Nine Steps To Writing A Novel

Author Jeffrey Deaver was the keynote speaker at last weekend’s Killer Nashville writing conference.  Deaver writes the Lincoln Rhymes thriller series (The Burning Wire, The Broken Window, The Cold Moon), the Kathryn Dance thriller novels (Roadside Crosses, The Sleeping Doll), as well as other stand alone thrillers.

In his presentation, Deaver made it clear that these nine steps are the way he writes novels.  He does not suggest that these steps will work for everyone.  Nevertheless, I found his insights very helpful.

Deaver started his presentation by setting the scene.  As a successful novelist, he often spends time on the beach in Bali while beautiful women in string bikinis feed him grapes (he’s obviously being sarcastic).  As he’s relaxing, his alarm goes off and he knows he has one year to complete a novel for his publisher.  These are the nine steps he follows over the next 12 months to make sure his novel is ready by the deadline:

1. Remember, Writing Commercial Fiction is a Business – Writers sometimes get the reputation for being highly creative, but also highly irresponsible.  They sometimes miss deadlines with the excuse that they can’t rush their inspiration.  Publishers don’t like to work with these kind of creative artists.  Deaver encourages writers to be professional and respect deadlines.  If you are going to write commercial fiction, you have to treat it as a business.
2. Create a Business Plan — Remember that you are creating a product that people will consume.  Make it a product that they want to purchase and consume.  He used the example of Proctor & Gamble introducing liver flavored toothpaste to the market.  Sure, it’s different, but who wants it?
3. Come Up With the Basic Idea for the Book — What will the book be about?  What are the various elements?  Will it have a surprise ending?  You don’t need the entire book set out in your head at this point.  Just know what it will be about.  Once you figure that out, ask yourself, “Is this something my readers will want to read?”
4. Outline the Book — This is where the real work begins.  Deaver spends eight months outlining his books (Yes, eight months!).  The outline is detailed, but it is not the actual writing.  It is during this phase that he researches his topic.  He plugs in one detail at a time, so it does take a while to complete the outline.  However, when he is ready to write the book, everything is done and he can write the book quickly.
5. Write the Book — All of the hard work was completed during the outlining phase.  Writing the book should be a quick exercise.  There are no surprises at this point.  There’s no research left to do.  All the necessary information is in the outline.  Now all you have to do is expand the outline into book form.
6. Ship the Book Off to the Publisher — This will be the publisher’s first chance to see the book.  As always, they will do some editing and want some revisions.  The revisions come next.
7. Re-Write the Book — Make the changes the publisher has asked for.  Review the book for other potential changes (should be few and far between).  Send the completed book back to the publisher.
8. Go on a Book Tour — Ride in limos.  Meet with adoring fans.  Stay in five-star hotels.  See the world.
9. Go Back to Bali — Head back to the beach and the bikini-clad women.  Enjoy the sun.  Enjoy the grapes.  Wait for the alarm to go off again.

I found Deaver’s method very interesting.  I had a conversation with author Don Bruns (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Stuff to Die For, Bahama Burnout, St. Barts Breakdown, etc) about Deaver’s method.  Bruns has known Deaver for several years and they worked together on the Merry Band of Murderers book of short stories.

Bruns said that he could never write a book using the same approach as Deaver.  The reason has a lot to do with their backgrounds.  Bruns is a former musician-turned-writer who has a much more laid-back, casual style to his writing.  That doesn’t mean that he takes his writing less seriously.  It’s just that his approach is different.

Bruns is what is referred to as a “pantser” in the writing trade.  It means he sits down to write a book with no idea how it is going to turn out.  He has a general idea in his head and when he writes, he does so by the seat of his pants (hence the “pantser” label).

Deaver is a “plotter.”  Everything about the story is worked out ahead of time.  Bruns suggests that Deaver approaches writing this way because of his background as an attorney.  Deaver is very analytical and he prefers to work out every detail before he sits down to do the actual writing.

I wish that I strongly identified with either the “pantser” or the “plotter” method.  At the moment, I still haven’t found my style.  I’ve tried the “pantser” method, but have ended up with a lot of starts and stops.  I’m wondering if “plotting” and outlining will help me.  It’s worth a try.

What method do you use?  Is it always the same?  Let me know.