Jay
asked
John Goode:
When you begin writing a book how much of the plot do you know in advance? Do you already know how the story is going to end or do you just start getting words on the screen and let the characters pull you in a certain direction?
John Goode
Honestly I usually start with the end which tells me the message of what the book is trying to say. Other times it is a scene that in my mind is a pivotal moment and then look at ways to expand from there. Sometimes, like with Going the Distance, the character starts talking and I listen and about 1/3 of the way I figure out where we're going and try to plot out the end. But I cannot write a story that I don't know the end to, it makes for sloppy story telling and unfocused plot points that never get picked up. You can let a character take yo in a direction but as a writer you better know where the end destination is or you're screwed.
More Answered Questions
Tim Gerard
asked
John Goode:
Okay, well that sucks, particularly since I began your first book "Tales from Foster High" I did not stop until "Dream of a Waking Man".was raised in Houston. I know those are nothing similar to where you were raised, but the attitude was (is) exactly the same, just with more buildings. Long story to tell you I loved it. Why don't you have a kickstarter to publish the remainder of the books in audio?
Paul
asked
John Goode:
Hi John I just stumbled across your Lords of Arcadia series and I loved it, I read all three books in a day and a half. I was wondering if as you said "if people keep reading them you'll keep writing them" NOT verbatim my apologies? I'm now interested in Tales From Foster High, as my high school journey was NOT a nice one at all. Also did you mean you graduated in '88, as I did too?
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