Two years ago, I started on an Alternative History series set in the American Colonial era. After completing two of the books and running into a roadblock on hiring a cover creation, I took a hiatus. I explored creating a cross-platform alternative to Scrivener, and I created a web application for my writing. Here we are, 23 months from when I started with the series. I have picked it up again. “Disclaimer. I do not use AI to write my novels. That's the part of writing I enjoy most. I use Claude to help me reverse-summarize my novels and with research.” How hard is it to re-start after a few years? Whelming, but not overwhelming. I wrote it in Scrivener and kept decent notes as I went. I used the Snowflake method to create the plot. Writers use Ingermanson's Snowflake Method to grow a simple idea into a structured novel. The process starts with a one-sentence summary that becomes a brief paragraph defining the story's major points. Writers then flesh out characters and shape scenes. Step by step, this method adds detail until the writer holds a coherent plan for the entire book. I've used it for years. But my characters have taken stories in different directions. You will see this with Sean Gunn in the second book. I had no idea he would do what he did in the second half of his story. I thought he was far too mercenary. GPT was new. I used it to create scene summaries after the fact, and of each part as I completed them. The original idea for this series dates back to 22 June 2018, when we were on vacation....

In looking at my old Notion pages, I happened over a fairly lengthy article by Ian Fleming. I think his advice goes beyond the genre in question. What follows summarizes what he wrote. His narrative style was too stilted and the article suffers from being too long. In 1963, just a year before his death, James Bond creator Ian Fleming published an insightful essay revealing his approach to writing thrillers. With characteristic frankness, Fleming admitted he wrote for pleasure and money rather than literary acclaim. Yet his methods offer valuable lessons for any aspiring writer seeking to master the art of popular fiction. At the heart of Fleming's philosophy was a simple goal: make the reader turn the page. To achieve this, he advocated for clean, straightforward prose unmarred by complicated plots or confusing character relationships. He warned against common pitfalls like lengthy recaps or internal monologues that might slow the story's momentum. Instead, he encouraged writers to engage all the reader's senses, even including detailed descriptions of meals and environments to create a more immersive experience. Fleming grounded his fantastic plots in reality by weaving in authentic details from his wartime experience in naval intelligence. He balanced outlandish adventures with specific, real-world references – from brand names like Ronson lighters to precise details about cars and hotels. This technique helped readers accept the more incredible elements of his stories by anchoring them in familiar reality. His writing process was equally practical. Fleming maintained a strict routine, writing for three hours each morning and one hour in the evening. He typed everything using six fingers and refused to look back or edit until completing the first draft. This approach allowed...