Need Some Direction in Your Writing? Try Using a “Road Map”
I don’t like to be lost. I want a solid idea of where I am, and I prefer having a plan, but that’s not always the case. The truth is, I have a terrible sense of direction. For example, if I’m supposed to take a left when I step out of the elevator to get to my hotel room, you can bet I’ll make a right. When my husband and I were first married (pre-GPS), and we would go on road trips, he’d ask me to take charge of the map and help navigate. Big mistake. And even now, with the magic of GPS, I can still find myself lost behind the wheel. The other day, I had to pull over to try and read Google Maps, so I could decipher where the heck I was (I’m new to Louisville), yet I remained clueless. “Just get me to Trader Joe’s!” I yelled into my phone. Finally, after being rerouted seven times (seven!), I arrived at my destination. It added 18 minutes to my drive, and I fought back tears twice. True story.
See? I’m directionally challenged, and it can make for some frustrating moments and wasted time.
And yet…
When it comes to writing, I can create and effectively use a “road map” of sorts to take me where I want to go. (Winning!) This saves me time and frustration, and, in the case of fiction writing, especially, I’m given fuel for my creativity.
For ghostwriting non-fiction, I prepare some initial questions and then interview my clients. Whether we have an in-person interview or we meet over the phone, I do several things at once: I type as much of what the client is saying as they’re saying it. At the same time, I note info I want to emphasize, ask additional questions, and keep the recorder running! I also have clients give me whatever documents or materials (within reason) they have that will be helpful for the project. Using my notes, the recording, and any additional materials, I then write up an outline of their project. It may have, say, fourteen chapters, which I title, and underneath, I write three or four bullet points indicating the main topics or information I will include in each chapter.
Now I have my writing road map!
This gives the client a clear picture of how I will handle their project, but it also keeps me focused and on track as I develop their manuscript. Once they read it over and give me the thumbs up or indicate any desired changes, I then follow the direction I’ve mapped out, diving into the writing and adding depth, description, and information (including what I’ve gleaned through additional research) along the way.
As for writing fiction, I’m learning to map out my characters by making a detailed bio for each one. This practice was emphasized at the GoodLit Writers Retreat I attended. (See Aug. 20). I won’t include all of the bio information in the story, but the more details I put down, the better feel I have for my characters. I jot down things like their appearance, health, hobbies, hang-ups, pet peeves, etc. Then, as I develop the characters in the story, I’m able to know how each would likely act and react–what sorts of things they would say and do–that would line up with who I’ve made them to be in their bio. I also identify the plot, conflict, and resolution and flesh it out in my notes to the degree I’ve given myself direction. I develop the setting in detail (through research, personal knowledge and imagination) and identify the theme(s). I do these things as they come to me and keep my road map fluid, but specific. When I get a new idea, I try to record it on my map, adding to what I already have, or rerouting myself by omitting or changing things.
In these ways, I enter into the writing of my historical fiction novel (my current story is about my grandfather’s birth mother–the life she lived before and after giving birth), and I have a clear enough sense of direction to move the story forward. And then forward some more.
Do you “road map” your writing projects? If so, please pass on any tricks that work for you. If you’ve never mapped, give it a try and see if it helps you navigate your fiction or non-fiction project and keep you on track. Happy writing!