Q&A with Nicholas Olivo discussion

How do you even start the whole process? I know you need an idea, but... how do you get it to actually come together?

Do you know what's going to happen in future books? (I'm thinking about Robert Jordan's incredible foreshadowing abilities.) Do you already know how the series will end and are you foreshadowing things to come?

That's a good question. I think he does do planning. There were things in Imperium that he left out for later instead of jamming every single idea into the first book.

JK wrote: "That's a good question. I think he does do planning. There were things in Imperium that he left out for later instead of jamming every single idea into the first book."

I'm actually really glad to hear that - more ideas for the next book! And the next book and the book after that... :)

Nicholas wrote: "I have the main story arc of the series planned out, and I've been trying to drop hints of things to come. I always loved it when I re-read a series and saw something that suddenly took on new mean..."

I do that too, and then I stop and go, did the author know about this from the very beginning? I guess now I know in your case! :P

I can't imagine trying to keep all the plot lines straight, as well as trying to work in all the foreshadowing without being obvious. How do you do it?

Nicholas wrote: "Mackenzie wrote: "How do you do it?"
A lot of outlines... :)"

Tell us about the outlines, Nick. How detailed do you get? What form do they take? How strict are you with sticking to them?

I would like to know how many hours per day do you devote to writing also do you find that certain hours are better for writing then others. For example I get the best ideas in the morning while the house is still quiet.

Nicholas wrote: "How about you, Rob? Do you use outlines?"

I've used outlines for all my books save one, THE HUSTLE. That was a bit of an experiment. I wanted to try writing with only a simple premise and nothing else. Now, this book featured the main character from LAST CALL, so I did have some background stuff. But nothing on the plot. However, I don't know if I'll do that again any time soon. Too rough on my nerves.

My outlines sound a lot like yours. I used to use real index cards until I found a computer program that simulates them with a few extra bells and whistles. For my current book (Book Three of the Lockman Chronicles) I'm experimenting with Scrivener and its built-in index card system.

Basically I write a line or two that summarizes each scene in the book. I don't start writing until I have a scene-by-scene rundown of the whole book. But once I start writing, all bets are off. One scene might turn into many. Other scenes get scrapped. I stay flexible while using the outline to keep me from veering off into the land of confusion.

Nicholas wrote: "Yeah, staying flexible is key. You can't plan every single detail out - you're always going to get new & better ideas as you're writing. It's like that old military adage - no campaign plan survive..."

Unless you're thriller writer Jeffery Deaver. In interviews he often explains how his outlines are 200+ pages, sometimes planning down to specific paragraph breaks. :O

Then he writes the book in a month.

Just goes to show there is no one right way to write a novel.