This is Part 2 of 6 of my Everything Before Gia series. Click the link to learn more about my debut novel, or return to Part 1.

This timeline consists of every relevant plot point found within the novel scrapbooks and marks a turning point from idea generation to the development of a novel.

The process began with writing out each individual plot point from my scrapbooks. I preferred to do this by hand.

33 pages of plot points, ready for transcription into a printable spreadsheet.

It took two weeks to transcribe all of my plot point ideas. Every cell in the spreadsheet also included a reference to the scrapbook (1-7) and the specific page it was sourced from.

This is the home of my maternal grandparents, who I lived with at the time. Tragically, it would burn down less than six months later.

I sorted hundreds of cells by place (Y) and who lives where at what time (X) using sticky notes.

In the end, the timeline was three A2 sheets wide.

The timeline required weeks of dedicated focus. I worked with rolled sleeves to carefully tape down positioned notes.

A time lapse of the final stage of production! The blue notes represent ideas for the diary component of the novel.

Once the timeline was completed (whew!) I started a new draft. But what was the pace? How should I write across each location? I hit another roadblock. Thus, I decided to establish novel chapters.

Click here for Part 3 of the Everything Before Gia novel series!