Stepsheet about the writing process

Instead of fully writing this blog, here is my stepsheet for it:

  • I’ve been pondering the writing process today. I do this sometimes, trying to impose order on chaos, process on instinct. The final formula eludes me (because it is different for everyone and is not and will never be a process that can be learned by rote, but I have a pretty decent approximation for myself
  • I am a plotter. I love making bulleted lists of my story ideas, including setting, motivations, POV, bits of witty dialogue, gags, etc. This is fun, and I can do it anywhere, on any device, whenever the mood strikes me
  • I then juggle these pieces, fitting them one by one into a chronological story in bulleted shorthand, breaking it out into story arcs, and those into chapters.
  • I call this a stepsheet. When the stepsheet is complete, I feel tremendous elation and accomplishment. It is full of typos, sentence fragments, redundancies, and extraneous information, but it contains the entire creative thrust of the story and a breakdown of every chapter and what needs to occur therein.
  • This, for me, is the creative process it is exciting and anything can happen
  • The writing process is, unfortunately, an entirely different animal
  • The writing process is turning that pack of ideas and shorthand notes into readable prose. One chapter at a time
  • I already wrote this. Why do I have to write it again?
  • It is tedious, but I finish the chapter.
  • Then I write it again. And again. And probably again after that, each time adding a sentence here and a cool metaphor there, evoking mood and tightening loose prose. Sometimes I add or cut a person from the scene. Split a big chapter into two smaller ones, or combine two chapter fragments into a whole.
  • I stress over all of it, but each time, it gets better.
  • Finally it is “done”. I add the chapter to the major file.
  • I feel tremendous elation and accomplishment and all is right with the world
  • Until its time to start the next chapter
  • When all the chapters for a full story arc are done, the rewrite/edit process starts all over again, studying the story arcs as a whole
  • When all those are done, the rewriting process begins again, examining the BOOK as a whole.
  • This “first” draft sent to test readers, agent, editor, etc.
  • This part of process is invaluable
  • Go through comments, queries, corrections. Track changes in the master file.
  • Final editing pass. “Second” draft sent to publisher
  • Book is sent to copyedit. Comes back to you to review tons of corrections, comments, queries about consistency of style and details of magic system, rules of created languages, name charts, etc.
  • Sometimes they mess with your polished prose, making it all blurry. You want to bark about it. Best to swallow that urge and just stet.
  • “Third” draft done.
  • After that is the proofread
  • “Fourth” draft
  • It goes to press, but readers keep spotting little typos, or someone’s name has two spellings, or whatever. these are included in subsequent printings.
  • I get tired just thinking about it. But I also wouldn’t trust anyone other than me to do it.
  • I wish I could just write the original bulleted list and move on
  • This stepsheet written almost entirely from my iPhone on my 5 mile walk through the park.

    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 2:24 pm by PeatB
    Filed under Craft, Musings, Writing
    10 Comments »

    10 responses to “Stepsheet about the writing process”

    1. Thanks for sharing this. It’s always inspirational to me to see how other folk’s creative process works, to know that the way that works best is the way the works best for you.

      Posted by John Stevens, on November 18th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
    2. Very fascinating, useful information. Subassemblies becoming assemblies, becoming parts, becoming whole…

      Posted by Griffin Barber, on November 18th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
    3. Strange how different everyone’s process is. I have a number of writer friends, and I have yet to encounter two that write the same way.

      I like your step-sheet process. Especially the part about ‘gags.’ Your books have made me laugh several times (sounds awful, but it’s the good kind of laughing), and I’d love more insight into how you do that. One scene that comes to mind is the one where Bruna asks Smitts to carry her; he agrees only to have her call him a fool.

      Did you plan this? Or was it sudden inspiration?

      I read Warded Man on my Iphone (Kindle App). I was in line at a coffee house when I read that scene, and everyone turned to stare at the crazy laughing guy.

      Posted by Michael, on November 18th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
    4. Hrm, “stat” I think I’ma have t’start using that, that is awesome. Ta.

      Every time I hear about an authors process, I feel a little excited, getting a glimpse into their/your world. This one however left me with two questions:

      1) You mentioned readers noticing little typos etc. who are we supposed t’tell about those? I always fear the wroth of a mighty god….no wait; author.

      2) You say both the initial bulleted plotting and the stepsheets are really enjoyable; d’you ever do things like that for totally random ideas, that’ll never see the light of day in fully fleshed-out textification? If so, are they something personal t’you, or something readers would ever get t’see?

      Posted by Elicius, on November 18th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
    5. Ack, long post – Sorry! Think that should’ve gone in the forum [feel free to trim it, Mister Peat Sir!]

      Posted by Elicius, on November 18th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
    6. Great post Peat, you know I’m always going on about how I find the varying process of writers interesting. It’s also nice to know that I’m a small cog in that Brett wheel. Carry on..

      Posted by Jayf, on November 19th, 2010 at 12:26 am
    7. – I learned this method from Pete over a decade.

      – The first novel I truly implemented it with sold to a major publisher.

      – Coincidence?

      Posted by Myke, on November 19th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
    8. […] For another look at the writing process, author bestselling author Peter V. Brett also gives us a peek into a process that works very well for him. […]

      Posted by Link Heaven and an Update on Self-Publishing « Word Webbing, on November 20th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
    9. Awesome post!
      It’s really cool to see how you do your job. And you’re very disciplined. I also love to just scribble the ideas (my notebooks ate full of them), but usaly do only a rough plan for the whole thing and let the chapters more or less flow. Well i should propably do it more like your way 😉

      Posted by Iris, on November 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
    10. This is great, Peat. It’s nice to see inside the head of another writer. Your process seems to be working.

      Posted by Andrew, on June 12th, 2015 at 8:56 pm