I don't remember everything, but I remember what's important, I'd say. I *wish* I really really wish I could write fast enough to have everything fresh.
I use two tools for this.
The first is a timeline. I use Aeon Timeline to manage the events in the story across multiple characters. This keeps me from having different threads that put A before B or B before A depending on who was around... The sequencing helps. When I write what ends up as Chapter 35, but I do it after I've just written Chapter 10, I put it on the timeline and make sure I line up other characters and events at the right place in the right time.
For the specific "what did they know and when did they know it" or who said what to whom, I simply keep notes on each character. I write with Storyist, which has really nice Character Sheets, and I keep one for all of the interesting characters. I update them after each chapter with things like what they know, who they have met, how they are changing, etc. It makes for a really nice place to go back and check on the development items that I'm working on.
Good luck!
I know each of us will have their own method for this type of thing, and whatever works for you will be your own in the end.
However I've gone and looked at writing I did 10+ years ago and I have no recollection of writing any of it, and it's a really weird experience reading stuff that you don't remember writing.
Yes, it is. Books over a certain length are more expensive to print because the binding needs to be sewn instead of just glued. For an unknown, first-time author, that decrease in anticipated profit margin can make the difference between a publisher taking a gamble on publishing their book or deciding to pass on it. Big books need to be better books.The whole concept of "acceptable length" is really a publisher's limitation, not a reader's limitation.
You should look into a program called Scrivener. You can try it for free and a license is only 40 bucks which isn't bad as useful as it is.
I still haven't really tried Scrivener in depth, but my favorite thing about the program so far is this: the trial is for 30 days of actual use. Meaning, I used it last Monday and then I go to use it again this Monday and that's just two days out of my 30 day trial. So instead of having only 30 consecutive days to give it a spin from the moment I opened it the first time, I can dabble with it here and there between projects until I'm comfortable. A very cool move on their part!
Brian
Word 2013: $109.99 vs. Scrivener: $40.00
Word? You can type in it. And maybe make nice tables if needed? Good spell check, grammar check... eh.
Scrivener? Store multiple documents in an easy to read and