If you're having issues with getting the story together, I highly recommend Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing by Libbie Hawker. I've struggled with getting cohesive, engaging stories out for ages, and I really think this is the book that made things click for me. If you're finding yourself staring at your drafts feeling like something's missing, or it's dragging, or there's a problem you just can't put your finger on, this book might help with it. I bought a physical copy to highlight in, but a digital copy does just ad well.
I am not affiliated with Ms Hawker in any way, I'm just really hype. This book has noticably improved my writing just in the like, week that I've had it. Even just my short fanfics have increased in quality now that I have some frames to show me wtf to do.
Also, hmu when you finally publish! I would fucking LOVE to read your story— or stories if it becomes a series!
Right? omg. I just finished reading "Take Off Your Pants" and I have to say, I highly recommend it. It has helped my approach to structure and made my manuscripts much tighter from the first draft, and writing is much faster with her approach. It's not revolutionary advice, and probably similar to stuff you've seen before but for some reason they way she lays it out really works for my hardcore pantser self.
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Off-Your-Pants-Outline-ebook/dp/B00UKC0GHA
> I initially set out with a goal of 1 release per year, but I was feeling pressure to deliver more than that based on indie trends.
Libbie Hawker's book, Take Off Your Pants shaved a bit of time off my writing, even though I mentally do most of what she talks about in the book. I think it's worth reading. Even if you never want to work with an outline, by thinking about her various questions in the book, your pantsing will even improve.
I find contemporary books take me a lot less time to write than either historical or fantasyland. Even contemporary fantasyland takes about the same as just regular contemporary. So you can't compare yourself to people outside of your subgenre, either, because that often doesn't work.
At the same time, it's important to accept - as best as you can - that your progression will be slower because you aren't writing as fast as others. Some authors want to be making as much money as someone with twenty books and an established fanbase right at book 1, and get very frustrated they aren't getting this immediately. It usually doesn't work out like that, so it's all about head down and do the work as best as you can.
I redid several parts, which was one of the main reasons why it slowed me down.
When I do decide to take a different path than what my outline has, I simply incorporate the new information in. If I have to outline it a bit first, I do. =)
My outlines are not so rigid that I don't allow myself from changing it during the writing process.
>Do you leave it for the six months between editing like everyone says you should but never actually does in reality
I have never done that. Ever. I write, go over it once more the next day or two, then I self-edit, then I use prowritingaid and then for my longer work I use a professional editor.
I'm the Unicorn. =P
>I get into a lot of problems where my characters motivations need to change
Simply alter your outline to reflect that change. That's what I do.
>do you try to steer the changes back to the original outline when you can?
I always steer it back to my main outline. I'd say 90% of the time I never need to make any changes because I always make sure that I'm as happy and confident with how I want the story to go before I even write out the outline. I imagine it all in my head, like a movie.
Also, sorry for the late reply, I got busy.
If you'd like to try outline and am not sure how to start. I highly recommend this book.
Try some kind of system for building outlines. Here is one, and really the article details the whole thing. His book on Amazon is just an expaned treatmetn including a worked example. And ther are others like Take of Your Pants.
Read Take Off Your Pants by Libbie Hawker. She walks you through a great classic format, awesome way to start outlining.
LOL! I don't even want to know what came up. Here's the link to the book about it.
I write with my pants half on and half off thanks to this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Off-Your-Pants-Outline-ebook/dp/B00UKC0GHA
In Libbie Hawker's Take of your Pants this is called an Ally. She in turn based her Terminology on that used in The Anatomy of Story by John Truby. I don't know weather or not this term has seen any wider use than that.
Recommend this book Take Your Pants Off. I just finished this excellent quick read and it may help with your problem.