Hey Stephanie! :-) I have some interview questions for you, if you'd like to answer them in the comment box below. Feel free to discuss whatever you want, even if it doesn't pertain to my queries; I would love to have your advice! (For those of you who didn't know, my cousin Stephanie is a crazy-awesome writer, and she's here to answer some questions about her craft.) Before you start, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your writing and your history as an author?
So here's my first question: can you tell us a little bit about NaNoWriMo? I know you use and abuse the month of November for your noveling purposes, and I pretty much want to show off how cool you are... you never stick to the 50,000 word minimum anymore, do you? Also, could you go into a bit of detail about the prep work you do for NaNoWriMo?
This brings me to my next question: before you even start a story, you lock your characters in a dungeon and grill them for details about their lives and personalities. Can you explain how you go about that? I myself feel so estranged from my characters. What kinds of questions do you ask them? What situations do you throw them into? I once went to eHarmony for interview questions to use on my characters; what's your method?
Next, I was wondering if you could illuminate a little about where your ideas come from, and how you keep track of them. Do ideas just come to you randomly, or do you just force yourself to write and see what happens? Or maybe you start with a character first. Where do your characters come from? My own characters all tend to be very similar to me in one way or another. Are yours like that?
Also, how do you do your writing? Do you treat it like a 9 to 5 job? Or do you write only when creativity strikes? I basically just cram it in whenever I have time, if I remember. Do you have any tips for how to make time for writing?
Lastly, if you have anything else you would like to add - random advice for beginner's, tricks you've learned along the way that you wish you knew earlier - then please feel free.
Thank you so much, Stephanie! Say hi to the puppies for me!
~Jackie
Ack! My very long post was just eaten! I'll re-write it and try to post it again...
ReplyDeleteHey Jackie! Great questions!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Stephanie Kayne and I write Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. I’ve been writing ‘seriously’ for five years now, with fits and starts since college. I’m a voracious reader who never thought I could write, until a friend turned me onto NaNoWriMo.
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It’s advertised as 30 days of literary abandon. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Which if you think about it for a moment, is pretty crazy. The reason it works though is that it taps into one of the greatest truths of writing. The first draft is going to be awful. There isn’t a writer who produces work that is publisher ready in the first draft. Once you recognize that, you can get the story on the page without worrying about word choice, sentence structure, pacing, or the other minutia of writing. You can always edit your work, but you can’t edit a blank page.
I am a bit of an overachiever, and I love a challenge. When I first began NaNo, I was so excited to write the story that I finished 50,000 words in 12 days. I will admit I thought it would be harder than that. So I wrote at a slower pace and got to those magical words… “The End” with a grand total of 64,000 words.
The next year, I achieved 50k in only 8 days. So I decided to double the word count goal. “The End came at 100k. The year after that 50k in 6 days… notice the trend here? I ended the year with 125k.
Last year I thought I do something a little different. Write 2 stories each over 50k. One was my normal romance, and the other was a mystery for my mom. Total word count? 120k.
I’m not going to try to do 50k in 5 days as I’ve found my wrist threshold. I’m able to write 8k-9k a day and my wrists are fine, any more than that, and they begin to hurt. Oh and for those of you wanting to know how many pages that is? A standard paperback book has 250 words per page. That averages to 32 – 36 pages a day. This year my goal is 135k -150k.
Prep work for NaNo.
ReplyDeleteI’m what people call a pantster. These are people who write by the seat of their pants, not knowing what’s going to happen, and letting the story take them wherever. On the other side are the plotters. Those who have outlines and know exactly what is going to happen when and where.
I know I have to reach a “happily ever after” but how I get there is anyone’s guess.
Depending on where the story is set, I’ll to do a bit of research about that place (maps, street views, housing). For example one of my stories, “Dead Lines”, takes place on a made up island that has a huge mansion. So I went on-line and found the floor plan of a 20 suite mansion that included secret passageways.
The one type of planning I do every time is character interviews. That way I know what their goals and motivations are. Based on that, I get ideas for the types of internal and external conflicts I can ‘torture’ them with.
Character Interviews.
Before my first NaNo, I asked a published author, what advice she would give to the newbie writer. She told me to “know your characters.” (Tara K. Harper for the Sci-fi fans out there.)
I find out all sorts of fun things about my characters. When interviewing I imagine myself seated across from them, documenting their reactions as well as the answers to the questions. I ask their full name; place and time of birth; best childhood memory; do they have siblings; are members of their family still alive, if not what happened to them, if so, what is their relationship; what is their profession; do they have a significant other, if so, who, if not, why not; and the most important question… what is their greatest fear? (I then make them face this fear in the story.)
Sometimes I also imagine taking them out to a public location. Usually a grocery store. What types of things are they putting in the cart, and why? What is their reaction to the items on the shelf?
Oh and when they don’t cooperate? I threaten to take them out of the story and write about someone else. (You’d be surprised how often this works.)
Where do my ideas come from?
ReplyDeleteEverywhere and anywhere really. Sometimes I get ideas from snippets of dreams and I write them down in a notebook by my bed. Other times it will be a funny conversation or a strange situation.
Most of my ideas come from a simple question… what if?
What if all of the creatures in mythology were real, living in a Shadow Earth separate from humanity, yet interacting with us? What if a computer program made all of your characters come to life? What if the captain of a pirate space ship was the rightful heir to the throne and fell in love with the current heir? What if a puzzle box, when opened released the tools of the four horsemen of the apocalypse? What if?
Most of my examples are fantasy/paranormal, but the question works just as well for any genre. If you still have a problem, go to the mall, find a bench and people watch. Does anyone interesting catch your eye? If so imagine who they are, why are they at the mall? What is their back story? What is it about them that caught your attention? Hopefully this will spark an idea or three.
I keep an idea journal with me at all times so I can write down those flashes of inspiration, scenes, conversations or other tidbits that may either be used in a story or as a basis for a story.
When I’m getting ready to write, I flip through the journal to see what strikes my fancy. I usually have an ‘ah-ha’ moment which is usually followed by a ‘oooh and that will cause trouble for the characters...’
As for the characters themselves. Sometimes they pop into my head fully formed, and other times I start with a name and try to figure out what types of traits fit the name. I do put a small piece of myself into every character I write, which makes me identify with them more. However they are not carbon copies of me… I think that’d be pretty boring to read actually. People are multifaceted so there’s plenty of material to draw on without repeating or having the same type of characteristic. For example, my FMC in my next story loves to solve puzzles, is a bit shy and clumsy (which is me). She is also a thief, loves to sneak around and uses magic (which isn’t me).
Many authors treat writing like a 9-5 job. I don’t, not yet. For one thing we have new puppies in the house and it’s hard to get a good solid writing session when you’re constantly interrupted with demands for attention. That being said though, I’m usually able to write for 2-3 hours (interrupted) in the morning and then again in the afternoon when they take naps.
ReplyDeleteI also have a soundtrack that I use strictly for writing. I find that lyrics interfere with getting the words on the page, so the music is all instrumental.
One thing to remember. What works for me, may not work for you. The trick is to find out when best you work and write then. I’m most productive in the morning, and that’s when I try to get most of my writing done. I’ve found it helps to have a bit of a ritual when getting ready to write. I make two cups of tea, and fill a bottle with water, and take these to my writing area. Then I turn on the music and the words begin to flow.
Schedule a time every day to sit in the chair, with hands on the keyboard and write. And when I say schedule, I mean, stick to it. During your allotted time, don’t play on-line, check e-mail, text, do housework, homework, watch tv, or anything else. Your writing time is just that. No excuses.
If you don’t know what to write about, start by documenting how you’re feeling, what you had for breakfast, what happened yesterday. Then once the words begin to flow open your work and write. Oh, and the best way to become a better writer? That old adage practice makes perfect is true in this case. The more you write the better you’ll become.
Words of advice.
BIC HOK – butt in chair, hands on keyboard.
GMC – Goal Motivation Conflict. These are necessary for each main character. What do they want? Why do they want it? What is stopping them from getting it? Conflict and tension make the reader want to keep reading.
Have fun. For me, writing is a joy unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Creating worlds and characters and situations is incredible, but it can also be overwhelming. I give my imagination permission to run free. I allow myself to write the good, the bad, the inane, and the silly. And if that means there is a section where my characters are playing with Slinkys, then so be it. I can always edit it out later. (And I keep a humor file for all the little silly/funny tidbits that I edit out.)
Join a writing community – I’m a member of the Romance Writers of America and they offer wonderful workshops on everything to do with writing. There are others out there as well. Look them up and join one or two.
And most importantly…
Don’t give up – the only one who can tell your story is you. Sometimes it’s harder than hard and that’s okay. Just stick with it and keep writing.
If you have any other questions, please let me know!
Oh my goodness...
ReplyDeleteand that is why, folks, I wanted Stephanie to interview here!!!
Stephanie, seriously - 50k in 6 days?! Geez woman! I knew you were crazy, but I didn't know you were a whirlwind... XD
I love that you keep a notebook with you at all times. I myself keep one, but the weird thing is, I never really write in it... I just keep it with me all the time. Actually writing in it might be a good idea... :/
Your last tidbit, "the only one who can tell your story is you," really hit home with me. You make me want to stop life for a minute and just WRITE!!! Thank you so much for your motivation! :D See ya soon.
Thanks again!
Hi, I tried the NaNo exreience and I did not last. It seemed like a great idea and still does, but I need to get my act together for the challenge. Challenges are always great! You are truly and inspiration and a motivation to me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Jaclyn,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I want to say thanks for interviewing your cousin for this assignment. She seems to be very insightful and informative when it comes to writing. I’m astonished she can write so many words in 6 days! That is incredible and I hope to someday accomplish the 50,000 words in one-month goal.
There were a few things I enjoyed reading and wanted to point out…
“Depending on where the story is set, I’ll to do a bit of research about that place (maps, street views, housing). For example one of my stories, “Dead Lines”, takes place on a made up island that has a huge mansion. So I went on-line and found the floor plan of a 20-suite mansion that included secret passageways.
The one type of planning I do every time is character interviews. That way I know what their goals and motivations are. Based on that, I get ideas for the types of internal and external conflicts I can ‘torture’ them with.”
This is great advice for the research portion of writing. It’s an amazing advantage to have the Internet to better visualize a setting and describe it through a story. I truly like the idea of interviewing your characters and “torturing” them with internal and external conflicts.
“I do put a small piece of myself into every character I write, which makes me identify with them more.”
I just wrote something similar to this on my Blog assignment. Having a piece of ourselves in a story does make the character much easier to identify with. Sometimes I notice this in friends and family and how most of the people I enjoy have one or more shared characteristics. It seems like a web.
“I’ve found it helps to have a bit of a ritual when getting ready to write. I make two cups of tea, and fill a bottle with water, and take these to my writing area. Then I turn on the music and the words begin to flow.
Schedule a time every day to sit in the chair, with hands on the keyboard and write. And when I say schedule, I mean, stick to it. During your allotted time, don’t play on-line, check e-mail, text, do housework, homework, watch TV, or anything else. Your writing time is just that. No excuses.”
Thanks for sharing this advice. I’m the type of person that gets easily distracted, especially on the computer or when I have a ton of things to do in one day. I’ve never enjoyed rituals or routines, but one way or another people seem to develop routines or patterns throughout the day, so I’d like to work on a morning and evening one as I find them to be the best times to write.
“Goal Motivation Conflict. These are necessary for each main character. What do they want? Why do they want it? What is stopping them from getting it? Conflict and tension make the reader want to keep reading.”
I’m a big fan of acronyms, so thanks for breaking GMC down for me.
Thanks for the Q & A!!!!! Awesome input for folks who come here and read this advice!
ReplyDeleteI especially like the "wrist threshold" notion, to avoid carpel tunnel (we should all have such a problem, eh?). I'm at the keyboard many hours a day (not doing my writing as much as I want to but doing lots of my teaching work here) and I switch my mouse from right to left and back again--usually a week at a time or so-- whenever the mousing has caused one write to start to "speak" and let me know its being overused. So far, in heavy keyboard action since 1989 or so (started teaching in American River College's Macintosh Writing Classroom that year), I've not run into repetitive motion issues, aka carpel tunnel.
Thanks for this terrific info and encouragement!!!!
junebug...
oops, caused one "wrist to speak" not one "write to speak" lol
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all your great comments! XD I'm so glad Stephanie was an inspiration to you all as well as myself. :)
ReplyDelete