I have a process. It probably isn't great but it's what I use. I plan out my stories before I start writing them. Before I ever began writing Runesward, I knew how it was going to end. I almost always write the ending first.
Getting to the end is the exciting part for me. I know the ending, so finding a beginning and then writing the pieces that get me to the end is what I enjoy in writing a story.
The ending is NOT stagnant - the CONCLUSION is stanant, the story will end as it will end, but the details, the true ending, is not. As I give voices and personalities to the people who must get me there, they change details and perspectives about the ending I've written. I know what I need to get there... I just don't know how I'm going to get there.
Tome 1 was simple. It focused on getting my main character to the place I wanted him to start his journeys. Tome 1 was always meant to be the beginning - but he needed a reason to 'move'. The Red Guard were that reason.
When I dreamed up the Red Guard, they had to come from somewhere and they had to have a reason for entering Yren's life and a reason for Yren to have to 'move'. The reason complicated my life so much that there are times I wish I can go back and re-write the Red Guard out of existence (or, at least, Arlade Tinsto). I could've opted just to make the Empire the bad guys, the Red Guard invaded and so on. BUT... that wouldn't get me to the conclusion I had envisioned for this story.
Now, we're in Tome 2. Yren has to have a reason to continue the journey. He has to find a purpose. That's what Tome 2 is really about - and what Tome 3 will continue. Yren has a reason to 'move' but now he needs a purpose beyond that 'movement'. Something has to drive him.
I've received a lot of constructive criticism, most of it because we're 9 chapters into Tome 2 and Yren has yet to make an appearance. The problem is my effort to keep Tome 1 'simple'. Much of the pieces I need to put into play to get to the conclusion I purposefully kept out of Tome 1. Oh, I mucked with the Empire a bit because it was necessary, but there are pieces I needed to move that I probably should have started in Tome 1... but that would have left them flapping in the wind. I would have started them in motion but with no conclusion. I didn't want to do that.
I promise, Yren will return. His return begins in Chapter 38 and continues in Chapter 39 and 40.
Thank you for reading.