My Loves And Hates In The Writing Process

1) Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a trained screenwriter and work as a script editor now, so spend all day with screenplays. On this basis, I have to be a plotter – I don’t know any different! I get everything done a LOT quicker if I know what actually needs doing. In my work, I’ve seen waaaay too many writers get lost inside drafts without direction. That’s not to say pantsers don’t exist or get stuff done, of course they do, but I bet many writers would save themselves a lot of heartache if they did the foundation stuff first. I’ve even seen writers lose heart and give up altogether sometimes, it’s a real shame when we consider the solution is obvious.

2) Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them if they are particularly good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

I’ve been a writer a long time now, so feel like I have a pretty thick skin (you need it!). I do read my reviews and as long as they’re constructive or obviously down to personal judgement, then that’s fine. No one HAS to like my work! I do get annoyed when there’s an obvious agenda behind a review, but I never respond. Besides, that’s what the ‘not helpful’ button is for!