I was going to do a long thing about how I have changed my writing process in the 7 years that I was gone from the website. I even had that post started and named, but then I decided to change it up. 

I'm still going to talk about my writing process but now I'm going to just do it in a concise and point by point way. At least I hope it turns out concise. 

1. Getting that idea
   • This is where the whole thing starts. Before this was the only step before I started writing on the story. But now, this is not the case. After I get the idea and write it down, I...
2. Research/Plot the Idea
   • I take my time to research and plot the idea. I usually start a story after I have the major plot points that I need to hit for the story continuation. As long as I have those major plot points, I'm pretty good in filling in the smaller details to support  those plot points. 
3. Outline if I have enough to do so
   • Yep. I outline. Or at least I outline up to the first 10 to 30 chapters of the story. It helps me keep on track. I tend not to outline beyond that point, just noting down the points I need to hit. this is so that I can fiddle with it a lot easier if I need to change something or add in some information. 
4. Start the story
   • Yep. Once I have those first few chapters planned out, I start to write. I take my time, really get into the meat of the story. I start where I think it will work best to build up to the story itself. Once Upon a Time I would just start right in the action but some of my plots aren't meant for that. There has to be some kind of build up to the action and now I just tend to start it where I need to. 
5. Rewrite the story
   • Most often then not, I actually wait until I finish writing the story to let it sit for a while (anywhere from a week to a month depending on how long it took me to write the story the first time). This actually comes in parts:
     • Read the story. Take notes on what to add.
     • Add the parts that need to be added if they're chapter sized.
     • Actually crack down and rewrite the story start to finish.
   • As you can see I do it three parts. A normal 100K story (which yes my stories can take up to that) can take me up to a month of working on if I focus just on it.  Longer if I don't focus solely on it. 
6. Edit the story
   • Now comes the fun part. Editing. I'll let it sit for another month, play with other worlds. Then I edit and fix little things.
7. Send the edited story to the Beta's and Alpha readers.
   • This is indeed the time that I send the story to my alpha readers (if I have them), and the Beta readers. Usually by this time I've seen what I have needed to fix and have fixed it. If they see something majorly glaring, I will fix it, do the usual to that part and send it off again to the beta readers. Most often then not i don't have to do this.
8. Post the story after a good hard edit post-beta
   • After I get the story back from the beta, I edit. Again. I usually run through it twice with a week between the two edits. It works for me.

So thank you for coming to read on how I write my stories now. Does it take me time? Yes. Is it worth it though? So. Very. Much.