We’ve all been there. Mid-way through a novel, we draw a blank on a character’s hair color and realize that secondary character has been pregnant a little too long. So, how can we keep it all straight? I’m sharing what I do as we examine how to track timelines and characters.

As with most writing “advice,” take this as a starting point for your own methods. I will share what I’ve done with four different types of projects. What works for me may drive you crazy.

Some of the information I tracked with my book Any Good Thing may not be necessary for your book. You may prefer Excel over Word or might find index cards a huge nuisance. In other words, here’s what I did; but I want to hear what you end up doing because it will likely be different!