Another Book On Its Way!

One of the things I find most interesting about writing is how lost you can get in it! I always do a mind map of whatever I am writing. I have it figured out as I go along loosely. Of course things change as I realize connections change and characters need to be added or mistakes need to be corrected.  And there is this lovely thing called "plot armour" as my son calls it. He hates when out of the blue without any lead up, how the protagonist suddenly solves the murder or something else like this. Well, my mysteries have a paranormal element so that keeps it fun trying to make sure everything is accounted for from the dead AND the living! lol
     I actually create a visual gallery of my characters- those that are the good guys, the bad guys and the possible red herrings. Add to this I also do pen and ink drawings in my books that usually are some how related such as a setting or something. So this is a warm up really to get me ready to do the writing. Then, I can usually write a few chapters at a time, averaging the word count to the amount I want. I can refer to my gallery, my time line, my tension within my plot line, etc. This means I am less inclined to make mistakes because I am tired or whatever. By the time I sit down to write the book, it is already done in my head...as well as the next three.
      So once the book is written, then the fun begins. EDIT EDIT EDIT. I will have more to say on this another time. For now, lets just say, it is a very necessary evil especially when you have issues with your to-be verb tenses and you keep slipping into past tense when you are writing it in the present!
      The next book in the series I am doing is very different that the first. I won't say how, but the tone and the content is different. The ending is still interesting, but in a totally different way. Once more Martha will save the day!
       Next blog I shall talk about second books and learning from mistakes....or so I hope! Take care and have a great day!