Work in Progress Notebook - Jeannie Ruesch

For writers

Every book has details.

And every writer, no matter how you write, has to keep track of them. You don’t need fancy software. This Work In Progress Notebook is the place to hold everything you need to work on your novel.

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Every writer can relate

Raise your hand if you’ve ever forgotten the eye color of one of your characters.

CharacterEye color

CharacterHair

CharacterTheir mother’s name

PlotThe plot twists you added

CastSecondary characters

PlotThe details you changed

One placeThe Notebook

I have more times than I can count, which is why I created this writer’s notebook. Whatever your writing process, we all have one universal need: to keep the details handy and organized.

The WIP Notebook replaces that ever-growing pile of papers, notebooks, notes, sticky notes and random napkins you find to jot down details so you don’t forget. Use it to help you build your story, or use it to write down as you go all those pesky details. This is your go-to bible for all things Your Story.

What’s inside

Worksheets and prompts for everything.

01Work-in-Progress Specs

One page for the vitals of your book: titles, word count, genre, your draft and edit dates, and your agent, publisher, editor and debut date.

02Characters

In-depth profiles for your hero and heroine, shorter profiles for secondary characters and bit players, plus a character list and family trees.

Page from the hero and heroine character template

03Setting

Lined pages for each place in your book, so you describe it once and can find it again.

04Plot

Theme, summary, opening scene, the first meeting, turning points, the black moment, resolutions and the happily-ever-after, each with a prompt to get you writing.

The plot section, with theme and opening scene

05Chapter Breakdown

Room to note what happens in each chapter, for up to 40 chapters.

06Polishing & Editing Checklist

Manuscript format and basics, then checklists for characterization, plot, and story and scene, so you edit with a plan.

The characterization and plot editing checklist

07Submissions

A guide to what goes in a fiction proposal, plus trackers for every agent and editor you send to: date sent, items sent, reply and follow-up.

What if I’m a pantser?

But… I don’t outline.

The Work In Progress Notebook isn’t about how you write, it’s about how you organize what you write.

So how will you know if this is for you?

If you’ve ever forgotten the color of your character’s eyes. Or hair. Or their mother’s name.

If you’ve ever needed to read back through the book to remember the plot twists you added.

If you can’t recall the names of your secondary characters.

If you have post-it notes all over the place with various details.

If you are trying to keep up with Nanowrimo.

If you change details as you write.

What writers say

“It is by far one of the best project notebooks I have ever seen.”

I purchased a copy of this Work In Progress Notebook a year ago to help me organize my thoughts on the manuscript that I was writing. Ms. Ruesch does a fantastic job of giving you a place to put all of your random thoughts about your WIP and keeps all of your project in one place! Two thumbs up!

Valerie Oakleaf · Amazon reviewer

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