There was one thing I had determined after writing my first book.  I’d discovered I most definitely wasn’t a pantser, and I most definitely was a plotter.  If you are unfamiliar with those terms, in the writing world, that is how we refer to a writer’s process.  Either she writes by the seat of her pants and figures out the story as she goes along, or she outlines and plots ahead of time.  After many dropped subplots and unfinished storylines in my first manuscript, I was sure that I would have figured my story out much sooner if I would have just outlined first.  But since it was my first project, and I’d never even expected to finish the thing, figuring the story out as I went along was the process I used.  But after several drafts, I promised myself, I would thoroughly outline my next project.

And that had been my plan.  Only my plan hasn’t been cooperating.  I’ve been brainstorming.  I’ve been outlining plots in my head.  I’ve been compiling notes and doing some preliminary research.  Because Book Two takes off shortly after Book One ends, I’ve not had a ton of research to do, since not much would have changed in those few months.  Though one nationwide event will help shape the story.  I have a few plot ideas.  I have a few character arcs mapped out.  I know pretty much how I want to begin, and how I want to end, and just a few items in between.  But not much more.  Which has been a source of frustration to me.  Because I really want a more comprehensive outline before I start this thing.

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Then something occurred to me.  Maybe I’m not supposed to.  Every one has their process. I want plotting first to be my process.  But maybe that’s not the way God wants me to write.  Maybe He wants me to depend on Him to give me this story as He did the first.  Because I’ll admit, one of the things bugging me is not having a verse or faith theme to grasp onto.  I’m not sure what the message of this book is supposed to be.  So I’m starting.  Without an outline.  Again.  But I’m praying this time God will reveal it to me so I don’t have to rework the plot several times.

It’s an interesting process starting in first draft mode again.  I have to keep reminding myself not to worry about things not making sense,  or word selection, or whether a particular item or event even existed yet (Research this later, has become a favorite sentence.) I’d been in polish and sparkle mode for so long with Book One that it is hard to break from that.  I’m trying just to enjoy learning more about these characters and what their story will be.  I’m trying to lean on God and let Him lead me.  I have a few plot ideas, but no clue how I will connect them at this point. And I’m trying to get into the head of this new character and make sure I differentiate her voice from my last main character. Because they are very different and I want the reader to be able to tell this from the start.

So for this book at least, I guess I’ll be writing a little at a time, waiting to see where God directs and takes me.  But you know, that’s not a bad spot to be in.  Because good things happen when I let Him lead.