Fay Messina

✨ Step 1: Inspiration on Pinterest

Pinterest is my visual brainstorming hub. Every project gets its own board filled with character aesthetics, moody landscapes, magical architecture, and outfit inspiration. It’s where the vibe of the story comes together.

I often start with images that make me feel something, an abandoned castle, a sword glinting under moonlight, or a torn letter in someone’s hand. From there, the story starts whispering.

Tip: Create separate sections for characters, settings, and moodboards. That way, when you hit a creative block, you can scroll through the visuals and reconnect with your world.

🎧 Step 2: Music That Moves the Muse (Spotify)

Once I have the story’s aesthetic, I build a Spotify playlist. Each major project gets one, sometimes multiple if the tone shifts.

For example, I’ll have a “Training Scene” playlist with dark, cinematic instrumentals and a “Romantic Tension” one filled with slow, haunting tracks. I write best when music becomes the emotional undercurrent of a scene.

Current go-tos:

• “Running with the Wolves” by AURORA
• “Arsonist’s Lullabye” by Hozier
• The WHOLE Life of a Show Girl album (and I’m not sorry)

🗺️ Step 3: Building the Story (Plottr)

When I’m ready to outline, I move into Plottr. It’s my go-to for structuring chapters, subplots, and arcs without getting lost in a sea of sticky notes.

I start with the Hero’s Journey or Romantasy Structure, then layer in key beats: inciting incident, midpoint shift, betrayal, and climax. I color-code character arcs and subplots, which keeps everything visually organized.

📜 Step 4: Writing the Draft (Scrivener)

Scrivener is where my actual writing happens. I love being able to split the screen between my outline and my draft, or drag-and-drop chapters when pacing needs tweaking.

Each chapter gets its own document, which makes editing far less overwhelming later.

☁️ Step 5: Editing and Collaboration (Google Docs)

Once I have a polished draft, I move everything into Google Docs for beta readers or editors. The commenting feature makes it easy for my team to leave feedback, and I can respond in real time.

It’s also my preferred tool for final pass edits, I love seeing progress tracked in suggestion mode (and it’s satisfying to accept all those green edits!).