A Writer’s Diary – Page 1

(Click image to View Video)

There is no recipe.

Writing a novel isn’t like baking a cake. It doesn’t matter if you do it once or a dozen times, you can be absolutely certain the next novel will be nothing like the others. Some novels require more technical research and others more world building. Of course everything gets easier with practice, so writers learn new ways to bribe themselves into long hours and bribe others into interviews, taste testers, or research helpers.

I am a problem solver and go into every novel determined that I will be fully prepared before I start writing. Still, every novel brings new challenges and rewards that send me searching for new tools to reach my goal.

Writers help writers.

The most valuable resource I’ve found for off-the-wall writing processes is other writers. It doesn’t matter how insane an idea sounds–I take notes! In the middle of a troublesome novel I might be willing to try singing my first chapter to the tune of “Getting Jiggy With It”.

In the spirit of idea sharing, I am experimenting with a video diary detailing my process through a new novel. This is not a how to video. It’s just a peek at how one author works her way through one particular novel from start to finish. Some of the methods I use are standard for every novel I write, and others are new for this work. Some should have never been tried in the first place and should never be tried again.

All of these videos are likely to be filmed after midnight, so don’t expect anything glamorous. I’ve had little experience with video editing. . . well, honestly this is my first experience with video editing. Don’t be surprised if a stray hiccup, dog bark, or washing machine end-cycle beep makes it into the take. Sit back and pretend we’re chatting over tea in my library because that’s what I am imagining.

I hope A Writer’s Diary offers something valuable to the pool of writer ideas. Check out Page 1: A Writer’s Diary – Cara Brookins.