What Do Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman And Thomas Mann Have In Common?
Frequently, Im asked whether I know the whole story of a novel at the outset of writing it. The answer is a simple no.
I might have an idea of where I want a story to go, but often Im surprised by the direction it may take, seemingly all on its own. How on earth does that happen?
First, let me say that I often make plot outlines and charts as I work, more to keep track of where Ive been rather than where Im going. It sounds a bit like backing into a story. When I first started CONDUCT IN QUESTION many years ago, I got perhaps a hundred pages into the novel and suddenly had no idea what would come next.
It seemed fruitless to revert to charts and diagrams. Heres what I did do. For a number of weeks I set aside the beginnings of the novel and spent much time making notes about the characters I had up on the stage, for I realized I didnt know enough about them.
An example? In CONDUCT IN QUESTION, there are two sisters, Katharine and Suzannah. Actually, they were inspired by two clients I had, only to the extent that those two sisters seemed so diametrically...
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