Pauline Rowson's Blog - Posts Tagged "character-outlines"
Planning my crime novels
I'm often asked how I go about planning a novel.When starting a fresh crime novel (as I am now, having recently finished writing the ninth in the DI Andy Horton series) I have the basic idea in mind. I will start to flesh this out using spider grams and time lines to work up the basic plot lines and character outlines, working in pencil on recycled pieces of A4 paper.
Often I will create some characters who won’t appear in the novel at all because by the time I start to write the first draft they might no longer be relevant.
At this stage I don’t know how the novel will end or who the villain is, this will only become apparent as I write. I conduct some research, which in turn will spark even more ideas about the plot and subplots and provide me with further ideas for characters.
I like to start the creative writing process as soon as possible, knowing that the first couple of chapters will change drastically by the time I come to do revisions. But until I start writing and putting words into the characters mouths and have them acting and reacting they don’t come alive. I then research further as I write.
On average I spend about a month working on the outlines before I start writing. Then it usually takes me another five months to finish the crime novel. I have just completed number nine in the DI Horton series which is now with my publisher.
Death Lies Beneath by Pauline Rowson the new and eighth in the DI Horton series was published in July 2012.
Death Lies Beneath
Often I will create some characters who won’t appear in the novel at all because by the time I start to write the first draft they might no longer be relevant.
At this stage I don’t know how the novel will end or who the villain is, this will only become apparent as I write. I conduct some research, which in turn will spark even more ideas about the plot and subplots and provide me with further ideas for characters.
I like to start the creative writing process as soon as possible, knowing that the first couple of chapters will change drastically by the time I come to do revisions. But until I start writing and putting words into the characters mouths and have them acting and reacting they don’t come alive. I then research further as I write.
On average I spend about a month working on the outlines before I start writing. Then it usually takes me another five months to finish the crime novel. I have just completed number nine in the DI Horton series which is now with my publisher.
Death Lies Beneath by Pauline Rowson the new and eighth in the DI Horton series was published in July 2012.
Death Lies Beneath
The Perfect System For Writing A Novel
All writers have different ways of working and finding the ‘perfect system’ for planning, researching, plotting, structuring and writing a novel is often a matter of trial and error until something clicks. That’s how it was for me anyway.
Before I struck on my 'perfect system' I tried all sorts of ways of compiling my research, plotlines, and character outlines, from using note books to wall maps, from card indexes to ring binders. None of them worked. The ring binders looked nice and neat, all properly indexed, but because of my civil service training my mind told me that something in a file, was 'filed away,' and therefore actioned, finished with and a novel is a work in progress.
Read full article on my website blog at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
Before I struck on my 'perfect system' I tried all sorts of ways of compiling my research, plotlines, and character outlines, from using note books to wall maps, from card indexes to ring binders. None of them worked. The ring binders looked nice and neat, all properly indexed, but because of my civil service training my mind told me that something in a file, was 'filed away,' and therefore actioned, finished with and a novel is a work in progress.
Read full article on my website blog at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Death Lies Beneath
