This is the 7th and last blog post in the Knowledge and Fiction Series.
Over the past couple of decades, I have completed multiple cycles of book decluttering, a topic worthy of a blog post in its own right. Throughout these cycles, my collection of books on writing fiction was never under threat. I didn't add to the collection in those two decades but I didn't get rid of any of the books. Some part of me knew I would need these book again. In the meantime, I gave away many other books.
Here I am today and I need them again as I prepare to make revisions to the novel I have worked on for the past three months. Facing the challenge, one question emerged: how do I make use of this 20+ strong collection of books on various aspects of fiction writing? No matter how I pile them up or line them up, it's overwhelming. How should I approach it? Here are some steps I came up with:
- Analyze the collection and organize it
Mapping the collection already makes it more approachable. In addition, it creates a kind of memory palace. The version below is the simplest form of the map, the basic structure. As I re-read these books and connect their concepts to my own revisions needs, I can continue to expand the map and document the process. I can also see if this general structure is really all I need to map out the necessary revisions in my head or in my notes, without creating an overly complex map that becomes challenging to maintain.
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A concept map organizing a collection of books on Writing Fiction.
Click on the map image to open it in a separate tab or window. |
- Clarify the objective for diving into these books again
The objective is to leverage all the knowledge and wisdom embedded in these books to guide the revision for the novel draft I just completed. Right or wrong, I had a rationale for not diving into them while writing the first draft of the novel. I was worried it would slow me down and become a hindrance as I would constantly second-guess my initial writing.
Just because the objective is to support the revision process does not mean that I should only rely on the books focused on revisions. Even books specifically about revisions emphasize thinking broadly about all aspects of fiction. All these books will be useful. I just can't tackle all of it all at once, so I need a strategy.
Additional context: I have read every one of these books before, years ago. I'm convinced knowledge acquired reading these books long ago resides in the back of my head. That knowledge hasn't been practiced in years but I could feel it returning, slowly rising to the front of my mind as I was completing the first draft. Perhaps it is a form of muscle memory. I also have the earlier practice of completing multiple draft novels. That helped me be strategic with the latest iteration of the process, leveraging some lessons learned that I don't remember ever writing down as lessons at the time.
Based on the organizational schema illustrated on the map, here is a strategy:
1. Start with a High-Level Diagnostic
I will use the following books to assess big-picture issues like structure, theme, and pacing:
- Story Engineering (Brooks) → revisit the 6 core competencies.
- Scene & Structure (Bickham) → check your scene flow and turning points.
- The Essence of Fiction (McConnel) → scan for gaps in narrative fundamentals.
Action: I will create a one-page diagnostic summary. What’s strong? What feels flat? I may also identify questions that would be useful to ask beta readers if I am worried about specific elements but unsure of how readers would see the weakness (or not).
2. Deepen Characters and Emotional Resonance
Once the structure feels solid, I will tackle the following books:
- Character & Viewpoint (Card) and Breathing Life Into Your Characters (Ballon)
- Creating Character Emotions (Hood) → refresh how to show, not tell emotions.
Action: I will revisit my character notes and create a one-paragraph sketch—what do they want, what’s in their way, how do they evolve? There is a lot around dialogue and individual character voices that needs to be strengthened.
3. Scene-by-Scene Pass
Then I will work scene by scene, refining purpose, conflict, and clarity:
- Make a Scene (Rosenfeld)
- Description (Wood) and Writing Dialogue (Chiarella)
- Conflict, Action & Suspense (Noble)
Action: Use a checklist per scene: What changes? What's the conflict? Does it earn its place? I had a minimalist checklist as I was writing the draft, highlighting setting, action, and tension. I can refine and expand it during the revision phase.
4. Style & Voice Polish
This is the final “shine” layer:
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (Browne & King)
- Stein on Writing (Stein) → fine-tune flow, pacing, and voice.
- The First Five Pages (Lukeman) → ensure a strong opening.
Action: Create a mini-style guide for myself based on repeated patterns (e.g., overused words, sentence rhythm). One of the key characters has an accent and can't pronounce some specific words correctly -- very much like myself. I have to figure out how to portray that.
5. Consider the Reader & Market
When I get closer to the finish line:
- Give ’Em What They Want (Camenson & Cook)
- How to Write a Book Proposal (Larsen)- even though it's meant for non-fiction.
- The Forest for the Trees (Lerner)
Workflow Recap
- Work in layers—structure first, then characters, then scene craft, then polish.
- Don’t try to do everything at once.
- Give myself permission to enjoy the process—it’s where the artistry emerges.
That's the plan. I will no doubt deviate from it.
Writing Update
This post can also serve as the March update on the creative writing process. I have completed the first draft and my earlier concerns about the direction of the overall plot have been mitigated. Closing loops in the third act has been a satisfying experience. It all makes sense (to me).
I finished this first draft just above 70,000 words. That's clearly not enough but I have a good sense of what needs to be strengthened to get to at least 90,000 words in the revised version. I may have to eliminate 10,000 useless words and add 30,000 meaningful ones. The plan outlined above will be my starting guide and we'll see where that takes me.
