Tell Me Your Ways...with Rachel Pologe

Romance writer currently on SUB!

Google Rachel and you’ll come up with her very impressive IMDB page! Not only has she worked on some truly amazing shows, she’s also written a delighful book that I can’t wait to get my hands on! Read on to find out all about her process.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why do you find this the best way for you to write?

 I'm a pretty dedicated plotter. I think this comes from working in TV writers' rooms for the last nine years--in TV, you have to have extensive beat sheets and outlines before you go off to write the script, so my process for breaking stories in novels is pretty similar because that was how I came up. I usually end up with a 20-30 page outline before I start writing the book, although for two of the three manuscripts I've written, I've had to re-break the second half of the book partway through drafting. 

The book we're taking out on sub soon actually started as a feature film--I'd outlined it as a screenplay and wrote about three pages of that script before I realized that the characters were telling me this wasn't the right format for their story. At that point, I had to go back and figure out how the story beats changed as a novel (turns out, a lot!)

What does your drafting process look like? Do you write scenes in order?

 I mostly write in order, unless there's a scene that's really holding me up or that I'm scared to write--sometimes I'll skip and come back to it, but it really helps me keep track of where the characters are emotionally to draft in order. I do start out writing a bantery scene that rarely makes it into the book just to get a sense of their voices and dynamic. Sometimes this happens between finishing the outline and starting the manuscript, and sometimes if I'm getting stuck on the outline, it helps me figure out where they want to go. 

I've always thought I write a very rough first draft, but with my third manuscript, I started to realize that I really am editing and revising a ton as I go, so I think I need to reassess that image! The third book is still a mess in plenty of ways, but it did end up being a much cleaner draft than I thought it would be. 

I love Scrivener. The format just works well for my brain, even if it's not for everyone. I like that you can write essentially in scenes--that feels just like my TV background and helps keep me organized. When I'm drafting, I will usually try to write 2,000 words a day. Sometimes that doesn't always pan out, but that amount usually means I'll get into a groove at some point. 

Please walk us through a little of what your revision process looks like?

Years ago, Jasmine Guillory was doing a Q&A on Instagram, and shared the spreadsheet template she uses for her revisions--I've adapted that, and it's helped me a ton. The first time I go through the book, I just read and fill out that template--what's happening in each scene, the POV of both characters in this moment, what I want to cut or add (without doing so in this first round unless it's a glaring typo), and any other questions or issues that arise as I'm reading. Then I'll address the big story/emotional issues first, and go from there. 

How do you know when your story is done?

Only one of the three I've written has felt finished so far! By my last round of beta feedback on that one, I felt like I'd addressed everything that was necessary to the story I wanted to tell. But then, of course, when I got my edit letter from my agent on this manuscript (I'd gone through the whole querying process and then connected with her), she had a pretty substantial note I needed to implement, but I'm ultimately so much prouder of that version of the book now than the one I originally queried. 

How many beta readers do you typically have for a project? Does anyone read all the versions?

My husband is the first person to read everything I write. He's also a writer and even though he's not a romance reader, he always has good insight into story. I usually have 2-4 other beta readers, and recently started working with a critique partner, which has been a game changer.

What are you currently working on now?

We're currently getting my first manuscript (a second chance Hanukkah romance) ready to go out on sub*, and I've been getting notes from my CP on book 2 (a secret identity friends/idiots to lovers) that I'm implementing in revisions. Book 3 (a black cat/golden retriever failed one night stand turned marriage of convenience) is also drafted but I need to sit on that one for a while before diving into further revisions. 

Do you have a favorite book on the craft of writing?

I feel like I've learned the most from just reading compulsively in my genre. For me, the best way to learn the story beats and conventions is by diving in head first and feeling fully immersed that way.

Anything else you’d like to share? Where can we find you?

For those stuck in the querying trenches--I had all but shelved the book that got me my agent after querying it for ~10 months. I was working on getting the next manuscript ready to query when there was a pitch event on Twitter/X. I was very lucky to get a lot of agent likes on my pitch post, including the agent I ended up signing with. I'd pitched the same project at other Twitter events and never gotten an agent like--so you just never know how your path will shake out.

I'm rachelpologewrites on Instagram and rachelpologe on Twitter/X. 

*Rachel’s second chance Hanukkah romance is currently out on submission and is PERFECT for fans of Nobody Wants This.