Let’s talk about how I write my books — messy notes, treasure maps, TV in the background, and all. I’m what writers call a “Pantser”: I don’t use outlines, I just dive in and see where the story goes.
🃏 What Is a Pantser?
If you’ve never heard the term, a “Pantser” is someone who writes by the seat of their pants — no detailed plan, no rigid structure. That’s me to a T. I sit down, open my laptop (usually on the sofa with the telly on), and see what comes out.
This might explain why it takes me a while to write a chapter... let alone an entire book! But I believe the process should work for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all method, and this one — a little chaotic, a little spontaneous — works for me.
☝️ Step 1: Finding the Treasure (The Idea)
My books always start with a real-life lost treasure. I research the history — how it vanished, the conspiracy theories, the search attempts — and decide whether it’s something my characters could realistically hunt for.
This part can take weeks. Sometimes the treasure is too complicated, or just doesn’t inspire the right story. But once I find the right one? That’s when things kick off.
✌️ Step 2: Setting the Scene (Prologue & Chapter 1)
Once the treasure’s chosen, I start with the prologue. I know some readers skip prologues, but I love writing them — especially for this series. It’s where I blend fact with fiction and set up the mystery.
Then comes Chapter 1, which always makes me pause:
Where did the last book leave off? What’s going on with the characters? Who’s in love? Who’s still mad at who?
Sometimes I have to go back and re-read the ending of the previous book to spark an idea. Other times, I picture Cedric scrolling the news for lost artifacts — just like I do — and a new adventure is born.
☘️ Step 3: Following the Clues (The Messy Middle)
Once the story starts, it (usually) begins to flow. But that doesn’t mean it’s neat.
In Book 2, I knew the treasure and how it went missing — but not where it had ended up. I had to piece together conspiracies, accomplices, even burial records to find clues. I latch onto one idea and build a fictional thread from there.
Even as the author, I don’t always know what’s going to happen next. That’s part of the fun. But I’ll admit — I’m not great at tracking characters. I’ll get to a scene and think, Wait… what was her name again? Didn’t I give her green hair? And then I’m digging back through chapters looking for a name or a trait I forgot to note down.
4️⃣ Step 4: Layering in the Details
Here’s where the story starts to feel real — the research phase.
I look up the weather in the country where the story’s set. What’s the climate like in autumn? Does it snow in March? I Google distances, check flight times, study hotel websites, browse restaurant menus — anything that helps me create a believable experience.
I write a rough first draft of each chapter just to get the plot down. Then I go back and refine the language — swapping out flat dialogue for expressive reactions, visual cues, and sensory details.
Sometimes, I’ll even look up hotel reviews to imagine what the pillows feel like or what food they serve at breakfast. It sounds odd, but it helps paint the scene. If I’ve done it well, you’ll feel like you’re right there with the characters.
5️⃣ Step 5: Sticking the Landing (The Ending)
The ending is always the hardest part for me. Maybe because I don’t want to disappoint readers who’ve followed the journey. Or maybe because part of me isn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters — again.
When I finished An Irish Mystery, I wasn’t sure the ending worked. I shelved it for over a year, thinking no one would ever read it anyway. Then I let my mum read the first draft.
She said, “Yeah, it was good, but…” — and that “but” stuck with me.
She was right. The story needed more polish, more showing, less telling. So I dug back in, rewrote big sections, and suddenly I fell in love with the story all over again. And that’s when I started Book 2. Then Book 3.
🌯 Wrapping It All Up
So that’s my writing process — part instinct, part research rabbit hole, and part late-night scramble on the sofa. It’s messy, it’s unplanned, but it works for me.
If you’re a fellow writer, I’d love to know how you write. Are you a planner? A pantser? Something in between?
And if you’re a reader, now you know what’s going on behind the curtain — and just how much time I’ve spent zooming around on Google Maps and reading about treasure legends!
Thanks for reading — and I’ll see you next blog post.
Add comment
Comments