3 Steps to Writing Your Masterpiece
Make a plan: You can write much faster if you have a plan
Presented to Sarasota Fiction Writers by Jack Massa, September 2026.
Introduction
This session is mainly about writing novels. Much of what we’ll talk about also applies to short fiction and even nonfiction narrative.
Plotters vs Pantsers: You may have heard these terms for two kinds of fiction writers. A Plotter plans everything out in detail first. A Pantser just sits down and writes (by the “seat of their pants.”)
My advice: Why not both?
1. Make a Plan: You can write much faster if you have a plan, a detailed plan
3 Books I’ve Found Helpful for planning (Discussion of each.)
Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver
2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron.
Save the Cat Writes a Novel, Jessica Brody.
2. Execute the plan: Write fast, follow the plan but change and revise the plan as you go along. (Constant back-and-forth between your creative imagination and the plan.)
3. Revise, Revise, Revise! Good writing is rewriting. Keep your eye on the reader and make changes to keep them involved.
Then, get feedback from critique partners/beta readers. (But remember every reader is different!)
Questions and discussion after each of the three parts.
Jack Massa Publishes Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction
Jack Massa has a BA from New College, Sarasota, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has published novels, short stories, poetry, and lots of nonfiction. Jack’s novel series include The Abby Renshaw Supernatural Mysteries (Young Adult paranormal fantasy set in Florida), The Glimnodd Cycle (epic fantasy featuring witches and ice-pirates), and the Conjurer of Rhodes (historical fantasy set in the ancient world). He served as VP of Sarasota Fiction Writers for several years. You can find Jack’s work online at triskelionbooks.com and speclectic.substack.com.
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