First, the Idea. It can be memorized or written in a paragraph, as long as it's an idea. The characters and their situations, relationships, goals, challenges, and etc. come first.
Second, and Event List. This list includes events in the story to create a plot. This event list can change a lot during the third step.
Third, the First Draft. This draft must match the event list with the entire story perfectly, and written in first person. The story is very general, without many descriptions, but it states all things that are important to the story.
Fourth, the Plan and Separate step. I go through the first draft and choose to keep or delete each event noted. Then, I divide the draft into chapters and add any events that may make the plot easier to understand.
Fifth, I write a Final Draft. I used the edited and revised first draft as a guide for the final, and use all events kept and added. Every sentence is "exploded", or given extra detail until one sentece grows to the size of almost three sentences. A ton of detail is added, and every chapter is almost equal in length.
Sixth, I Post. When each chapter is finished, I post it to a writing website to have other writers read and critique my work. The comments on the work go along with the editing.
Seventh, Send Out. When the final draft is finished, from beginning to end, I send it to my publisher for the final edit and designing a cover and printing. And when that's overwith, the book is done!
Some other things that I use for my writing process.
I write longhand for the beginning of most first drafts, then transfer the writing to a Word document if I see potential in it. With my more serious projects, the ones that I feel I should finish before the others because in my mind these projects are more important, I type it on the computer at first chance.
I must be sitting upright to write. If I'm on my side, I fall asleep.
I must be listening to music. I have certain playlists made on my iPod for writing that match a story or a mood. Often times, I put the same song on repeat until I finish an event in a story that fits the song almost perfectly. For example, if a character is going to die, I listen to "Cancer" by My Chemical Romance. And when the other characters are grieving for this dead character, I listen to "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day.
I save everything that has to do with writing on my 4G Flash Drive.
It helps to make albums for certain books to keep going with a story.
I use my school writing to help a lot with my free-writing.
I cannot wear socks in the summer, and I need those socks in the winter.
Well, there you have it. My writing process is very particular, but it works, and that's all I care about.
