Now that the first Ptahmose book (tentatively titled Evil in Thebes) is in the hands of my lovely beta readers, I’ve decided to start work on book 2 of the series. I know it’s a bit risky to start work on a sequel when the first book hasn’t even been submitted to agents yet, but I’m so excited about this universe that I’ve created that I feel compelled to keep writing. I have an enthusiasm for this project that I don’t have for the Andrewverse (for those of you just tuning in, the Andrewverse refers to the setting of my first book A Theft of Bones). Don’t get me wrong, I still have fond feelings for Andrew and his friends, but at this point in time I don’t feel a strong urge to write anything more about them. That may change someday, but for now they’ll have to sit on the sidelines.
Back to book 2: I’m pleased to report that I just finished a rough plot sketch tonight. Following the precedent set by Evil in Thebes, it’s in table form (an idea I borrowed from J. K. Rowling, as you may recall). I think it’s a great way to keep track of the various subplots as they develop throughout the book.
When writing a plot sketch, I basically write down the first semi-coherent ideas that pop into my mind without worrying overmuch about their quality. A lot of stuff is promptly erased by the delete key, but some of it sticks and eventually I have a decent foundation for a story. Once I actually start writing in earnest, the plot usually undergoes a few more changes and I always love to look back and see how my work has changed over time.
I think that the initial plotting of a novel is probably my favorite part of the writing process. I love sifting and winnowing through endless possibilities to come up with a coherent, entertaining plot. It wasn’t always that way. When I first started writing, I got frustrated with plotting very quickly. It galled me when a great idea fell apart once I started pursuing it. But my attitude changed once I accepted such mistakes as an unavoidable part of the writing process. Now when an idea doesn’t pan out, I just shrug my shoulders and try to think of something better rather than getting bent out of shape.
Codex Lochianus 