Julianne (Outlandish Lit) asked Jeff VanderMeer:

When you're writing strange and mysterious worlds like Area X, are you discovering them and the secrets behind them as you write (almost as if you're an expedition member)? Or do you have it all thought out and plotted before you begin?

Jeff VanderMeer I'm all about the organic and the analytical. So I want to allow myself enough space in the story to discover things as I'm writing, but have a sense of where I'm going and what the stops are along the way. So that I usually know what scenes I need to write, but not necessarily what happens within them. So, after writing a few scenes, usually what's coming up has to be changed a little bit, in terms of what I know I need to write.

flag

Are angels and demons created by the living human psyche like the monster from the ID of Forbidden Planet, no god required?

A. Cantatis asked Jeff VanderMeer:

Do you ever write characters with a particular actor in mind to play them? If so, whom did you use in the Southern Reach series? (I personally saw Control as Benjamin Bratt ;))

Thomas Kleaton asked Jeff VanderMeer:

I am asking a simple question, Jeff, on a subject that troubles me on a constant basis. How do you make a story creepy, more specifically, how do you foreshadow properly to make a story creepy with plenty of tension. I said simple question, but I know there is no simple answer. Thanks!!

All answers from Jeff VanderMeer…

Jeff VanderMeer

9,495 followers

To ask Jeff VanderMeer a question, please sign up.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more

When you're writing strange and mysterious worlds like Area X, are you discovering them and the secrets behind them as you write (almost as if you're an expedition member)? Or do you have it all thought out and plotted before you begin?

More Answered Questions

Are angels and demons created by the living human psyche like the monster from the ID of Forbidden Planet, no god required?

Do you ever write characters with a particular actor in mind to play them? If so, whom did you use in the Southern Reach series? (I personally saw Control as Benjamin Bratt ;))

I am asking a simple question, Jeff, on a subject that troubles me on a constant basis. How do you make a story creepy, more specifically, how do you foreshadow properly to make a story creepy with plenty of tension. I said simple question, but I know there is no simple answer. Thanks!!

About Goodreads Q&A