Sunday, November 6, 2022

What is a Backlog?

Every writer should build a backlog.

Have you ever enjoyed a little break after finishing a first draft? That nice little space between finishing and editing where you can take some downtime to be proud of your accomplishment? Good. You deserve to! But what comes after?

Usually, it’s a panic of “What do I write next?!”

Backlogs can help with that.

It’s recommended that you continue to work in between manuscripts and that is something I strongly believe in. Once I’m done with a draft, I’ll start outlining a new novel or editing an older story. Having a folder or list of ideas, having those previous manuscripts to work on, that’s a backlog.

It’s just works-in-progress to fall back on that you can easily pick up and start in on. It’s important to be consistent and build up your collection of first drafts and outlines. By using this method myself, I usually have a novel ready to submit by the time I have a book release.

This is also a useful technique if you’re planning a series. It makes it easier to publish if you get the first book done as well as outlines or even first drafts of the others before publishing, that way you can not only stay on top of deadlines, but stay ahead of them!

Now, how do you build a backlog? This is the hard part – you have got to grind. You have got to work consistently to build your backlog, work on your craft, and get those ideas and first drafts onto the paper. It isn’t easy, trust me. At this time, I only have a couple of manuscripts on standby, but it’s something.

The takeaway? Work hard. If this is something you really want, you’re going to have to put that time into it and try your best to stay ahead of the curve. And, in the spirit of NaNoWriMo, what better time to start than now? I believe in you!

 

Love always,

Lori Fayre

Romance Tropes: One Bed

Welcome to a new series where I break down classic romance tropes and give my opinions. First up is a well-known and well-loved trope: “Ther...