Apparently This Digital Murder Board Is Part of My Writing Process
The visual planning tool I’ve used for every Lily Gallagher mystery so far
Back in September, 2022, I wrote a post about Milanote, an app which I used extensively when I was writing my first Lily Gallagher Mystery, Drowning in Deception.
Recently someone asked me to describe my writing process.
Since I’ve only just started writing my third, I don’t know that I have anything yet that can confidently be called a process, but whatever it is, it still includes the Milanote app.
Here’s why.
It’s very visual, which helps me a lot since I’m a very visual person. It’s basically a blank canvas to which I can add pictures, text, arrows, lines, pretty much whatever I want. You know those murder boards you see on TV shows and movies? I could easily make one of those with Milanote.
It’s platform agnostic, so I can access it on any device. Even my phone in an emergency.
The app comes with a lot of pre-made templates, including some very good ones for novel writers.
I can also create my own. For example, I created a template which I use to keep track of story beats and other important details. It’s a fun way to keep track of chapters and the timeline. If I want to move things around, I just drag and drop!
This is what the template looks like.
Any of those numbered items can be expanded to see a lot of detail, like this.
Could I use a different tool to keep track of everything? Absolutely! In fact, I also designed a spreadsheet that does just that. But I prefer the more visual representation I get with Milanote.
What I’m Reading
I’m enjoying Gina X Grant’s Unlikely series so much that I’m blasting through it. Books 3 and 4 in the series are An Unlikely Drama and An Unlikely Revelation.
An Unlikely Drama
Ex-con Agatha Shadewell plans to spend her summer building sets for the Unlikely Community Theater. But you know what they say about plans. . .
It’s all going well until the director of the theater group, who also happens to own the Bijou Theater building, is found dead. In the theater, of course. Royce Belfair was a direct descendant of the notorious pirate known as Coldwater Belle, and the play is all about Belle and her exploits.
Even worse, he’s apparently killed with the nail gun Agatha was using on the sets.
Agatha’s also getting worn out helping to take care of Martin, who’s recovering from surgery. Oh, and did I mention the serial killer/writer who’s coming after her? The thought of cutting off her ankle monitor and disappearing is feeling more and more appealing.
Instead, she decides to stick around to figure out who killed Royce.
An Unlikely Revelation
After a successful conclusion to the drama in the previous book, Agatha decides the only way to avoid the killer stalking her is to die. So she does what anyone would do — stages her own funeral, and then attends it.
Imagine her surprise when Clara Simpson, friend and colleague from many years ago, arrives in town!
Old crimes are turning up right and left. Scandals are rocking the town. And then Agatha’s dog digs up a skeleton in the basement of the old theater, which is being renovated.
She has no idea who she can trust any more.
I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the next Unlikely story.
Notable Quotes
This is the opening of A Bitter Taste by Blake Rivers. I thought it was brilliant, and memorable. First, there’s a killer opening sentence.
The lavender was being difficult.
I mean, think about it. Lavender is a plant. It’s used to create fragrances, it can be made into an essential oil which promotes sleep, and infused into a tea it reduces pain and inflammation, helps with mood and anxiety, kills harmful viruses and bacteria, and can even help mitigate the distress of colic.
So how can lavender be difficult?
The second batch, she’d waited too long. The scones had already set by the time she folded in the flowers, leaving sad purple specks scattered through pale dough like confetti at a party no one attended.
Aha! She — whoever she is — is a baker. She’s using lavender in her scones. And then, at last . . .
She stripped the buds from the stem and scattered them across the dough like tiny purple promises.
Do you have any favorite novel openings you’d like to share? Put them in the comments.
Buy Me a Chai
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Shameless Self Promotion
The first book in the Lily Gallagher Mysteries series, Drowning in Deception, is available to order from your favorite bookseller. Or, if you prefer an e-book, it’s still available on Kindle Unlimited, though not for much longer. . . Or check your favorite library app.
Also, if you’ll be in the Tallahassee, Florida area on June 13, come by My Favorite Books, 111 S Magnolia (in the courtyard next to Winn Dixie). I’ll be there from 10 AM until noon signing books, and reading from Drowning in Deception. Click here for more information.
September 1922? You were ahead of your time!