Meredith Mansfield, Author

As I’ve mentioned a time or two before, I’m mostly a discovery writer, which means I don’t outline in a formal way. But I often do sort of a rolling outline a few chapters ahead of where I am. Subject to change or, more often, addition, of course.

Now that I’m forging into new territory on the first draft of BECOME: TO CATCH THE LIGHTNING, I’ve got something sort of like that.

In this case, what I have is a few chapter headings, each on its own page, and a short note about what will happen in that chapter. Perhaps a snippet of dialog if that was in my head when I set it up.

Apropos of #dragonweek, here are the titles (subject to change) of some of the recent, current, and future chapters I’m working on:

• Preparations for the Hunt (done, Benar’s POV)
• Counter Plans (done, Cordan’s POV)
• Dragon Hunt (very rough first draft, Gaian’s POV)
• Suspicions (done Benar’s POV)
• Triumphant Return (current chapter, Gaian’s POV)
• Repercussions (next up, Cordan’s POV)

After that, things are a little up in the air. I have a few more chapters mapped out, but if I follow that plan, this book is going to wrap up way too fast. Or else it’s going to go past the point where I thought the first book of the series would end, which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Decision point not far ahead.

Also, if you like dragons, you definitely should check out the Fellowship of Fantasy dragon week books.