Vannetta Chapman: My Writing Process
It seems to me that any piece that discusses the writing process has to begin with a very important caveat. Everyone’s process is different. That’s not merely a disclaimer, it’s true. Art works that way. Every artist is unique in their approach to their art.
Every work of art is distinctive. So, it makes sense that the process to create art would be different for each of us. But sometimes hearing another person’s process can help you to better understand your own, so we’ll proceed with that goal in mind. I’ve published over forty books, sold over 1,000,000 copies and written for four large publishers. I’ve also published books in the indie market. Although the publishers have different procedural requirements, my process before I put a book “into their system” has always been pretty much the same.
1) I always begin with the characters. In my mind, it starts with the people: the mom who hopes to one day complete her education, the cowboy who wants a family and a home, the teen who isn’t old enough to make his own decisions. I always have the character in my mind first, and they roam around through my thoughts well before I write the first sentence. We get to know each other. I have a lot of
questions, and I notice things. I don’t have a lot of answers yet.
2) Next comes the scenario that will be challenging for my character. Maybe my person is the chief of police, and after an apocalyptic event society is collapsing. Hmmm. How’s my chief of police going to react? What’s the first, second and third thing they do? I’m just playing at this
point. Getting to know my person, their people, their situation.
3) As the community around my main character grows, as more characters, challenges, and goals are introduced, the story grows in scope and depth. I might introduce a second point of view here. It could be a complimentary character that is very important to my main character. It could be a protagonist. It’s always someone that enriches the story.
4) We move forward through the agonizing drama, the dead-ends, the mounting problems. At some point I start wondering where we’re all headed.
5) This is where I stop and write the ending. I’ve done this with every book. I love to do this! The pressure is off me now. It doesn’t have to make sense yet. What’s the perfect ending? Where do I want these characters to be when I write those two words every writer loves . . . The End? This portion could be one chapter or three. You will be amazed at what your subconscious provides here. Don’t censor yourself. Don’t ask why or how. Just write the ending.
6) Now comes the fun part. I go back to where I stopped and I start writing toward my ending. I have an idea now of where I’m going. I know what has to happen before I get there. It’s as if I can see the road, and all I have to do is maneuver my characters down that road. Hearts may break. People may die. New obstacles may arise. Through it all, I’m working to get my characters to that perfect ending (which, of course, isn’t always perfect).
7) It’s a sweet moment when the middle of my story meets the end. I’m always amazed that it worked. But it does. Every. Single. Time.
8) I either set the book aside for 2 weeks or (if it’s anindie book) I send it to my editor. I work on something else. I take a break. I go on long walks. I catch up on laundry and cleaning and blogs and websites.
9) After those 2 weeks, or when the book comes back to me, I start at the beginning and read the book as if it’s the first time I’ve seen it. I layer in emotion and description and a little backstory.
10) I send the book to my pre-readers. These are usually people who are not writers but are avid readers. Currently, I have a retired librarian and a social worker who do this for me. They catch my errors and ask for clarification when necessary.
11) When I have it back this time, there’s not much to do—other than laugh at my mistakes and correct them.
12) Now it’s ready for my publisher or for me to format.
13) Once the book is at this stage, I send it to my review team. If there are any final typos we missed, they’ll find them.
14) The book is ready to publish! And I’m well into the next one.
The last few years, I’ve been writing for a publisher that requires a detailed outline, synopsis, character arcs, and plot arcs. This is difficult for me, because as you can see from above—it’s not my process. But I can do it. After all, I’m not carving these elements of my story into stone. I can change them as I write. If you’re more of a linear writer, you might actually find these things help you to focus on what you want
your story to be.
Sometimes I forget that writing is a creative process. We’re not building widgets or putting together IKEA furniture. We’re using
our imagination to create another world that our readers can escape to for a few hours. Personally, I think it’s the best job out there.
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Vannetta Chapman is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 40 novels in a variety of genres that
include dystopian, suspense, romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. Having sold more than one million copies, she
currently writes full time and resides in the Texas Hill Country. Her newest release is in the thriller genre: Her Solemn
Oath, An Allison Quinn Prequel.
HER SOLEMN OATH, AN ALLISON QUINN PREQUEL
Allison Quinn has one mission—to find the person who killed her father.
Her job as a senior agent for Homeland Security just might help her do that. A cyber terrorist named Worm has threatened to release an EMP over the Seattle area, collapsing the northwestern communication and transportation sector.
Allison has a vendetta to keep and a job to do. She vows to stop the terror attack and, in the process, interrogate Worm about her father’s murder.
Allison and her partner, Donovan Steele, track Worm to Hurricane Ridge. There, in the midst of a blizzard, they’ll either stop Worm or die trying.
Her Solemn Oath is a story about the promises we make and the pain we’re willing to endure to honor those promises.
From USA Today Bestselling author Vannetta Chapman comes a new thriller series ripped from today’s news. Her Solemn Oath is a prequel to the Allison Quinn Thriller series.
BUY HERE
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