Initiate the update-a-tron 5000!

First, a note:
This will be off the cuff, unpolished, and stream of consciousness. The grammar composed here does not reflect the more worked and reworked style of my novels. That being said, it will still very much be in MY voice.

Alright! So... progress update #1! For this post, let's travel back to the end of book 1 and the beginning of writing book 2.

I began work on book 2 while getting feedback from book 1. I have a general outline/concepts for the series as a whole (expected to be 5 books), but nothing is set in stone until it is written, edited, and shipped. As such the first task was to outline book 2 in greater detail than the vague idea I had.

My method for this is rather basic. Because I already have the world established and the rules of the world locked down, I begin with the characters within that setting. What do they want? What do they need? What's in their way? What is the central idea which links all their arcs together?

From there I outlined individual journeys for each of the main characters within the overarching plot idea I had. Then, I began interweaving all those individual threads, pushing characters together, tearing them apart. My 6 outlines became like threads on a single tapestry. This was the basic book 2 outline.

What happened with it? How much of the plan have I stuck to? I'll get to that NEXT TIME!!!