The Author’s Creative Process: From Idea to Final Work

Every book is born of a unique journey. My creative process—how I bring stories to life—is built on rigor, passion, and an uncompromising commitment to depth. For those curious about how a story travels from its first spark to the final page, I offer here a window into the method I follow, step by step.

1. Choosing the Theme and the Character: The First Encounter

Every project begins with the selection of a theme and, more importantly, a central character. Often, these characters find me before I find them—emerging from the gaps in history, from silences in the record, or from a fleeting moment of intuition. Choosing the right character involves extensive research, but also an emotional connection. A story is worth telling not only because it happened, but because it still matters.

2. Deep Historical Research

Once I’ve found the story’s heart, I immerse myself in historical research. I gather books, articles, documents—anything that can illuminate the world I intend to reconstruct. The more I read, the sharper the image becomes. This phase allows me to anchor the narrative in rich, authentic detail.

3. Organization: Spreadsheets and Systems

All collected materials are meticulously analyzed and organized into spreadsheets. I catalog key dates, events, cultural references, and historical figures. This framework helps prevent narrative blind spots and offers a structured foundation to build upon.

4. Shaping the Core: Social Relevance

At this point, I define the core pillars of the narrative. I believe stories must transcend the personal—they should offer insight, provoke questions, and engage with social themes. History is never neutral, and neither is storytelling.

5. Filling the Gaps: Research Challenges

Even the most exhaustive research has gaps. Some events were never documented—or were lost. These absences require me to get creative without sacrificing credibility. I search for letters, testimonies, or even minor references that can lend plausibility to scenes I must reconstruct.
Fiction enters not to distort history, but to bridge what history leaves unsaid. I build these imagined moments with scholarly caution, grounding them in historical evidence, conjecture from experts, or hints found in forgotten corners of the archive.

6. Seeking Additional and Unconventional Sources

Some details are too intimate for textbooks. I turn to personal correspondence, memoirs, and contemporary artifacts to add emotional truth to historical accuracy. At this stage, I also begin reaching out to scholars and experts through interviews, emails, or video calls.
These consultations enrich the work, particularly in three key areas:

• Scenography and period-accurate environments

• Cultural behavior and avoidance of anachronism

• Historical, social, and geographical fidelity in ambiguous episodes
  From these dialogues, more layers emerge: What did people eat? How did they speak, travel, dress, and dream? What did justice, honor, or race mean in their world? What voices were silenced, and which deserve to be heard today?

7. Building the Narrative Skeleton: A Linear Outline

Once the foundation is complete, I create a linear outline—an organogram—to visualize the story’s trajectory. Major events, turning points, and narrative flow are mapped out with clarity. But this structure remains flexible, always open to discovery.

8. Puzzle Assembly: Flashbacks or Chronology?

Here, I define how the story will be told: Should it unfold chronologically, or be shaped through memory and flashbacks? What should be the opening image? Where should the story end? These structural decisions profoundly shape the book’s emotional resonance.

9. Scene Planning: Writing Like Cinema

With the puzzle assembled, I begin scripting each scene as if it were a film. I envision the camera angles, sounds, colors, textures. I choreograph the environment and characters’ presence with care. This visual, almost cinematic method allows each scene to breathe with atmosphere and intentionality.

10. Dialogue: Giving Voice to the Past

Dialogue is where characters reveal themselves. I craft each conversation to be natural, yet reflective of the character’s historical and emotional context. Words must feel lived-in, authentic, and faithful to the time without sounding artificial.

11. Character Development: Body and Mind

Every major character is thoroughly developed—physically, psychologically, and emotionally. I create detailed character profiles that evolve over time, ensuring their actions remain coherent and meaningful within the arc of the story.

12. Writing: Scene by Scene

Then comes the writing itself. I approach each scene with care, honoring the planning while staying open to the unexpected. I write slowly, attuned to nuance, crafting each sentence with attention to rhythm and depth.

13. Revision: Weaving the Scenes Together

Once the draft is complete, I review the entire work, ensuring the scenes connect organically. I pay close attention to pacing and narrative cohesion, making sure that transitions feel natural and that nothing is out of place.

14. Literary Revision: Style, Flow, and Structure

The next round of editing focuses on style. I refine the prose, balance the rhythm, and ensure that the tone guides the reader seamlessly through the work. This is where the book begins to sing.

15. Historical and Character Consistency

A further revision focuses specifically on historical accuracy and character coherence. I revisit scenes and dialogue to eliminate any anachronisms or implausible behavior. I want every gesture, word, and decision to feel inevitable—and true to the world I’m recreating.

16. Final Polish: Grammar and Precision

Only after these layers of revision do I carry out the final proofreading—checking grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Every comma matters. The text must be impeccable before it reaches the reader’s hands.

Conclusion

This process reflects my commitment to storytelling that is not only historically grounded, but emotionally resonant. Each stage is crafted to ensure the narrative invites the reader not just to observe history—but to inhabit it.
Through meticulous research and creative discipline, I strive to offer a story that lingers long after the final page, connecting the silences of the past to the questions of our present.