Recalling the Words You Jotted Down
Doug Lewars, the author behind thirteen published books on Smashwords.com and fourteen books in total, shares his unique writing process. Lewars, not necessarily over the hill but approaching the summit, meticulously plans his stories using a work sheet that contains information he has worked out or found through research.
Each workbook contains one sheet for main character information, including name, date of birth, and relationships. There are separate sheets for regular characters, transient characters, and each plot. Lewars also has a cross-referencing sheet for characters and how they relate to one another.
Before starting a book, Lewars writes seventy scene outlines. He uses these notes to lay out the agendas for the story and how characters will react to one another and various situations. The author does not always use this technique but finds it helpful from time to time.
Lewars stores calculated returns for several years in the work sheet for future reference. He also saves dig-ins for the future by storing facts about travel distances, army movement, and supplies in the work sheet. The author includes various bits of research pulled from the internet in the work sheet, such as travel distances by horse or army, and supplies needed.
The author is currently working on book number nine of a fantasy series. The main characters in the ninth book include Mika Moon, a witch who teaches three special girls at the hidden Nowhere House. Mika serves as their mentor, and other key adult figures include Jamie, the librarian of Nowhere House.
Sometimes, Lewars creates a sheet for relationships in a particular story, including characters' agendas. The protagonist in the series is an apprentice witch.
In his spare time, Lewars enjoys reading, fishing, and sweets. He is always eager to share his passion for writing with others.
