How do I write a novel?

IT’s 7:17 AM, and I’ve been up since 4:30, writing.

 

I usually get up at 5:30, but I’m working through the last chapter of my second draft and can’t sleep.  The urge to write is too great.
 
What do I mean about my drafts?
 
First, I think of a premise, a what if. For my last book it went something like this. What if there was a noble woman, who refused to be married, and shot arrows at her suitors?
 
Next, I meet the characters, and we talk. I get them to agree about the high-level plot.
 
(In this book, the heroine refused to be anything less than a queen. It took some doing to find a one, other than Edward’s wife. That is why we visit the Isle of Man.)
 
Then, I write down landing points that we all agree upon. This works better than an outline because, generally, my characters refuse to be corralled. I learned this in book one. Now I can prevent endless rewrites.
I talk to them about their goals, motivation, and conflict and I write these down so I can remind them if they get out of hand.
 
Only then, do I release them into their world. I follow them around  and write down what they say. When people ask if I get writer’s block, I laugh. How is that possible. I can barely keep up. Occasionally, if I get a moment. I jot  down a bit of scenery. This is the first draft.
The second draft, where I am now, I add everything else. Sights, sounds, angst, inner thoughts, and scenery. Google becomes my dearest  friend. This is where the real writing takes place.
 
I have targeted to start the third draft in Feb. I will edit my own work for the poetry of the words and hand off to my husband who will fix my grammar, spelling, and find holes in my plots.
Then, I will give my romance novel to a few honest Beta readers and consider their suggestions at length. Some changes will be made. Some not.
 
After this, I am ready to share my work with my publisher’s editor. At this point, it should be almost perfect.
 
She will make some suggestions. I usually agree with all and we send back and forth perhaps two or three  times.

 

Voila! A novel!