Yesterday, I posted the final chapter of Aliki Martin and the Chocolate Cartel, and honestly I still can’t believe it’s done. There’s this weird mix of excitement, relief, and a little bit of, Wait… did I really finish an entire novel? But I did—and it actually feels like a story worth telling.
So, I figured I’d share a few thoughts about the process. Maybe it’ll help someone else power through their own draft.
The Process
I started with an outline and a rough version from NaNoWriMo 2022. But aside from the core characters, this draft is almost unrecognizable. Don’t get me wrong—NaNoWriMo’s great for building a writing habit, but cranking out 50,000 words in a month? Yeah… turns out my brain doesn’t love working under that kind of pressure. Giving myself more time let the plot and characters develop in ways I hadn’t expected.
Still, writing a novel feels like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—on a tightrope—over a pit of very hungry crocodiles. And those crocodiles? Definitely the nine different plot threads I had to keep straight in Act 2. One wrong move, and the whole story would’ve fallen apart. What saved me was a ridiculously simple checklist. Seriously—just seeing each plotline laid out helped me keep everything moving without dropping the ball. Lesson learned: Sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective.
Looking back, I can see how my writing evolved as I went. At first, I was hyper-focused on nailing Emmett’s sarcastic one-liners (because come on—who doesn’t love a snarky android with an Irish accent?). But after a few chapters, I stopped overthinking and let the characters take the lead. It felt like they started writing their own dialogue—I know authors say this all the time, but honestly, that’s one of the coolest parts of the whole process.
Why Post a Draft Online?
So, why share a rough draft with the world—typos, plot holes, and all? Simple: accountability. I’ve got at least 30 half-finished stories gathering digital dust on my hard drive. This time, I was determined not to let that happen.
Posting chapters online meant I couldn’t just hit pause when things got tricky. For example, take the wedding scene—I hit a wall trying to transition into it without skipping key plot points. But knowing readers might be waiting for the next chapter pushed me to keep going.
Funny enough, that struggle led to a subplot I hadn’t planned, and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story. The whole “lackeys take the nonbelievers into a secret meeting” thing was entirely last minute and ended up being…well, I won’t spoil it here.
Did I ever doubt that I should put everything out there before it was edited?
Absolutely. More than once, I thought, What if people read this and think I’m terrible at writing? But I had to let that fear go. Sharing drafts online taught me to stop chasing perfection and just get the story down on paper. And not waste time rewriting stuff that never panned out in the final chapters.
What’s Next?
Will I post future drafts online? Probably. I’ve already got another idea brewing: Aliki’s next adventure takes place on a space cruise ship—think luxury travel, galactic intrigue, and maybe a little romance.
But before I dive into that, I’m giving Chocolate Cartel a breather. I’ve learned from writing short stories that time cures a lot of problems. A month or two of distance helps me come back with fresh eyes—and hopefully, better edits.
For Fellow Writers:
If you’ve ever thought about sharing your drafts online, go for it—even if nobody reads them. There’s something about knowing your work is out there that keeps you motivated. Plus, posting chapter by chapter forces you to stay organized and avoid endlessly rewriting the same scene.
My biggest tip? Outline the key plot points first, but leave room for surprises. Too much time can be spent on an outline that changes at the midpoint. Also, having a writing buddy to bounce ideas off is a lifesaver. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a “pure pantser” or “pure planner”; it’s the combination that works best, at least it does for me.
And if you’re stuck halfway through your draft, ask yourself: What’s the worst that could happen if I finish this story and it’s not perfect? Well, nothing bad happens. In fact, you might surprise yourself with how much you learn along the way. My NaNo draft was horrible. This rewrite was better. Who knows? Another draft might be better still, and that’s why it’s good to wait a bit before editing.
Stay Tuned for More Adventures!
If you’ve enjoyed following Aliki’s journey so far, stay tuned—there’s more to come. But be warned: I’m tinkering with a new serial fiction project involving interdimensional travel and an academy where realities collide.
I want to continue my online writing habit between novels, and this seems like a good option. Expect plenty of twists, humor, and characters who refuse to behave. More details coming soon—so keep an eye out!
And hey—if any part of this post resonated with you, drop a comment or shoot me a message. I’d love to hear about your own writing adventures!
