Writing Again
I spent the last two years writing and editing three books. The first of the three was just published, the second is in the final stages of publication, and the third is being professionally edited. During that time, I also created three outlines for my next books. The third one went smoothly, the second was a little rough, and the first turned out to be a big headache.
The problem with this first outline was too many subplots, a confusing/meandering main plot, and not getting to the action fast enough. It was necessary to start with a blank page three times to shake things up.
Fortunately, I could see the problems, and I did my best to correct them. Two weeks ago, I felt that the main body of the plot was good enough to begin writing. The only problem was the ending.
This is going to be (tentatively) the last book in a three-book series. My outline neatly took the action, main plot, characters, and subplots to a natural stopping point. Yet I was unsure if I had done a good enough job of wrapping things up.
To figure it out, I went over the outline a bunch of times, researched how other authors end their books, and even asked AI for ending recommendations after feeding it a summary of the total plot. None of what I came up with looked right.
Of course, there is another problem. I have been hard at work on a home improvement project, which has taken up the time I like to walk around the neighborhood. This is typically when I think up creative solutions to my life’s problems. The next best thing was to think before going to sleep.
I eventually realized the issue: I do not want to say goodbye to my characters. We have been through a lot, and tossing them away felt insensitive. I then thought more about why I am ending the series.
I have three book series (wow, the number three appears a lot in this article), and this one has a few scathing reviews and low sales. At the same time, I like the plot and the characters the most. Plus, I do not have any good ideas for a fourth book. All I could come up with was more of the same, and my readers deserve better.
This pre-sleep thinking time eventually made me realize I needed to provide my characters a proper goodbye. And this is exactly how I am going to end the book with the parents saying goodbye to their daughter. I think that will bring good closure to the story and to me.
After some final outline work, I began writing the way I always do. I opened a blank document, copied the copyright text from a prior book, and typed the first word of chapter one.
Writing again felt terrific. My solid outline reduced the stress, and the last thing I wanted to do was leave my keyboard. Words leaped onto my screen, and the dialogue was exciting. Once again, I brought my characters to life and deeply pondered their motivations and actions. All the writing issues I have encountered so far have magically resolved themselves.
I cannot wait to get out of bed in the morning, and I go to sleep thinking about what I wrote that day. This new beginning once again allowed me to appreciate how lucky I am to have a modest writing gift. And yes, it was a pleasure and a privilege to write this article.
You’re the best -Bill
November 10, 2021 Updated April 04, 2026
The problem with this first outline was too many subplots, a confusing/meandering main plot, and not getting to the action fast enough. It was necessary to start with a blank page three times to shake things up.
Fortunately, I could see the problems, and I did my best to correct them. Two weeks ago, I felt that the main body of the plot was good enough to begin writing. The only problem was the ending.
This is going to be (tentatively) the last book in a three-book series. My outline neatly took the action, main plot, characters, and subplots to a natural stopping point. Yet I was unsure if I had done a good enough job of wrapping things up.
To figure it out, I went over the outline a bunch of times, researched how other authors end their books, and even asked AI for ending recommendations after feeding it a summary of the total plot. None of what I came up with looked right.
Of course, there is another problem. I have been hard at work on a home improvement project, which has taken up the time I like to walk around the neighborhood. This is typically when I think up creative solutions to my life’s problems. The next best thing was to think before going to sleep.
I eventually realized the issue: I do not want to say goodbye to my characters. We have been through a lot, and tossing them away felt insensitive. I then thought more about why I am ending the series.
I have three book series (wow, the number three appears a lot in this article), and this one has a few scathing reviews and low sales. At the same time, I like the plot and the characters the most. Plus, I do not have any good ideas for a fourth book. All I could come up with was more of the same, and my readers deserve better.
This pre-sleep thinking time eventually made me realize I needed to provide my characters a proper goodbye. And this is exactly how I am going to end the book with the parents saying goodbye to their daughter. I think that will bring good closure to the story and to me.
After some final outline work, I began writing the way I always do. I opened a blank document, copied the copyright text from a prior book, and typed the first word of chapter one.
Writing again felt terrific. My solid outline reduced the stress, and the last thing I wanted to do was leave my keyboard. Words leaped onto my screen, and the dialogue was exciting. Once again, I brought my characters to life and deeply pondered their motivations and actions. All the writing issues I have encountered so far have magically resolved themselves.
I cannot wait to get out of bed in the morning, and I go to sleep thinking about what I wrote that day. This new beginning once again allowed me to appreciate how lucky I am to have a modest writing gift. And yes, it was a pleasure and a privilege to write this article.
You’re the best -Bill
November 10, 2021 Updated April 04, 2026
