Writing a book
The book in a sentence, a word count bar, scenes and characters, revision passes and submissions; a month of chapters by stage and research; a week of writing sessions with what you worked on, so revising counts as much as drafting.
Novelists and memoirists, from the outline through the last revision.
Order as is goes straight to the order form, where you choose the days, binding and address and see the price before you pay. Change it first opens the whole book in the editor. No account needed for either.
Front pages
The book in a sentence, a word count bar, scenes, characters, revision passes, research and submissions.
- The Book (questions)The Book: working title, what it's about, in a sentence, who it's for and finished by, with lines to answer.
- Toward My Word Count (progress bar)Toward My Word Count: 100 marks to fill in, one at a time, numbered every 10.
- Scenes (table)A table headed Scenes, with columns for #, scene, point of view, where and what changes.
- Characters (table)A table headed Characters, with columns for name, wants, fears and changes how.
- Revision Passes (checklist)A checklist headed Revision Passes: structure and plot, characters and arcs, scene by scene, line edit, read aloud and proofread.
- Research to Do (note box)A box headed Research to Do, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Submissions (table)A table headed Submissions, with columns for agent or press, sent and heard back.
Every month
Lined days, chapters to work on, ideas, wins, chapters by stage, research, questions for your readers and a review.
- This Month (questions)This Month: chapters to work on, arcs to move forward and holes to fix, with lines to answer.
- Ideas (note box)A box headed Ideas, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Wins (note box)A box headed Wins, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Chapters (table)A table headed Chapters, with columns for chapter, stage, words and notes.
- Research (checklist)Rows with a box to tick. Placed across several days, it becomes one list per day.
- Questions for My Readers (note box)A box headed Questions for My Readers, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Monthly ReviewA few questions at the end of each month, with lines to answer them. It starts with what worked, what did not and what changes next month, and the questions can be your own.
Every week
What to work on and what done looks like, three priorities, ideas and lines, writing sessions with words and how they felt, where you stopped and dialogue.
- This Week (questions)This Week: scenes or pass to work on and done looks like, with lines to answer.
- Weekly PrioritiesA short numbered list of what matters most this week, written before the week fills up.
- Ideas & Lines (note box)A box headed Ideas & Lines, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Sessions (table)A table headed Sessions, with columns for day, scene or pass, words and felt.
- Where I Stopped (note box)A box headed Where I Stopped, ruled with lines, to write in.
- Dialogue Snippets (note box)A box headed Dialogue Snippets, ruled with lines, to write in.
The whole book, laid out.
Every page dated and ready to print at home or as a bound book. Move, resize or take out anything, and Memari lays out every page after.