The question came up in a forum I read.
Do you plot and plan out every part of your book/story, or do you let the story write its self?
How much planning do you put into your work?
At first, when I came up with the idea for Immortalis, I wanted it to be a SciFi piece. I wanted to have a secret military unit testing the effects of vampire blood on mortals to create the ultimate soldier.
Well, that didn't work out.
I tried to plan it out, but the story just didn't work for me. First, I'm not a SciFi person. I'm more a Drama/Fantasy person.
I ended up giving up on the story entirely because I couldn't make myself plan to the end. In short, I got bored with it, and packed the files away.
Fast forward 4ish years. A new idea hit me. I dusted off the old leftover files from my first failed attempt at Immortalis. I scrapped all of the SciFi stuff and kept only a few bits of the original chapters I wrote.
This time, I had no real plan, just an idea. Within 6 months, the first draft was written and I have been polishing and refining it ever since.
So, back to the original question, I guess I would have to say, I just let the story write its self. It works better for me that way. I can't plan to completion, because I cannot be held to any constraints while I write.
So how do you do it?
About The Author
Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.
Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.
In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.