Ask Lisa Lutz! discussion

This is where you can ask Lisa any other questions. . .

Thoughts on what kind of book you want to work on next?

Lisa, your pic. is beautiful and you look like a nice author. I would like to have a free book and I am living in Egypt. Is it available to my region?

Jesse wrote: "Thoughts on what kind of book you want to work on next?"

Yes. I'm currently working on a non-genre, but somewhat experimental novel. Not comedic. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's fiction, but should read like a mystery.

Ahmed wrote: "Lisa, your pic. is beautiful and you look like a nice author. I would like to have a free book and I am living in Egypt. Is it available to my region?"

Thank you, Ahmed. I don't believe my books are available in Egypt. I do know that S&S is doing a book giveaway on Goodreads this month and for the next few months.

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Non-Genre? Hearing that makes me think less of a lack of genre, but more a lack of defined genre, a grab bag of multiple ones. Like how a lot of people see new Doctor Who (Neil Gaiman had a wonderful quote on that, of which I can't recall). Exactly what do you mean by non-genre and experimental?

Hey Lisa - I am a huge fan. I was wondering what, if anything, you are currently reading? Are there any authors that have influenced you? I am in a tailspin as I can't seem to find any books lately that I can truly get lost in (I have to read other authors until your next book comes out!!). I am open to suggestions!

Glenn wrote: "Non-Genre? Hearing that makes me think less of a lack of genre, but more a lack of defined genre, a grab bag of multiple ones. Like how a lot of people see new Doctor Who (Neil Gaiman had a wonderf..."

Hi Glenn,

The experimental part would refer to me playing with structure in the book. (I'd rather not say more since it's a work in progress). I definitely figuring out new ways to tell a story--HEADS YOU LOSE is a very different example of playing with structure.

And I probably wasn't clear when I wrote non-genre. I mean more that I was not writing in what could really be lumped into the crime genre. Certainly crimes may happen in the book, but they happen in most books in some way.

All that said, I would hope the book still reads like any other book. My goal is always first and foremost to write something that makes the reader want to turn the page. Arguably nothing else matters.

Robin wrote: "Hey Lisa - I am a huge fan. I was wondering what, if anything, you are currently reading? Are there any authors that have influenced you? I am in a tailspin as I can't seem to find any books lat..."

Hi Robin,

The books I read tend to be very different from what I write. Mostly if someone compares a book to mine, I usually hate it, so I can't recommend it. But I will tell you some of my favorites in recent years.

I really like all of Laura Lippman's WHAT THE DEAD KNOW. Any stand-alone of hers is great (haven't read her series, which is the only reason I haven't mentioned them). Tana French is great. I loved Justin Cronin's THE PASSAGE. Dan Chaon's AWAIT YOUR REPLY. Huge fan of Jennifer Egan--but I'm sure you're hearing about her everywhere. Megan Abbott's THE END OF EVERYTHING.

As for funny (not crime) I like Patricia Marx (she has a new book out).

The list is endless. But most of these are more serious crime novels. It's hard for me to recommend when I don't know what you like.

Lisa, I love the way you write and I'm really looking forward to reading what you come up with next!

I really enjoy writing, but always have a hard time getting started. How do you find inspiration and get started writing, and what advice do you have for someone like me?

Angie wrote: "Lisa, I love the way you write and I'm really looking forward to reading what you come up with next!

I really enjoy writing, but always have a hard time getting started. How do you find inspira..."

Hi Angie,

Writing is rarely easy, especially at the beginning I think. But it's important that you know what you want to say. Sometimes people want to write for the sake of writing (which is fine) but it's hard to get a novel out of an incomplete idea. Maybe try an essay or a short story. Or get a book on writing and try some of the exercises in the book. Sometimes working on a smaller piece of fiction or non-fiction can help you find your voice.

For me, I always think about overarching themes and what do I want to say. I start with the big picture and then I fill in the blanks. But it's important to figure out what works for you.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Lisa!

hey lisa i jus want an advice how to create our own novel ...wud u please tell me its way of creating organisingly ? and the remnant thing to ask how should i start ?...okay if iam writing as a horror it has suspence inedd a way of writing

thanks.

LIsa, you've written about your adventures (and misadventures) working on a screenplay. Has it been different working on your books?

And can you tell us more about working with "overarching themes"? For instance, what are the overarching themes of the books you've published so far?

Hi Lisa, Please tell me your new book will also be available in audiobook format.... pretty please. I can't think of the narrators name from the previous books right now but she is fantastic.

Thanks ( You Rock! )
Mick