Project Next, and so it begins

[image error] For the last while I've felt like I can't start edits on Novel 1 until I have at least a good start on an outline for Novel 2. It's taken me a while, but the outline is finally starting to come together. Edits will start soon, and then to beta readers, and then the roller coaster submissions process. We'll see what happens. I've probably mentioned all this before.

My last novel was in third person. My MC was a 40ish year old man. Partly to run the spectrum and because I just want to, the new one will be different.

The new one will be in first person. I think. I will also have a 26 year old female as it's main character. I'm not going to go in to much more detail then that because I've learned from experience and wiser writers than me that talking about the project too early in the process can really deflate things. But basically I'm working on an outline for my 26 year old girl and its finally starting to come together.

There's no real structure to my process, but there are a few things I typically do that help me a lot. I love going down my list of favorite books on Facebook to see if they spark any ideas. I love going to Barnes and Noble and reading the back cover of random books for the same thing. Movies actually really help me get fresh perspective on things when I'm stuck. Now I've done all those things and I'm starting to get some very general ideas formed.

I want to try something new for the next step. I want to try the notecard method. For whatever reason I feel like that's the best way for me to pull my ideas together at this point. That way I can add things as I develop them and can move things around. Then once I've got enough I'll type it all up into something more resembling an outline and start from there. And hopefully edits will be done or somewhat close to done by then too.

Now its your turn :) How are your projects going? What are you working on these days? What strategies do you use to develop ideas and fill in the holes?

Sarah Allen