Josh
asked
Paul Tremblay:
Hello, Mr. Tremblay. I just finished A House Full of Ghosts and was completely floored. It is my favorite book I've read in the last 3 or 4 years. I can't wait to delve into more of your work. I was wondering what kind of writing process you go through when writing a novel and if it varies compared to your short fiction?
Paul Tremblay
Hi, Josh,
Thank you very much for the read and the kind note.
To state the obvious, novels and short stories, in their construction, are quite different. With short stories I generally take a few notes, character sketches, and then make it up from there. A short will take 2-4 weeks for a completed draft, sometimes more. With more than half of my novels I spend time outlining or writing a 10-15 page plot summary along with all sorts of notes and random thoughts on characters, before sitting down to write the first page. But every novel/story is different and I try to find what method I think feels right for the story. I didn't write a summary for A Head Full of Ghosts (I kept a little notebook; otherwise, I just dove in) but I did for The Little Sleep and Disappearance at Devil's Rock.
Thank you very much for the read and the kind note.
To state the obvious, novels and short stories, in their construction, are quite different. With short stories I generally take a few notes, character sketches, and then make it up from there. A short will take 2-4 weeks for a completed draft, sometimes more. With more than half of my novels I spend time outlining or writing a 10-15 page plot summary along with all sorts of notes and random thoughts on characters, before sitting down to write the first page. But every novel/story is different and I try to find what method I think feels right for the story. I didn't write a summary for A Head Full of Ghosts (I kept a little notebook; otherwise, I just dove in) but I did for The Little Sleep and Disappearance at Devil's Rock.
More Answered Questions
Don Elbag jr.
asked
Paul Tremblay:
I recently learned that I loved to write. Two of your books gave me the inspiration to start, Cabin at the End of the World and Growing Things. That being said how do you find the time to write while working a full time job? Do you feel that either of your careers suffers because you focus too much on one or the other? And finally how do you find the time to do anything other than write and plan for classes?
Rita Platt
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Paul Tremblay:
You know I love your books. You are my favorite author Fer reals. I am listening to your Rocktober Poplife Podcast episode. I just can't imagine how anyone squares "best-selling author" with their own biography. Two questions: 1. Did you know you'd be this successful/popular? 2. Do you ever wake up and think...."Naw. This can't be real in a Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" way?
Kelly
asked
Paul Tremblay:
I am currently in school for creative writing, hoping eventually to go into the publishing/editing field and of course get some writing published of my own. Did you take any english/literature/creative writing courses in college, aside from the normal required general education courses? I am just curious since you have your masters in mathematics.
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