I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. When I begin a novel, I often have only one or two characters in my mind. These characters then begin to speak about who they are, what they want and what’s standing in the way. The details shape up as I begin to draft. Yet as I reach the novel’s midsection, I often switch tactics and do some outlining.
Writing Tip for Today: Some writers stick to carefully designed plots, others are “pantsers” like me. Whether you plot after your first draft or before you begin, I think it’s helpful to think about scenes you need to get your character to the climax. And having at least a rough outline of the action is useful when you begin the revisions.

• As you draft, jot down a sentence that describes the main action of a scene.
• As you approach the middle of the story, it can be helpful to chart these scenes along a story arc.
• Does each subsequent scene ratchet up the tension? Remember, you want the reader pulled higher and higher in the conflict until the climax scene where the character is forced to act.
• Keeping a short record of each scene can also help you see if your opening is slow or weak. If the answer to “What happens in this scene?” is “Well the story is set-up and I tell the reader all sorts of descriptive stuff,” reevaluate. Jump into the action as soon as possible.
• Some writers use index cards, white boards or Post-Its to record the scene’s action. This gives you a chance to stand back from the novel and look at how the story is unfolding. You can move, delete or add scenes as needed to make a smooth and logical journey from the opening to that all-important climax scene.