InDesign workflow question for longer document (book)

Question

I'm new to Indesign and have read through the help topics and searched around but I can't seem to find an exact answer... I may be phrasing my question wrong.
I have a complete book in basic text (txt). What is the desired (or best in your experience) way to start work. In my mind I want to import the text as a whole, populate all pages, then I want to come back and format chapters and add images.
Everything I try doesn't support my idea (I am new to this software and I may just be approaching this incorrectly.) I also come from a different background and a different tool set so any advise would help.

Answer 1

To elaborate on Simon's answer, this is my workflow for straight-on books:
- Make a basic set of Master pages. You will need at least a single set with page numbering and, optionally, headings.
- Load all text. You will get lots and lots of pages, because it's still unformatted, but that's okay.
- I usually cut off front matter and put each item on a page of its own, so tiddling with it won't cause reflow of the entire document. You will need at least a title page and a reverse; "proper" books have a minor title page, a (c) page, a proper title page, and a blank. (Grab any one from your bookshelf that you like and copy its layout for these.) My first "true" flowing page is the first page of chapter 1. Remember to insert 2 pages (or perhaps more -- an even number) for a table of contents.
- Go through the main text from first to last page, applying basic formatting, paragraphs, subtitles, etc. -- the plain text works. Make and use paragraph styles for each unique format -- do not (or at least as possible!) apply local formatting. Use character styles for italics and bold in plain text.
- Go through the main text again, applying formatting to each new chapter. Insert page breaks (Odd Page Breaks for right-hand starting chapters) where appropriate. If you use Odd Page Breaks, insert them before
i every
new chapter (or use the "Break On Odd Page" Keep Option) -- i.e., not just when you seem to need one. It will change if you reformat or add picchers.
- Go through your text
i again,
this time adding all pictures, tables, etc. You can do the previous steps in any order you like, but this one must be done from front to back. If you have right hand chapters and the one before it has no text, make that one completely blank (i.e., remove header & page numbering).
- Tidy up the front matter and generate the contents.
- Remove the extra blanks at the end. These were the overspill from the plain text import.
- Sit back 'cause you're done!
As you see, your own ideas weren't bad at all.