Hey readers! If you’re interested in an in-depth look at the writing process, scroll past the Writing Updates to read a breakdown.

Writing Updates

SPOOKY SEQUEL // I’ve completed the big-picture edits, mostly by introducing a whole new character and deleting an entirely separate one. Now I’m going page-by-page through my editor’s feedback and implementing everything that makes sense. Look below for more details.

THE NEXT BOOK // As I wrestle with SPOOKY THREEQUEL edits in August/September, I’ll also begin the incredibly exciting process of outlining Book 4! Y’all sent me some great suggestions—now I want you to vote for your favorite codename:

• Spooky Farquaad

• Spooky the Fourth

• Spooky IV

• Spooky Finale

• A New Spook

Respond to this email with your favorite codename!

For authors, aspiring authors, or casually curious readers, here’s a somewhat brief overview of my writing process. There’s lots of other stuff to consider—financials, artwork, etc.—but this is just about the words on the page.

• Conception: I keep a note on my phone/computer with story ideas. I usually write a filler title and several lines about the ideas. It can focus on character, plot, or theme—whatever comes to mind at the moment.

• Outline: When an idea hooks me, I begin writing an outline. I am 100% a plotter. Over the past year, I’ve enjoyed using John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story to flesh out my stories. This process covers everything from plot structure to thematic motifs to character arcs, and I’ve loved exploring these worlds through this lens. SPOOKY THREEQUEL is the first manuscript I’ve written from scratch using Anatomy’s method.

• Draft: The first draft is pretty polished, as drafts go. I don’t edit as I go, and I leave plot/character things open to change, but I draft chronologically by chapter. My prose is pretty clean from the beginning—I can’t really write any other way.

• Revision 1: I take notes during the first draft on story and character ideas. In the first revision, I implement those notes, which usually result in small-to-medium changes. I also leave myself notes in the text of the story sometimes. SPOOKY THREEQUEL will go into this stage in a month or so.

  • After the first revision is when my books go out to an alpha reader or two. Marrow and Soul had one alpha reader and SEQUEL had two, and their feedback made a world of difference.

• Edit: Once alpha reads are complete, I send the manuscript to my editor. For the two books I’ve had edited so far, this process has taken 3-4 months. I’m hoping to speed that up for future books, as I’ve established a strong timeline I’d like to maintain for finishing this series.

• Revision 2: After receiving inline edits, an editorial letter, and a video call from my editor, I begin the second revision. I focus on big-picture aspects first, like world building and character development. Then I go line-by-line to fix inconsistencies, add and delete pieces of prose, and hone every scene to fit the story arc and theme.

• Beta Read: SPOOKY SEQUEL is going out to beta readers in just a few weeks! I select 5-10 readers and send them a Google Doc and/or an ePUB to read. They can leave feedback in the doc as they read or email me afterward with their thoughts. I’m pretty flexible with the kinds of feedback I take, though I give them questions and ideas to work with. For this book, I’m giving readers 5 weeks to complete the beta read.

• Revision 3: After the deadline, I do my final revisions and order my first proof copy!

• Finally: Since I’ve only published one novel so far, this section is still in flux. But for Marrow and Soul, I got a proofread, ordered proof copies, played with formatting for approximately three million hours. I’ll share more about that process as we get closer for SPOOKY SEQUEL.

What else do you want to know about the writing process?

Don’t forget to check out Marrow and Soul wherever books are sold!

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