How Play Can Help You Write a Better Novel, with Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Send us a text! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the show. An outline doesn’t have to limit your creativity. It can give you the freedom to explore your story without losing your way. In this episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, I’m joined by award-winning Canadian author Gail Anderson-Dargatz to talk about her new novel, The Atlas Keeper, and the writing process behind this complex time travel romance. Gail has written across genres, from literary fiction and domestic thrillers to hi-lo books and speculative fiction. Her novels include The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees, The Spawning Grounds, The Almost Wife, and The Almost Widow.  With The Atlas Keeper, she gave herself permission to follow a longtime love of time travel stories and simply play. That sense of play is at the heart of our conversation. Gail shares how the idea for the novel began with a question: What would a map of someone’s life look like?  With help from her husband, a GIS analyst with an interest in astrology, she developed an intricate structure based on a lunar month, the twelve astrological houses, and a character who can visit different moments in her own life. Writing a story with so many moving pieces required a clear map. Gail explains how she begins with a synopsis, moves into an outline, and then creates a chapter-by-chapter plan. At the same time, she writes snippets of scenes and allows room for discovery. Her process offers a helpful reminder for writers who worry that outlining will take the magic out of writing. The outline is not a cage. It is a guide you can adjust as the story develops. We also talk about what literary writers can learn from genre fiction. Whether you are writing literary fiction, romance, suspense, or fantasy, your character still needs a goal. Something must stand in their way. The reader needs a reason to keep turning the pages. Gail also opens up about reaching a stage in her career where she is less concerned about awards and expectations and more interested in enjoying the act of creation. After experiencing burnout, she found her way back to the pleasure of writing by exploring new genres and remembering why she started. This episode is a warm and honest conversation about outlining a novel, experimenting with genre, staying curious, and making writing feel playful again. Listen now to discover how structure can support creativity, why writers benefit from trying new genres, and how finding the fun in your process can lead to a stronger book.