My Process

I am so excited about this middle grade contemporary science fiction I'm writing. I realise that perhaps no one else would be interested in it, but I'm excited to read it to my own children once it's finished.

I started writing this novel at the beginning of the school summer holidays in July. It began as a few ideas here and there until I could rewrite the entire thing and work with the first draft I have today.

My Process

The way I write my books is like this. (If there is a better method, please let me know!)

First, I write my novel by hand. This is slow and sometimes infuriating as I can't write it as fast as I think it, and I certainly type a good deal faster than I can write. However, I find that I'm more careful about the words I use when I have to write it slowly.

So the first draft of all the books I've written and the future books I write will most likely be hand written. I think I went through four pens writing this book. I didn't quite finish my pad of paper, however.

Second Draft

After that, I spend time typing the hand written copy onto the computer. This is mainly a copy typing exercise but I do some editing along the way.

I leave notes to myself when I'm writing the first draft for changes to make when I type up the second draft. I may include a new scene or completely rewrite a paragraph or two.
I type the manuscript double spaced so that when I type it out I can scribble corrections or alterations all over it.

Third Draft

Once I've typed up and printed the second draft, that will be scribbled all over, making it into my 3rd draft. I'll also add scenes or delete scenes where needed and rewrite paragraphs yet again. I find it easier to edit the paper copies. I can carry it around with me and read it whenever I want to.

This is a precious draft. It's the first time my book will have been printed on paper in a sort of book format. Hopefully, it won't be the last.

I find that sometimes it's easier to read printed text than it is on the computer, and I sometimes miss mistakes if they're on the computer.

Fourth Draft

Once all the changes have been added to the third draft, my forth draft goes to Beta readers (any volunteers?). From there, I take on their ideas and suggestions and make the changes that are needed.

Final Draft - Complete

This copy of my book contains all the changes, the suggestions and ideas that have appeared in the process. This copy is the one I will send out with queries. Hopefully then it has been edited and changed and adjusted within an inch of its life, it's the best it can ever be.

High Hopes

When I had a bout of writers block during this process, I thought about what I wanted from my book: I wanted to write the book I'd like my son and daughter to read.

They are only young and don't have much experience of Science Fiction. I wanted to write a middle grade novel that would be a good introduction to Science Fiction. Children already know about aliens and space, but I hope that this story would inspire them to think of Science Fiction more seriously.

I really love this story. It has two plucky protagonists, an evil antagonist, mystery, questions, a problem to solve. I hope that my own children enjoy reading it and the other children I read it to.

That's my first hope for this book, that the children I read it to enjoy it. I hope it inspires the children to imagine their own adventures and to introduce children who don't know about Science Fiction to the genre. If I could inspire children to read or watch other Science Fictions, that would be amazing too.

So, fingers crossed it all goes well! I'm currently typing up my second draft.

I am on 11,623 words so far this draft. I wrote about 5000 words today and will in theory write the same all this week. If I can, I'll have this second draft finished so that I can start editing the paper copy.

I'm really looking forward to holding the paper copy of my in development novel.

Second Draft

After the huge panic of the complete rewrite, I've caught up and only finished the entire novel!

There is nothing like the feeling of actually telling the story you want to tell. When I wrote 'The End' at the bottom of my manuscript, it was just the best feeling.

My last book, the Young Adult Science Fiction story I last completed, I wrote the ending when I was half way through. I'd had a clearer picture of the ending than the middle of the book, so I didn't have this feeling of completion.

My Middle Grade Contemporary Urban Science Fiction, I wrote in the order in which the events happened, with the exception of a few ideas I'd had, so writing The End was really the end of the first step in my journey to completing my novel.

It is far from finished, however. At one part, I was just scribbling to get the story out as fast as I could before the ideas ran away, and the ideas were coming so fast that I didn't write them down properly. I know those scenes will need a complete rewrite with a heavy edit.

Also, I'm pretty sure in some of the scenes, my characters are acting out of character. This is ok in some circumstances as I know we don't always act the same in every situation, but at the same time, I don't want them behaving in a way that isn't in their nature.

The Next Step

So, next I will be typing up my manuscript. I find it easier to edit as I go and then to edit what I've typed. I know this is a lengthy process but I hope that means I've really gone through the story with a fine tooth comb.

yWriter

I am writing my story up in word, so I can make sure all the spellings are correct, and then I'm dropping it into yWriter This helps me keep track of my scenes, my word count and lets me track people and objects through the story. (There's not much in it just yet!)

I like this story a lot. I think it might be The One. I like the characters, I like the twists. I like how the characters grow and change and learn. I like the equality and the ending.

I hope my audience likes it too. Crossed fingers!