How to write the first draft of a novel

So, I have the idea and I have the location. I might even have the victim. I certainly don't have the killer or the plot. I put the idea, location and victim in a circle and I ask myself open questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how? I don't have all the answers, in fact I have very few. I do some research, and some more thinking, and gradually I begin to answer some of those questions.

This begins to form a loose outline of a plot. I draw up a plot line, which is very sketchy to begin with and might only be the first three or four chapters. I've created some characters, aside that is from the usual cast of characters who appear in the Inspector Andy Horton crime novels, the Art Marvik mystery thrillers and my 1950s set Inspector Ryga mysteries. Then I start the creative writing process as soon as I can and direct on to my computer.

The grammar and punctuation in this first draft leaves a lot to be desired but that is something that can be corrected later.

It's a tricky business keeping track of it all, which is where the plot lines, or storyboard, come in handy. I also keep a running check of what is happening in each chapter. I will keep a record of the chapter page numbers, the setting, who appears in each chapter and the action. In addition, on the left hand side of the page are the factual details, for example the times of sunset and sunrise; the times of the tides and whether it is high or low water, essential information as my novels are all set against the backdrop of the sea.

As I write this first draft I will also flag up questions that at some point need to be answered, this might be connected with research or it might be why X has said something and gone somewhere, or why Y has done this or that. All these questions I keep a list of, knowing that as I work my way through the novel they will need to be answered.