Question Answers And Book Meme
I am answering the All About Books meme questions on the Strange Chemistry Blog.
First two questions from yesterday:
![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1381011369i/3812020.gif)
princejvstin
asked: An easy one: For you, what were/are the challenges, joys and differences in writing YA versus adult genre fiction
It really wasn't any different at all. YA is generally for anyone over twelve, and the only difference between Emilie and the Hollow World and my other books is that the protagonist is younger, around fifteen or sixteen or so. I basically just wrote the kind of book I like to read, which is what I always do.
curtana
asked: I'm curious how you go about writing a novel - which I know is a big question :) Do you prefer to outline first, or do you write and find out what happens as you go along? Do you have the whole story more or less worked out in your head when you start? Do you know the ending first and then figure out how to get there later? Do you build the setting first, or think up characters, or plot? Do you make a million notes before you start writing?
I generally know who I want the main character to be and what the world will be like. For me, those are two elements that are dependent on each other. If I come up with the protagonist first, the world has to be the kind of place that would have created that person. If I come up with the world first, that's going to define the protagonist to a large extent. Usually, I come up with both elements at the same time.
I don't outline, but I do tend to know at least the first turning point in the plot, and also where I want the book to end in general. I pretty much make everything up as I go along, and research as I need to while I'm writing. A lot of writers do outline and work everything out in advance, but you basically have to figure out what works for you. Any process that ends with a finished story is the right process.
I'll do the next two questions tomorrow. If you have anymore questions, feel free to leave them in the comments of this post so I can keep track of them and answer them in order.
First two questions from yesterday:
princejvstin
asked: An easy one: For you, what were/are the challenges, joys and differences in writing YA versus adult genre fictionIt really wasn't any different at all. YA is generally for anyone over twelve, and the only difference between Emilie and the Hollow World and my other books is that the protagonist is younger, around fifteen or sixteen or so. I basically just wrote the kind of book I like to read, which is what I always do.
curtana
asked: I'm curious how you go about writing a novel - which I know is a big question :) Do you prefer to outline first, or do you write and find out what happens as you go along? Do you have the whole story more or less worked out in your head when you start? Do you know the ending first and then figure out how to get there later? Do you build the setting first, or think up characters, or plot? Do you make a million notes before you start writing? I generally know who I want the main character to be and what the world will be like. For me, those are two elements that are dependent on each other. If I come up with the protagonist first, the world has to be the kind of place that would have created that person. If I come up with the world first, that's going to define the protagonist to a large extent. Usually, I come up with both elements at the same time.
I don't outline, but I do tend to know at least the first turning point in the plot, and also where I want the book to end in general. I pretty much make everything up as I go along, and research as I need to while I'm writing. A lot of writers do outline and work everything out in advance, but you basically have to figure out what works for you. Any process that ends with a finished story is the right process.
I'll do the next two questions tomorrow. If you have anymore questions, feel free to leave them in the comments of this post so I can keep track of them and answer them in order.
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