Introvert at the doctors'

I struggle with doctor visits. The only doctor I've ever actually liked was my midwife for two of my kids. I've never really teased out why, before now. 

I am very much an introvert. As such, it takes a lot of social energy for me to talk to people. I can answer questions without too much trouble, but taking the initiative in a conversation is difficult. I have to think up my statement/question, consider my phrasing, find the right time to bring it up, and then judge reactions carefully. It takes a lot of mental effort. If I'm confronted unexpectedly, there's a good chance my brain will go blank and I will struggle to put two words together. I'm not shy. I don't dislike people. This is just how my brain works. 

So, the reason I don't like doctor visits is because the communication breaks down so easily. Requiring so many steps means it's easy for things to go wrong. I will forget questions or statements I wanted to make. If I do remember, I have to find the right time to say it. If I don't feel like I'm being heard, I will have an even harder time forcing myself to let down filters enough to speak. And if I disagree with something, getting that through the filters is even harder (if I've ever disagreed with you face to face, you may consider us the closest of friends). Most likely, the negative thoughts will stay trapped, festering in my head. 

And return visits? Much worse. I've already put a lot of social energy into this, but I can't be sure how much the doctor remembers. It adds several more filters: I can't expect them to remember--I know they're busy and I'm just one person--but I don't want to repeat what they already know. This is assuming it got through the very first filter: do I even remember what I need to convey?

 As for the one midwife I actually liked: on our very first visit, we had a conversation where we related to each other as individuals. Every time I brought something up, she answered without judgment, dismissal, or conflict. I grew to trust her. I even had her personal number on my phone, and she was nothing but supportive on the couple times I used it. She wasn't just a doctor. She was my friend.

My Writing Process

 I've probably written about my writing process before, but it's an ever evolving, ever refining thing. Right now, I'd like to describe the stages that a story goes through before I publish it.

This is the system I use. It works for me, and it's fast--I can publish at least a book a year, start to finish, with my method. But this is a very individual exercise, and everyone works a bit differently. You'll want to adapt what you learn and come up with your own.

Step 1: Daydream. This is where I do my "pantsing". I watch it in my head like a movie, and throw in whatever seems appealing. It's a mess, and that's fine. Most likely, I'll eventually tire of it, and the whole story moves to "the compost of my imagination". Ideas get recycled and reused in different forms. Eventually an actual story emerges, ready for the next step.

Step 2: Outline. I'll make a form with the basic story structure, which I've adapted from KM Weiland's blog. I'll fill in just a couple lines for each major beat. (Key moment, inciting incident, first plot point, first pinch point, etc.)

This is for a book I have yet to write, and it will change a lot before it's finished. That's perfectly fine.

Step 3: Rough draft. I usually do this for NaNoWriMo or in that style. I'll use the outline as a rough guide, so I know where I'm heading next, and then just get all those words out, unedited, unpolished. If I realize that an earlier part needs to change, I'll go up and make a note, right in the document. I may even stop and do some brainstorming (stream-of-conscious typing about the story) or write notes and suggestions to myself.

Step 4: First draft. I take the mess that is the rough draft, look at all the notes I've made, and turn it into something presentable. This is the stage that takes the longest. 

Being me, I'll also make all kinds of spreadsheets to help me keep track of where the story is and what needs to happen next. Here's the one from my DreamRovers series:

Step 5: Get feedback. Some of these steps will be going concurrently. I'll be submitting chapters for beta-readers before I've finished the whole first draft, for instance.  I have three main beta-readers right now, plus at least one stranger to my style/world, if I can find one. Reading out loud might happen anywhere in the process. It's great for catching plot holes as well as mistakes. My kids enjoy being my test audience. Both the beta-readers and my kids act as motivation to get that next chapter done on time.

Step 6: Polishing. This will include making changes that I've found, as well as incorporating advice from the feedback I've received. This will take several drafts.  

Step 7: Proofing. I'll make the cover and do the formatting, then order a copy of a physical proof from amazon. This will allow me to pick out mistakes and make changes that I wouldn't have noticed in another format, like a screen.

Step 8s and beyond: Publish! And market like crazy. But that's another topic... 

If you'd like to check out the finished results, you can find my books at www.thespectrabooks.com

I hope you find something useful here. Enjoy!