Erich w/ an h
asked
David Wong:
Happy New Year! What's your editing process like for your novels, now that you're no longer self edited? If you and your editor disagree with something you're writing, how is that resolved?
David Wong
I worry that this is another answer that is less exciting than you might be expecting, but 95% of the edit notes are things I can't really argue with, purely structural stuff like, "You have them talking to Steve here, but Steve died on page 122" or "They're talking about this character like the reader already know who they are, we should have something that introduces them or reminds us."
In other words it's not like artistic differences, but continuity stuff that's pretty black-and-white ("Why does this get such an angry reaction from Dave? Isn't this good news?" "Why would Amy respond like she knows all about this, isn't she hearing about it for the first time?")
The other 5% are offered as opinions or suggestions ("It feels like there should be something here to add a little background on the characters, otherwise there's no breather in between the two action scenes") and if I disagree usually there's some compromise. We don't argue or anything, but I know other writers have had very different experiences with their editors!
In other words it's not like artistic differences, but continuity stuff that's pretty black-and-white ("Why does this get such an angry reaction from Dave? Isn't this good news?" "Why would Amy respond like she knows all about this, isn't she hearing about it for the first time?")
The other 5% are offered as opinions or suggestions ("It feels like there should be something here to add a little background on the characters, otherwise there's no breather in between the two action scenes") and if I disagree usually there's some compromise. We don't argue or anything, but I know other writers have had very different experiences with their editors!
More Answered Questions
Vincent Dellay
asked
David Wong:
Just curious... how long was it from the time you came up with the idea for WTHDIJR until the book was actually released? Some authors like Stephen King pump them out pretty quickly while others like George R. R. Martin take considerably longer (both are brilliant... I'm not cutting anyone down with that comment :)) The book is brilliant, by the way!
David Neilsen
asked
David Wong:
Dear Mr. Wong, My name is David Neilsen, and I'm a Trustee of the Warner Library which serves Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, NY. This Halloween, we're holding a fundraising event to raise money for our library and I was wondering if you'd donate a signed copy of one of your books for us to raffle off as a prize? Please let me know. Thank you. Sincerely, David Neilsen
Cy
asked
David Wong:
Are there any particular narrative structures that you use when outlining? Such as three-act structure, freytag’s pyramid, kishotenketsu, and so on. How do you make sure a story outline “works” in a dramatic sense? Or do you start with a general sense of what's going to happen, and leave certain dramatic decisions for the writing itself?
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