Tuesday, April 7, 2009

how do you write a book?

How to write a book? This seems to be the question I get most often when interviewed. It's also a hard question to answer, but I'm gonna be a big girl and try. First of all, I don't think any writer writes with the same method. Most of us are divided into plotters or pantsers. You know, meticilous plotting as against writing by the seat of your pants. I'm a combination of the two. I generally have the first two or three chapters in mind and get that set down pretty quickly. Then things get tough. I have to think of what else these two people are going to do. You and I both know they're going to end up in bed together, not just once but hopefully for life, but you can't make it too easy. They generally start out far apart and you have to get them together in spite of all the obstacles. And the more obstacles the better. You have to throw every roadblock you can think of directly in their reluctant paths, and then work them through it. Somehow.
I once asked Mary Balogh, one of my favorite writers, if she ever got stuck in the dreaded middle of the book. Usually I know the beginning and the ending, it's the middle that gives me fits. Her answer was simple..'make it worse'. That generally gets me over the hump and writing again. Although sometimes I make it so bad for my romantic pair I stay awake trying to figure out what the hell to do now.

I have a good friend who sends me quotes of the day from authors. She sent me one I've discovered is very true. Sometimes a character starts telling me what he's doing and practically walks up to me shaking his finger so I'll listen. When that happens I've learned to do what the bully says. Sometimes he tries to take over the book, and you have to listen.Here's a quote from William Faulkner. "It begins with character,usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along with a paper and a pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does." That doesn't happen often to me, but when it does it's pure joy to know you've created a living character..

Another good quote, this one from Robert Frost. "no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." If I don't choke up ocassionally I know I haven't written the book I want. You've really got to feel what you're writing to make it come across. If your love scenes don't hot you up they simply aren't working.

And now one last quote, this one from Alexander Pope. "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. As those move easier who have learned to dance." So the best thing is simply to write and write. Learn to dance. Even when you're in some kind of slump. Force yourself to write, and then throw it out if it's no good. At least you're writing.

What have I missed? Do comment and tell me your own thoughts on writing.

9 comments:

Anny Cook said...

You've summed up writing in a most delightful manner. Oh, to have a bossy character who insists on telling his or her story!

jean hart stewart said...

Thanks,Anny. I'm sure some of your characters have dictated to you, yours are all so real...

Mona Risk said...

Jean, I like your post. I write pretty much as you do. I usually have the beginning well set in my head, then I put an outline for the whole story and try to follow it, but my characters often take me in different directions and I stop to update the outline and make sure everything flows well. I also got into the habit of analyzing my stories, chapter by chapter, to make sure I have the right amount of emotion, action, dialogue, sensual tension and sensorial, strong hooks at the end of each scene, and that the setting is different in each scene.

Solange Ayre said...

Jean, what a terrific post. I usually start with a general idea of what I want to write and then wait for the characters to sort of "materialize." Once I think of their names or find a picture of one of them, it helps me a lot.

I think the greatest joy in writing is when the characters do or say things that surprise the author.

jean hart stewart said...

Mona, you're more thorough than I am then. going chapter by chapter would drive me bonkers. I generally do a general draft of about five chapter at a time to make good turning points and then take off. Thanks for commenting.....Jean

jean hart stewart said...

Solange, thanks for your post. I hadn't realized till you said it how important the character's names are to me. I don't know them till they're names.

Julia Barrett said...

What an amazing post! My characters are definitely the boss of me - they so tell me what they are going to do and say and I have to make my little typing fingers move as fast as they can in order to keep up with them. Wonderful quotes. Thanks.

jean hart stewart said...

Julis, what a wonderful response. I must say I've been thinking about this post a long time, so am glad it hit a few good notes. Thank you..

Anita Birt said...

Here I am, a day late, but here. I am trying something new. During my husband's last illness I wrote nothing of consequence. After he passed away I lost my creative muse - until a dear friend gave me a set of books and writing prompts. That got me started. I'm writing a 10,000 word story for Gothic Writers and having fun. I find if I stop to think I lose my way. I'm letting the story happen and will revise when the time comes. Thanks for the interesting post.