Category Archives: Author Diana Jackson

February 20, 2026 · 3:05 pm

Planning Book Promotion ~ Technology or Pen and Paper?

My last post looked at my process for writing a novel back in 2010 – 2013

This post is all about planning promotional activities and marketing.

Blog posts and other plans:

I must admit that I now think on my feet with blog posts. If I have a novel just published I tend to write a series on:

  • The research
  • The locations of the novel, real or imaginary
  • The characters (or those I missed out!)
  • Events, for example sales, book signings or book talks

Otherwise I have a monthly book review, occasional guest authors or anything which inspires or interests me in the book world at the moment.

While reminiscing through my box of notes, research, planning and first draft of my second book I was surprised to see how well I thought ahead and planned my blog posts way back in 2013:

Then even further back in 2010, not long after my first novel Riduna was published by Pegasus, I kept lists of notes regularly:

Even an old post its of personal and house matters too 🙂

I suppose this is a little quaint looking back.

Embracing the technical age

I promise that:

  • I have embraced IT for writing and editing now,
  • but also for scanning research docs. I use the internet for research as well as first source materials too, you’ll be please to know.
  • I keep spread sheets of contacts, possible events and outcomes,
  • and another spreadsheet page of research materials and sources,
  • with another spreadsheet page for a list of experts to request that they read through relevant extracts to give me feedback, to ensure my facts are as authentic as possible. I am indebted to such people who are so kind to give their time in this way.

…but I still use a book diary for recording events by hand too, including blog posts and for planning what to do in the next month.

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February 13, 2026 · 11:23 am

Interesting to look back! ~ Planning and Writing a Novel way back around 2010

In order to carry out the research for the third book in my Riduna Series, I needed to search out my old research notes carried out over 15 years ago. Research for my second novel, set in WW1 mainly in the Southampton area and The Channel Islands, was substantial, and continued way past the end of the book.

When I found the correct box, what astounded me was to discover that I did everything by hand first in those days. I thought you might like to go down memory lane with me too.

Examples of research pages:

It is imperative with historical fiction to carry out a substantial amount of research, and this takes me longer than writing the novel. I always scribble down copious notes but always include the source and author, if there is one. I researched from books, magazines, museum displays, newspaper articles, and of course talking to people …..

My trusty notebooks:

A Brief Chapter Outline:

For my murder mystery, MURDER Now and Then, I used post its for a time line too, to keep track of all the threads and to make sure they all came together at the end.

Chapters and Introduction of Characters:

Family Tree of Characters:

Here is an example page of my very rough first draft:

After that, I remember typing each chapter up before proof reading it a second time;

one of many.

Phew!

I was looking into using Scrivener the other day, which is supposed to organise all this for you on your PC. I have tried it once before, but this time I spent a day trying to get my head around it and decided I am a bit set in my ways. I’ll stick to using MS Word I think.

What do you think?

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January 23, 2026 · 11:22 am

New Year, New Resolutions to Make or Break!

Well, it is near the end of January. Here’s a review of where I am at with my writing projects:

Firstly, I have a completed manuscript which is currently under review by my first editors. Chapters have also been sent to a museum in London for comment and criticism.

    AIM for 2026 ~ publish this sequel to MISSING by the end of this year, telling the final story of Dot’s recovery from homelessness, but it is much, much more than that ….

    Secondly, I am beginning to carry out the research for the third in my Riduna Series. I carried out a great deal of the research for this novel between 2010 and 2013, when we moved to Fife. Much if it is notes scribbled by hand and so I am scanning through all of this to select the most important. I will tell you more about this process as the year progresses.

    AIM for 2026 ~ Once this is done I need to begin to plan and fill in the gaps and so I hope by the end of the year to have this novel underway. The writing to take place in the winter 2026/27.

    Thirdly, I am moving away from my huge commitments to Eventispress and focussing on my own writing life.

    AIM for 2026 ~ to be under less pressure and thus less stressed. To enjoy my writing life to the full, but also to relax in the other facets of my life too.

    So, that’s it folks! Have a good 2026 and let’s hope it is a more peaceful one.

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    Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Historical Fiction, MISSING Past and Present, Planning a novel, Proof Reading, Writing, Writing a novel

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