1 Nov 2026 – The Antagonist Appears

I’ve started the next Caitlyn Jamison book a couple of times, but each version didn’t feel right. So, I took some time to ponder why it wasn’t working and what needed to change from my original plan. An updated outline was needed. What additional characters need to be introduced? How much does the setting influence or increase the suspense? Will readers be interested in the crime I’ve set up? Does there need to be more action? Who or what will thwart Caitlyn as she tries to solve the crime? As I thought about these questions, I suddenly woke one night. A new character, the antagonist, had interrupted my deep sleep to introduce himself. He gave me his name and occupation. I was surprised at his entrance and also thankful. He’d answered the most important question. He seemed excited for the opportunity to put up every roadblock he could to stop Caitlyn from learning the truth and bringing the murderer to justice. I guess he likes to have his way. Yup, this is the writing life. The characters aren’t concerned about what you are doing. They want you to stop and jot down their suggestions and the way they think the story should go. I learned this with the first book. The characters knew I was a first-time author and helped me develop the story. In the second book, one of the characters tried to take over the plotline and took me down a rabbit hole. I warn writers to keep an eye on the characters! My new outline follows the days. I’ve used bullet points to list each scene for the first three days. I will continue to build on this outline as the story evolves. Scenes will shift, chapters will change, and new characters will appear. That leads me to the often-asked question: Are you a planner, plotter, or pantser? I’ve written about this before, but I find it interesting that these three writing processes have to be considered with each book. With five books written, I’m now a pantser. What are you? Please share your experiences with what works best for you.