The joy of index cards and post-its

So, right now I am busy.
I mean very, very busy!
Then, what are you doing writing a blog post, you may ask. Why aren't you busy being busy?
Good question. Please don't mention this to my editor. I'm just taking a short rest.

Here is what I am busy doing:


This is a picture of my novel as it looks when I write out a short summary of each chapter on an index card and chart it on a posterboard to look at the pacing of the book in a three act structure:


This is a picture of my novel as it looks when I realize the pacing is off and I must rearrange and condense the end and expand the beginning and generally do a lot of work:


Gulp.

I think my rest had better end.