Writing fiction is a strange mix of control and surrender.
When I start a new story, I always build an outline — a roadmap of where I think the story will go. But I give myself 100% permission to wander off that map whenever the story decides to take me somewhere unexpected. If I drift too far from my original plan, I pause, reset, and create a new outline from that point forward.
That’s happened several times with Matt Anderson’s storyline, and honestly, I’m as surprised by where he’s taken me as you’ll be when you read it. And that’s a good thing. Surprises mean the story’s alive.
Right now, Seasons of Ash sits at around 72,000 words, and I’m estimating another 20,000 will bring me to the finish line for the first draft. I’m currently deep in Laura’s story in Green Bank — and it’s proving tougher to write. There’s more world-building, more characters, and more moving parts. It’s slower going, but it’s also some of the most rewarding writing I’ve done yet.
A little advice for writers just starting out: create a character sheet.
It sounds simple, but it’s a lifesaver when your story world gets complex. I use Google Sheets (though Excel works just as well). It keeps track of each character’s background, relationships, quirks, and evolution across chapters. If you’d like a look at how I structure mine — along with a few practical tips — feel free to email me at John@johnmichaellayne.com. I’m happy to share a sample.
My goal is to wrap up the first draft before Thanksgiving. If I hit that milestone, I’ll take a short break — maybe a week or two — and then dive into cover design and the first round of self-editing.
Thanks for following along on this journey. I’ll have more updates soon as Seasons of Ash continues to take shape — one unexpected turn at a time.