Rishabh

Rishabh asked Margaret Atwood:

How do you decide which events or situations will take place in a story that will lead the protagonist to achieve its goal or the effect it will have on the various characters of the story?

Margaret Atwood Wow, that's an all-in question! Some things seem like a good idea at the time, but you take them out because: 1) Would that person say it? Do it?
2) What might they say or do instead? I think it's learn-by-doing: you try things, and they either convince you or they don't.

More Answered Questions

Jodie

Jodie asked Margaret Atwood:

Hi. Im 19 years old and I'm going to start writing a novel. I was wondering what do you think about books on writing. Will reading books like bird by bird be helpful or should I just start writing straight away?

Danny Miller

Danny Miller asked Margaret Atwood:

Margaret, To take just two of your Dystopian worlds--that of The Handmaid's Tale and that of the MaddAddam trilogy--each holds a place of exile, whether it's the Pleeblands or the Colonies. Do you think this (perhaps post-colonialist) trait is necessary for Dystopian fiction? What other traits are? A caste-system, surely, but what are less obvious elements that you think make up a Dystopian society?

Mel

Mel asked Margaret Atwood:

Any advice for young aspiring writers currently dealing with writer's block?

All answers from Margaret Atwood…

Margaret Atwood

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