Lauren Conrad on...
I always start my books by mapping out a detailed outline. This helps flesh out the story I want to tell—plot, characters and everything in between. Once the overarching story of the series is summarized, I break it down and do another outline for each book, focusing on each main character’s narrative arc. After I share the outline with my editor and get feedback, I begin writing—my favorite part of the process.
Huh. Well, you can tell she's used to dealing with press: The whole essay is comprised of sound bites.