So in the last blog on this subject I entirely failed to describe why I don’t suffer from writer’s block. So to come back to the original question, I thought it might help if I go through the process I tend to follow when writing a book.

Although I began the first one with next to no idea of where it would finish, I hadn’t been at it long before I had a fairly clear picture of the entire story. Now that I’m a little more conscious about what I’m doing, I try to have a clear idea of the entire thing before I begin. No chapter headings, but the end goal and the important plot points that will get me there.

Once I have that I then split it up, normally into three chunks. This may change depending upon the book, but so far seems to be suiting me well. For each chunk I’ll develop a basic structure; what will happen where, beginning and end etc.

Then I’ll focus in on the first chunk. I already know what has to happen within it, so for me it’s working out how best to have those things occur naturally. At this stage I’ll try to write something, even if it’s the opening paragraph. This sets up the tone and is the best way to get my imagination working. As soon as I have something written down I’ll begin to see pathways in my head, ways that certain characters could react, things that could happen to them. From there, things begin to flow.