Every once in a while, I get tripped up. Be it with a draft, during the editing process, or during my long-term planning, I run into the notion to change things up–to break the system I’ve been using and try something new. What have I learned during these fits of insanity? You have to respect the process!

What the hell are you talking about, Lou?

Every writer has quirks. They have systems in place to keep them working while also making sure they can function in society. This might be a dedicated writing time during the day or a specific set of tasks that help them create.

This is their process.

You balk, but everyone has one. It might something as simple as a quiet walk before putting words on the page. Maybe it is a specific spot in the house or the playlist on your phone. Something has to be in place for you to work and messing with that upsets the entire balance.

So why mess with it?

The thing about the process is that it can evolve. We all change. So should our writing habits. Mine certainly have over time.

When I started this gig, I used to write a book non-linearly. Any chapter I had locked in my brain was my next challenge and damn the consequences. It worked for me. For a long time.

This past year, I found that method of drafting IMPOSSIBLE. The details slipped away or there was an element that didn’t feel right, so the editing process became much more crucial to removing any inconsistencies.

Suddenly, putting a book together from start to finish made sense. It clicked in a way it never had before. So the process had to evolve with it.

When the tweaks go too far…

Evolving with your process is crucial to bettering yourself as a writer. I won’t deny that. I absolutely love the drafts on my last two novels, compared to my personal feelings on a number of earlier releases. (Take that as you will. I am a self-loathing curmudgeon who will never live up to his own expectations.)

But does that mean the entire process should change as well?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. I write in a very strange fashion. From full outline to script to draft to edit, there is a lot of fleshing out along the way.

That’s only for one book. There’s also series developing.

This month, I’m scripting the final Greystone books. Halfway through the readthrough on Book 8, I started wondering if I was foolish not to jump right into the draft. I did it that way for 6 and 7, so why not 8?

It’s still tripping me up, and I’m doubting the path forward. It happens more often than I would like. I am always curious to know if I would be better served writing DSA Season Three instead of closing out Greystone, or if a new series is what my readers are craving.

Battles like these disrupt the process. Internal questioning halts the flow. So what can you do?

Respect the process.

You have to respect the process. The questions don’t matter in the long run. They are the doubts that will always be there, and they have their place, but not when it comes to creation.

Work on one book all the way through if that’s how you see it forming in your mind. Develop an entire series before jumping into the first installment if you think that’s how you’ll make for a more compelling read.

Outline, script, draft and edit if it works best for you.

No matter how you tackle the project, respect the process you’ve developed. It’s served you well and there is a reason behind it. Understand that reason, evolve it as you grow, and write.

For me, that means pushing forward with the scripts. I want to make these last three books absolutely satisfying for long-time readers. Maintaining that flow, pushing the conflict and growing the tension, will serve to make the final read all the better.

Am I wrong? Could be. But I respect the process well enough to know that in the end, either through the draft or the edit, the books will be the best I have to offer.

Happy reading.