novel, and I think I will stick with 2 for this novel too.
• I don't personally like too many people's opinions while it's still a work in progress. So the editor and 1 or 2 beta readers work well for me.
• When the manuscript comes back from the beta readers I will consider any notes and work some more on it until I'm satisfied that I've done all I can. Then I will send it off to the editor for another read, along with my own set of notes and questions about some points I might feel unsure about.
• If she's happy with the changes I've made and doesn't have any more developmental suggestions, she will then start on the line edit.

Editing Part 3/Line Edit

• The editor will work through the manuscript in great, great detail to correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. She will also make note of any further issues she might pick up.
• I will then go through her notes and incorporate her changes.

Final Proofread

The manuscript will go back to the Editor for a final proofread and polish.

Blurb:

This is also the phase where she will help me with the blurb, and with my last book, help me decide on a new title.

Cover design

• I will then send the polished manuscript to the designer to read.
• I create a mood board for the ideas I have for the cover.
• The designer will come back to me with 3 basic sketch ideas for the cover and I will choose one.
• She will then design the first draft for the cover and do another presentation for me.
• She will finalise and complete the cover so that it can go to the Typesetter.

Typesetting and other graphic assets

The typesetter will use the cover to get an idea of the style and do the layout and typesetting accordingly.

The designer will create further assets for social media etc.

Pre-publication Marketing and Final Uploads

• Once all the typesetting and design work is completed, I upload the manuscript to NetGalley, BookLife and Kirkus for early review.
• I will also invite advanced readers at this stage.
• About a month before publication I will upload the print and ebook manuscripts to Ingram and Amazon and set it for pre-order.
• Then the full-on Marketing will start - which is a whole different beast and the reason many indie authors are alcoholics.

About The Author

Jeannè Olivier
Author & Book Lane Contributor 

Jeanné Olivier is a British-South African author dividing her time between Haslemere in the UK, and Mossel Bay in South Africa. The Girl in my Dreams is her debut novel - order it now to explore her world.