Writing Diary Dec 30th 2015

Two days left in 2015 and two books written, one of which is published and the other one being edited and proofed. Not a bad year all in all. Right now I am in sunny LA watching the sun come up (thanks jet lag), and planning book 3. This stage in the process is very much just jotting down thoughts. This is an important chapter as it all comes together in an epic conclusion to the Agathon series. At the moment I am scribbling down thoughts in a notebook. There is an entirely new set of characters that need naming and fleshing out before the first chapter can be written in mid January. The first chapter has to be the hook that brings the reader into the world. I liken it to the moment you dip your toe in an ocean to see if it is warm enough to jump in. It has to be inviting enough make the reader dive in head first in the warm water. Plotting the book takes place over three stages, acts one, two and three need to be etched out. While I do not plan each scene as that defeats the enjoyment of seeing where the story takes you as a writer I do create a framework from which to work from. A set of ideas are written down and I write the scenes around that framework and flesh them out as I go. At the same time, I have to keep a careful eye on the promotion of book one as it is new to the market and I am constantly getting feedback and ideas from readers.