Ask the Author: Susan May
Answered Questions (18)
Susan May
Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Yes, it's a pretty creepy story right. I really enjoyed writing that one. I hope you like the other stories. Do write and let me know. :)
Susan May
Hi,
No, sorry, I haven't. Will do. Thank you. Lots of singers and bands down here, as you know. :)
No, sorry, I haven't. Will do. Thank you. Lots of singers and bands down here, as you know. :)
Susan May
Hi Kristie,
Thanks for reading my book and your question. It's actually Best Seller you're referring to but that's okay because I have another book called Deadly Messengers, so easy to get confused. :)
The book was meant to be only about William and to be a novella (not too long) but my husband thought William's rants in the beginning, whilst entertaining, were too much, so he suggested I add another character to alternate between William and the new character.
They (Nem) were only meant to be in the book for about three or four chapters. However, like most characters of mine, she had a story to tell and wanted to be a bigger part of the book.
So that's how they came to be. But I did set out to make readers second-guess who they empathized with and that somewhere in the middle you would start to swap your emotions for each characters. I thought that would be fun.
Kristie, I'm not sure if you are in my Facebook group but I've done a recent Facebook Live video talking about Best Seller. You might like to join us and take a look. It's a fun group too. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Reade...
Thank you so much for your question. :)
Thanks for reading my book and your question. It's actually Best Seller you're referring to but that's okay because I have another book called Deadly Messengers, so easy to get confused. :)
The book was meant to be only about William and to be a novella (not too long) but my husband thought William's rants in the beginning, whilst entertaining, were too much, so he suggested I add another character to alternate between William and the new character.
They (Nem) were only meant to be in the book for about three or four chapters. However, like most characters of mine, she had a story to tell and wanted to be a bigger part of the book.
So that's how they came to be. But I did set out to make readers second-guess who they empathized with and that somewhere in the middle you would start to swap your emotions for each characters. I thought that would be fun.
Kristie, I'm not sure if you are in my Facebook group but I've done a recent Facebook Live video talking about Best Seller. You might like to join us and take a look. It's a fun group too. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Reade...
Thank you so much for your question. :)
Susan May
Hi Lily,
Thanks for asking. I wish my book was in Spanish, but alas not at the moment. I have had an offer to translate into Spanish but we are still working on that.
If you would like to stay up to date with releases and releases in foreign languages, please join my Wonderful Readers' Club at http://www.susanmaywriter.net/free-books
Watch this space Lily!
Susan
Thanks for asking. I wish my book was in Spanish, but alas not at the moment. I have had an offer to translate into Spanish but we are still working on that.
If you would like to stay up to date with releases and releases in foreign languages, please join my Wonderful Readers' Club at http://www.susanmaywriter.net/free-books
Watch this space Lily!
Susan
Susan May
Thanks B.M. for the question. Immediately I think of Harlan Coben. In fact, I was reading one of his books when writing Deadly Messengers, so I think a little flavor filtered in there from his writing.
I used to love Patricia Cornwall years ago but her books are so same 'ol, same 'ol now that I haven't picked one up since Port Mortuary. Strangely though, I don't read a lot of crime books now I think about it. I much prefer suspense and hard science fiction, although I haven't read many good sci-fi books lately.
A new author I would recommend is Caroline Kepnes. Her first book YOU was something pretty amazing, although the language is tough to get used to (a lot of swearing), but really fantastic book. I didn't love the follow on Hidden Bodies but it was still a solid 4/5 from me.
Of course, my great inspiration is Stephen King. He guarantees an unusual perspective on stories and I admire that he always comes up with something new.
Thanks for a great question.
I used to love Patricia Cornwall years ago but her books are so same 'ol, same 'ol now that I haven't picked one up since Port Mortuary. Strangely though, I don't read a lot of crime books now I think about it. I much prefer suspense and hard science fiction, although I haven't read many good sci-fi books lately.
A new author I would recommend is Caroline Kepnes. Her first book YOU was something pretty amazing, although the language is tough to get used to (a lot of swearing), but really fantastic book. I didn't love the follow on Hidden Bodies but it was still a solid 4/5 from me.
Of course, my great inspiration is Stephen King. He guarantees an unusual perspective on stories and I admire that he always comes up with something new.
Thanks for a great question.
Susan May
Christy,
I sent you an email in reply to your email and then I mailed the books separately. I just checked and the email with the books definitely went.
Can you check your spam folder and see if the emails are in there?
Susan.
I sent you an email in reply to your email and then I mailed the books separately. I just checked and the email with the books definitely went.
Can you check your spam folder and see if the emails are in there?
Susan.
Susan May
Hi Janna Jane,
I'm sorry, I thought I'd answered this. No, nothing wrong. Artistic licence. It's meant to be short. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the book. :)
Susan May
I'm sorry, I thought I'd answered this. No, nothing wrong. Artistic licence. It's meant to be short. I hope you enjoyed the rest of the book. :)
Susan May
Susan May
Hi Linda,
I think you are asking "Is that the complete chapter?" Yes, it is. It is introducing the antagonist - the baddy. Keep reading, all will be revealed.
Thanks for reading, too. :)
I think you are asking "Is that the complete chapter?" Yes, it is. It is introducing the antagonist - the baddy. Keep reading, all will be revealed.
Thanks for reading, too. :)
Susan May
Hi Kevan, No problem, it is on its way to you. :)
Susan May
Hi Rick, Can you please message me your email and I am very happy to send the book to you.
Susan May
Hi Jan,
Thank you for the question and I apologise for the delay. I've been busy with all this promotion for Deadly Messengers.
I’m returning to the type of story I normally write, which is a dark thriller a la Stephen King and Dean Koontz. The next book THE TROUBLES KEEPER will be out in February or March, 2016, and ready for early readers in January.
I’m in the middle of second edits (which I really don't enjoy ... its where I have to fix up all the terrible writing from the first draft), and it will be off to my editor in early December. It’s a good reason for anyone reading this interview to join my mailing list, as I always offer early reviewer copies to those on my list. Here is the link for that: Susan May Wonderful Readers Club. http://www.susanmaywriter.com/p/loadi...
After THE TROUBLES KEEPER, my next book is going to be an alien invasion story but with a twist. It will be written from the point of view of many characters and told via a forum post format. It’s called The Invasion Forums. I’ll start that in December, while The Troubles Keeper is with my editor. I usually write the first draft of the next book while my previous book is at the editors. So once I’ve finished a book ready for publishing, I go on with the second edits of the draft I've done. I always have something to work on. I’m a factory.
Here is a very early blurb on The Troubles Keeper. I hate writing a synopsis. It’s the hardest part of the book. There will probably be about 50 variations on this until I am reasonably happy, but since you ask:
Rory Fine is an amiable bus driver who spares people from their troubles, one touch at a time. Small worries, heavy hearts, broken souls, all benefit from his magic touch. He spends his time trouble keeping and hoping one day he’ll gain the courage to talk to Mariana, a beautiful passenger on his bus route.
The Trepan Killer doesn’t kill for fun. He doesn’t kill out of need. He’s a serial killer of a whole other kind, searching for a doorway to another world. He’s finally found the victim he needs, but capturing her might not be as easy as the others.
It’s a game of cat and mouse between good and evil, where the enemy has no rules and the world’s emotional balance might be changed forever. Despite his special ability, Rory Fine is ill prepared to be a hero who saves anyone, let alone the world. If he can’t find and stop the most frightening killer imaginable, the girl he loves might be the price he pays.
Thank you for the question and I apologise for the delay. I've been busy with all this promotion for Deadly Messengers.
I’m returning to the type of story I normally write, which is a dark thriller a la Stephen King and Dean Koontz. The next book THE TROUBLES KEEPER will be out in February or March, 2016, and ready for early readers in January.
I’m in the middle of second edits (which I really don't enjoy ... its where I have to fix up all the terrible writing from the first draft), and it will be off to my editor in early December. It’s a good reason for anyone reading this interview to join my mailing list, as I always offer early reviewer copies to those on my list. Here is the link for that: Susan May Wonderful Readers Club. http://www.susanmaywriter.com/p/loadi...
After THE TROUBLES KEEPER, my next book is going to be an alien invasion story but with a twist. It will be written from the point of view of many characters and told via a forum post format. It’s called The Invasion Forums. I’ll start that in December, while The Troubles Keeper is with my editor. I usually write the first draft of the next book while my previous book is at the editors. So once I’ve finished a book ready for publishing, I go on with the second edits of the draft I've done. I always have something to work on. I’m a factory.
Here is a very early blurb on The Troubles Keeper. I hate writing a synopsis. It’s the hardest part of the book. There will probably be about 50 variations on this until I am reasonably happy, but since you ask:
Rory Fine is an amiable bus driver who spares people from their troubles, one touch at a time. Small worries, heavy hearts, broken souls, all benefit from his magic touch. He spends his time trouble keeping and hoping one day he’ll gain the courage to talk to Mariana, a beautiful passenger on his bus route.
The Trepan Killer doesn’t kill for fun. He doesn’t kill out of need. He’s a serial killer of a whole other kind, searching for a doorway to another world. He’s finally found the victim he needs, but capturing her might not be as easy as the others.
It’s a game of cat and mouse between good and evil, where the enemy has no rules and the world’s emotional balance might be changed forever. Despite his special ability, Rory Fine is ill prepared to be a hero who saves anyone, let alone the world. If he can’t find and stop the most frightening killer imaginable, the girl he loves might be the price he pays.
Susan May
Thanks, Sue, you are my kind of reader!!!
I love a story that keeps me guessing, too. It's very hard when you're a writer because you are never able to read your books the way a reader experiences them. You know what's going to happen. So you miss out on the thriller mystery part.
However, I'm what you call a panster, so I don't plot my books, therefore, I don't know everything that's going to happen until it comes upon me. A scary way to write, but it also keeps it interesting.
In both my books Back Again and Deadly Messengers, I was as much in the dark as the reader for a fair way into the story, and I was certainly guessing as hard as I could, lol. It's also a messy way to write, because I then have to go back in the edits and make everything align with what I learn as I write. Stephen King famously writes this way.
So, yes, I think if you like a story that will keep you guessing then I think you would enjoy my stories. In fact, the most common comment on reviews of Deadly Messengers has been that readers couldn't put the book down until they found out what was happening. It's more a 'how dunnit' than a 'whodunnit'. Half way through the book I purposely let readers know for sure who the bad guy is, but you won't find out the how until near the end.
Thanks for your question, I really appreciate your interest.
I love a story that keeps me guessing, too. It's very hard when you're a writer because you are never able to read your books the way a reader experiences them. You know what's going to happen. So you miss out on the thriller mystery part.
However, I'm what you call a panster, so I don't plot my books, therefore, I don't know everything that's going to happen until it comes upon me. A scary way to write, but it also keeps it interesting.
In both my books Back Again and Deadly Messengers, I was as much in the dark as the reader for a fair way into the story, and I was certainly guessing as hard as I could, lol. It's also a messy way to write, because I then have to go back in the edits and make everything align with what I learn as I write. Stephen King famously writes this way.
So, yes, I think if you like a story that will keep you guessing then I think you would enjoy my stories. In fact, the most common comment on reviews of Deadly Messengers has been that readers couldn't put the book down until they found out what was happening. It's more a 'how dunnit' than a 'whodunnit'. Half way through the book I purposely let readers know for sure who the bad guy is, but you won't find out the how until near the end.
Thanks for your question, I really appreciate your interest.
Susan May
Thanks for the question, Vanessa.
You know Deadly Messengers is like everything else I write in a way ... it's nothing like anything I've written before. lol. I've written dozens of short stories and novellas and now two novels.
I write in the dark thriller genre, but cross through many sub-genres, kinda like Stephen King. So my previous book was about a mom who time travels to save her son. This is a crime horror book about mass killers, the next book in second edits is about a guy who can take people's troubles away with a mere touch, The Troubles Keeper. the book after that is about an alien invasion but written as if you are reading forums with the stories placed there by survivors, called the Invasion Forums or I-Forums. All different.
All I want is for people to take away that for a few hours they've been entertained. I don't ever set out to teach or preach, but merely tell a story. However it seems to me that somehow through the process, usually on the third edit, I see that there are some lessons contained within the story and I tease those out a little more.
Ultimately, though, I'm a storyteller and I just want people to have fun. When I hear readers tell me they can't put Deadly Messengers down, well, that's just music to my ears.
Great question, thank you.
You know Deadly Messengers is like everything else I write in a way ... it's nothing like anything I've written before. lol. I've written dozens of short stories and novellas and now two novels.
I write in the dark thriller genre, but cross through many sub-genres, kinda like Stephen King. So my previous book was about a mom who time travels to save her son. This is a crime horror book about mass killers, the next book in second edits is about a guy who can take people's troubles away with a mere touch, The Troubles Keeper. the book after that is about an alien invasion but written as if you are reading forums with the stories placed there by survivors, called the Invasion Forums or I-Forums. All different.
All I want is for people to take away that for a few hours they've been entertained. I don't ever set out to teach or preach, but merely tell a story. However it seems to me that somehow through the process, usually on the third edit, I see that there are some lessons contained within the story and I tease those out a little more.
Ultimately, though, I'm a storyteller and I just want people to have fun. When I hear readers tell me they can't put Deadly Messengers down, well, that's just music to my ears.
Great question, thank you.
Susan May
Thanks for asking that here, Jason.
Okay, so history lesson here on Susan May writing quickly ...
Five years ago when I decided I would take this writing thing seriously, I decided the only way to do it was to write every day. So I set myself the task of writing one page a day no matter what. That 250 to 300 words took me ages. I felt sweat behind my eyeballs. Maybe an hour to an hour and a half to write. I have two full finished books that will never see the light of day from those couple of years. But also about 25 short stories, some of them award winners and some yet to be published, but fully edited ready to go.
It did one important thing, it built my writing muscles and commitment. So after about 3 months I could write a little faster and I didn't have to write every day to feel the need to go back and write. Sometimes you can stop and never start again. We've all been there.
Gradually I got faster, just naturally, but I still hadn't learned how to write a novel. You learn how to do it, I believe. Then you have a belief that it is in your power to write a novel at will.
About 18 months ago I wrote a short story called Back Again for an anthology that didn't go ahead. When I had it edited, my editor told me she loved it. Then a few days later she wrote and said, "You know, I think there's a book in that story. If you write it I will send it to an agent I know."
I thought there was a book in there, too, but how do you turn a short story into a book? There were dangly bits that a short story allows you to ignore. So I told myself, you've got one month. Whatever you get in one month will tell you if you have a book. You're not allowed to waste any more time on it.
So I set up a spreadsheet to keep track so that I would know if I could reach the goal of writing a 75,000 word draft (I had 12,000 base from the original story) An aside here, the original story is in the middle of the book with bits scattered throughout. So it wasn't a matter of writing from where I'd started. I had to create a history for the characters and then go past the ending of the story to show what happened.
28 days later, I had a book. That's when I realised that books don't take years to write (not for me anyway). Of course it went through four drafts and an edit by my editor (who loved it by the way). Then a proof read. So maybe 6 edits in total. Those edits I also put into my spreadsheet, so I could see how long each edit would take and get an idea how quickly I could have a book ready for publishing. Total time was about four months.
While the book was at the editors, I thought, right, now, was that a fluke? I'd better write something quickly to see if I can do it again. Thus Deadly Messengers took 27 days to draft and that was from no planning. I just thought I want to write a bunch of mass killings from the perspective of the killers.
I'm very lucky, the stories come together. My characters are very agreeable. They tell me what to do. Then when I get stuck occasionally, the muse finds a way to get the message through. You'll have to read Deadly Messengers and my author's note at the end to discover the uncanny and very weird ways the muse works.
So now I write quickly with a system, because that's how I write. It doesn't feel tough for me to write 2000 words a day in a draft, because my mind knows that I can do it. That 2000 words probably takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The editing sometimes takes longer, because I have to think about things that aren't working, rework sentences and actually do some research.
I don't go back on a draft. I go forward. I bank words every day. That is my pure goal. Even if I think they are garbage. I can fix garbage. I can't fix blank pages. I've learned not to judge drafts or even second edits.
Deadly Messengers and Back Again, both of which are receiving fantastic reviews, were as far as I was concerned in 2nd edits, absolute disasters. Its in the 3rd edit that I see I might have something worthy of readers.
I believe, and Stephen King said this in Danse Macabre, a non fiction book he wrote about thirty years ago, that when you write every day you build muscles. This is true, my writing muscles are quite large these days and I exercise them constantly, every day almost. And I keep learning.
Then I do believe if you have the courage to turn up and write even when you don't want to, even when you have no story, even when you are falling asleep at the keyboard, then the muse is watching, and they decide you are worthy. Even on days when you don't feel worthy.
Here's a blog post I wrote on writing a book in 30 days. My spreadsheet is in there. You can click through to it: http://www.susanmaywriter.com/2014/11...
and here is the blog post on when I wrote Back Again the short story and how I stole time to write it in a week in between everything else that I do, including film reviews, family stuff, and speaking at a writer's festival and delivering a 3 hour seminar. Oh, and did I mention, I am superwoman, by the way. lol
http://www.susanmaywriter.com/2014/03...
If anyone is interested in how these books turned out, here is the link to Back Again: http://amzn.com/B00P10J7HG
and Deadly Messengers: http://amzn.com/B01431LVOK
Thanks, Jason for such a great question.
Okay, so history lesson here on Susan May writing quickly ...
Five years ago when I decided I would take this writing thing seriously, I decided the only way to do it was to write every day. So I set myself the task of writing one page a day no matter what. That 250 to 300 words took me ages. I felt sweat behind my eyeballs. Maybe an hour to an hour and a half to write. I have two full finished books that will never see the light of day from those couple of years. But also about 25 short stories, some of them award winners and some yet to be published, but fully edited ready to go.
It did one important thing, it built my writing muscles and commitment. So after about 3 months I could write a little faster and I didn't have to write every day to feel the need to go back and write. Sometimes you can stop and never start again. We've all been there.
Gradually I got faster, just naturally, but I still hadn't learned how to write a novel. You learn how to do it, I believe. Then you have a belief that it is in your power to write a novel at will.
About 18 months ago I wrote a short story called Back Again for an anthology that didn't go ahead. When I had it edited, my editor told me she loved it. Then a few days later she wrote and said, "You know, I think there's a book in that story. If you write it I will send it to an agent I know."
I thought there was a book in there, too, but how do you turn a short story into a book? There were dangly bits that a short story allows you to ignore. So I told myself, you've got one month. Whatever you get in one month will tell you if you have a book. You're not allowed to waste any more time on it.
So I set up a spreadsheet to keep track so that I would know if I could reach the goal of writing a 75,000 word draft (I had 12,000 base from the original story) An aside here, the original story is in the middle of the book with bits scattered throughout. So it wasn't a matter of writing from where I'd started. I had to create a history for the characters and then go past the ending of the story to show what happened.
28 days later, I had a book. That's when I realised that books don't take years to write (not for me anyway). Of course it went through four drafts and an edit by my editor (who loved it by the way). Then a proof read. So maybe 6 edits in total. Those edits I also put into my spreadsheet, so I could see how long each edit would take and get an idea how quickly I could have a book ready for publishing. Total time was about four months.
While the book was at the editors, I thought, right, now, was that a fluke? I'd better write something quickly to see if I can do it again. Thus Deadly Messengers took 27 days to draft and that was from no planning. I just thought I want to write a bunch of mass killings from the perspective of the killers.
I'm very lucky, the stories come together. My characters are very agreeable. They tell me what to do. Then when I get stuck occasionally, the muse finds a way to get the message through. You'll have to read Deadly Messengers and my author's note at the end to discover the uncanny and very weird ways the muse works.
So now I write quickly with a system, because that's how I write. It doesn't feel tough for me to write 2000 words a day in a draft, because my mind knows that I can do it. That 2000 words probably takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The editing sometimes takes longer, because I have to think about things that aren't working, rework sentences and actually do some research.
I don't go back on a draft. I go forward. I bank words every day. That is my pure goal. Even if I think they are garbage. I can fix garbage. I can't fix blank pages. I've learned not to judge drafts or even second edits.
Deadly Messengers and Back Again, both of which are receiving fantastic reviews, were as far as I was concerned in 2nd edits, absolute disasters. Its in the 3rd edit that I see I might have something worthy of readers.
I believe, and Stephen King said this in Danse Macabre, a non fiction book he wrote about thirty years ago, that when you write every day you build muscles. This is true, my writing muscles are quite large these days and I exercise them constantly, every day almost. And I keep learning.
Then I do believe if you have the courage to turn up and write even when you don't want to, even when you have no story, even when you are falling asleep at the keyboard, then the muse is watching, and they decide you are worthy. Even on days when you don't feel worthy.
Here's a blog post I wrote on writing a book in 30 days. My spreadsheet is in there. You can click through to it: http://www.susanmaywriter.com/2014/11...
and here is the blog post on when I wrote Back Again the short story and how I stole time to write it in a week in between everything else that I do, including film reviews, family stuff, and speaking at a writer's festival and delivering a 3 hour seminar. Oh, and did I mention, I am superwoman, by the way. lol
http://www.susanmaywriter.com/2014/03...
If anyone is interested in how these books turned out, here is the link to Back Again: http://amzn.com/B00P10J7HG
and Deadly Messengers: http://amzn.com/B01431LVOK
Thanks, Jason for such a great question.
Susan May
Thanks for the question, Vanessa.
I think a good storyline is anything that captures your imagination. If it's a good storyline then it doesn't matter if the writing isn't brilliant. Think The Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown. Famously not well written, but who of us readers could put it down. I will never forget reading that book everywhere I could.
A good storyline in a thriller needs to have dangling threads that will be solved further down the track. If you get the dangling threads right, then readers can't stop turning the pages.
I try and dangle a few threads all the way through. In Deadly Messengers just when you think you've got the whole thing worked out, ah, ah, ah, there's the howdunnit to solve. Then it becomes a different book and a good ride, I hope.
But, Vanessa, what I consider a good storyline might be different to someone else. It's all subjective. I love fast paced, immersive stories with rich characters, so that's what I try to write. If you can get something original in there, mores the better.
When I was fourteen and writing a fiction essay for school, I asked my mom how to write a good one (she wasn't a writer, by the way). She gave me the best advice that I still hold dear now. She said, "Imagine what everyone else will write and then write something completely different."
So that is probably the magic ingredient to a great storyline. Something you've never read or seen before.
I think a good storyline is anything that captures your imagination. If it's a good storyline then it doesn't matter if the writing isn't brilliant. Think The Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown. Famously not well written, but who of us readers could put it down. I will never forget reading that book everywhere I could.
A good storyline in a thriller needs to have dangling threads that will be solved further down the track. If you get the dangling threads right, then readers can't stop turning the pages.
I try and dangle a few threads all the way through. In Deadly Messengers just when you think you've got the whole thing worked out, ah, ah, ah, there's the howdunnit to solve. Then it becomes a different book and a good ride, I hope.
But, Vanessa, what I consider a good storyline might be different to someone else. It's all subjective. I love fast paced, immersive stories with rich characters, so that's what I try to write. If you can get something original in there, mores the better.
When I was fourteen and writing a fiction essay for school, I asked my mom how to write a good one (she wasn't a writer, by the way). She gave me the best advice that I still hold dear now. She said, "Imagine what everyone else will write and then write something completely different."
So that is probably the magic ingredient to a great storyline. Something you've never read or seen before.
Susan May
Well, that is technology for you. Can't live without it. Can't live with it!
Susan May
You know, Dustin, I don't really understand the question. If you mean that authors put words and emotions into a character, then that's their job. lol.
However, if you mean they make a character behave how they shouldn't just to get a response or manipulate the story, then I guess that is a road paved with possible disaster.
For me, I have been fortunate that I don't write the characters or make them do anything. I feel as if I pick them up and put them down in a little scenario and watch what they do. Then I write it down as fast as I can, following behind. I listen to them talk. I argue with them on their decisions to do certain things, but I never tell them they can't go here or there, or act a certain a way. I just say, "Well, off you go, and if it doesn't work out, we can always edit that out later. Nobody will know you goofed."
I know this sounds strange, but this allowing the story to just flow out without willing it to be any particular way is a breakthrough thing that happens when you've written enough. It happened to me writing a short story about three years ago, and I have never had to write another word since. The characters and the story do it all. That's why I don't need to plot. How can I plot, when I don't know these people in my story and I don't know what they are going to do.
In Deadly Messengers in the last quarter of the book something terrible happens to one of the characters and some readers have written to me saying how shocked they were, but that it made the story very real. Well, when that happened to that character, I asked the character who did the terrible thing: "Are you sure? Readers aren't going to like this." In fact I was surprised myself. But, no the character was adamant, this was the story and this was how it went.
And finally, I leave you with words from Stephen King:
"Write what you feel to be true. Use what you know and what is unique to you and this will bring an honesty and truth to your characters, dialogue, and scenarios."
However, if you mean they make a character behave how they shouldn't just to get a response or manipulate the story, then I guess that is a road paved with possible disaster.
For me, I have been fortunate that I don't write the characters or make them do anything. I feel as if I pick them up and put them down in a little scenario and watch what they do. Then I write it down as fast as I can, following behind. I listen to them talk. I argue with them on their decisions to do certain things, but I never tell them they can't go here or there, or act a certain a way. I just say, "Well, off you go, and if it doesn't work out, we can always edit that out later. Nobody will know you goofed."
I know this sounds strange, but this allowing the story to just flow out without willing it to be any particular way is a breakthrough thing that happens when you've written enough. It happened to me writing a short story about three years ago, and I have never had to write another word since. The characters and the story do it all. That's why I don't need to plot. How can I plot, when I don't know these people in my story and I don't know what they are going to do.
In Deadly Messengers in the last quarter of the book something terrible happens to one of the characters and some readers have written to me saying how shocked they were, but that it made the story very real. Well, when that happened to that character, I asked the character who did the terrible thing: "Are you sure? Readers aren't going to like this." In fact I was surprised myself. But, no the character was adamant, this was the story and this was how it went.
And finally, I leave you with words from Stephen King:
"Write what you feel to be true. Use what you know and what is unique to you and this will bring an honesty and truth to your characters, dialogue, and scenarios."
Susan May
I think writer's block is really about being stuck at a plot point where you usually know where you want to go but just can't work out how to get from A to B. I haven't really had this problem, even though I don't plot my books.
However, I did have a bit of a block with the book I am now working on, The Trouble's Keeper. So instead of panicking, I just leapt ahead to where I did know where I wanted to go. Problem was solved, because I then found out more about the character and the story, which gave me the information I needed to fill in the blocked bit.
I really believe that the creative muse alights upon those who are persistent and determined. Writer's block is all in your head (if you will excuse my wit.)
However, I did have a bit of a block with the book I am now working on, The Trouble's Keeper. So instead of panicking, I just leapt ahead to where I did know where I wanted to go. Problem was solved, because I then found out more about the character and the story, which gave me the information I needed to fill in the blocked bit.
I really believe that the creative muse alights upon those who are persistent and determined. Writer's block is all in your head (if you will excuse my wit.)
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