A Gardner’s Guide to Writing a Book

Behind the scenes of how a book is written.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

For a while, I’ve thought of journaling my writing process, step by step. But since it takes a lot to cultivate a book and then recall how you tended to it, I’ve pushed the thought back for some time.

Since the idea has never left me, I’m recording the process and sharing it!

I’m still a growing writer, so I’ve found inspiration from other writers. This guide will blend the wisdom of authors like Susan Dennard (“How I Write a Book”) and Marissa Meyer (“9 Steps from Idea to Finish”) with my own experiences.

My goal as a writer is to translate the swirling chaos in my head onto the page, to paint a vivid picture of the world, characters, and plot that will captivate you.

This project will involve reviving an old novella, Code of Thieves. It’s a chance to breathe new life into old ideas, combining them with fresh perspectives to create something truly special.

In this series, we’ll explore the entire writing journey:

• Finding Your Roots: Where do ideas come from? How to cultivate your creativity well.
• Planting the Seeds: Essential tools, outlining strategies, and turning planning into action.
• Nurturing the Sprout: Drafting, overcoming writer’s block and knowing when to step back.
• Pruning and Shaping: Revision techniques, the importance of feedback, and different editing approaches.
• Bringing Your Book to Bloom: The publishing process and sharing your creation with the world.

A Note on Writing Styles:

There are two primary types of writers:

• Architects: meticulously plan every detail before writing a single word.
• Gardeners: plant a seed and let the story organically grow, discovering the plot as they go.

And then there are the Plansters (like me!) — a blend of both, with a general roadmap but room for unexpected detours.

“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners,” says George R.R. Martin. “The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house… The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it… As the plant comes up and they water it, they don’t know how many branches it’s going to have, they find out as it grows. And I’m much more a gardener than an architect.”

In the next post, “Finding Your Roots,” we’ll delve into the very beginning of the writing process.

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