Many writers who are working on book-length projects struggle to keeping track of the pieces. While many of you are likely drafting chapters accordingly, it can be challenging to keep all the pieces straight. For my own essay collection, I spent a tiny amount of time again laying out my chapters so I could “see” them, and now I’ve begun to create notecards for each chapter. I did this for my second book, Glory Days, and it’s a much easier way to keep track of the parts. This is how it works: Create a notecard for each chapter. Summarize the “plot” of the chapter. Answer questions to these questions (or others that come to mind): Who’s present? How many scenes are in the chapter? What’s introduced? What’s left hanging? What’s resolved? Where are the moments of tension? (Many thanks to Barb Shoup and her book WRITING A NOVEL for this phenomenal idea).

The cool thing is how you then use the cards to organize and discover the best way for them to appear in your book. It’s also really fun to hold them in your hands—I don’t know why, it just is.

Try it, writers! I’m including a picture for proof of my own process….