Whatever You Do as a Writer, Make Lots of Notes!

I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. While editing one of my first published stories I discovered I’d changed the spelling of one of the main character’s names. Fortunately I caught the error before it went to print, but it was close. Then there is the case where I’ve forgotten the color of a character’s eyes or hair. Do you want to have to re-read your entire manuscript to find out what you originally said? Make notes!

Now I set up a file for each novel as I go along. Because I’m not a plotter, I don’t start off with loads of details on the characters or the story I’m writing. My “notes” file contains things like a list of characters, locations, maybe even some hints on where I’m going. As I describe the character, whether it is physical, mode of dress, speech patterns, I add these to the file under their name. When I create my fantasy world, I make notes under a separate section each time a country, city, mountain or the like gets created. I have been known to draw a map of the countryside, or the castle, so I know which way we are going. When I forget a spelling, or am not certain, I go back to my notes. The description and spelling in the note is what I consider as gospel.

This becomes particularly important when your publisher asks for a sequel. Given the choice of making notes, or having to re-read the original novel to find out the name of an inn where the hero met the heroine, I know which route I’d choose. Sometimes you plan to create a series when you start out, sometimes you are faced with turning what you thought was a stand-alone novel into a trilogy. When you finish a manuscript it is a good idea to write down any ideas you might have about: “What happens next?” It gives you a head start.

What form the notes can take is up to you under the: “what works best for you” philosophy. I use a separate Word file so I can call it up and refer to it while I am working. Some people like paper or card files. The format doesn’t matter as long as it works for you.

R.J.Hore

www.ronaldhore.com
www.facebook.com/RonaldJHore

The Dark Lady, Dark Days, Dark Knights (a trilogy)

The Queen’s Pawn, The Queen’s Man, (The Queen’s Game in 2016/17) (a trilogy)
The Housetrap Chronicles (Volumes 1 to 7)
Alex in Wanderland,
Knight’s Bridge
We’re Not in Kansas
Toltec Dawn (in 2016) (Toltec Khan in 2016/17) (Vol 3 is a work in progress)(a trilogy)