Josh
asked
Paul Tremblay:
Hello, Mr. Tremblay. I just finished A House Full of Ghosts and was completely floored. It is my favorite book I've read in the last 3 or 4 years. I can't wait to delve into more of your work. I was wondering what kind of writing process you go through when writing a novel and if it varies compared to your short fiction?
Paul Tremblay
Hi, Josh,
Thank you very much for the read and the kind note.
To state the obvious, novels and short stories, in their construction, are quite different. With short stories I generally take a few notes, character sketches, and then make it up from there. A short will take 2-4 weeks for a completed draft, sometimes more. With more than half of my novels I spend time outlining or writing a 10-15 page plot summary along with all sorts of notes and random thoughts on characters, before sitting down to write the first page. But every novel/story is different and I try to find what method I think feels right for the story. I didn't write a summary for A Head Full of Ghosts (I kept a little notebook; otherwise, I just dove in) but I did for The Little Sleep and Disappearance at Devil's Rock.
Thank you very much for the read and the kind note.
To state the obvious, novels and short stories, in their construction, are quite different. With short stories I generally take a few notes, character sketches, and then make it up from there. A short will take 2-4 weeks for a completed draft, sometimes more. With more than half of my novels I spend time outlining or writing a 10-15 page plot summary along with all sorts of notes and random thoughts on characters, before sitting down to write the first page. But every novel/story is different and I try to find what method I think feels right for the story. I didn't write a summary for A Head Full of Ghosts (I kept a little notebook; otherwise, I just dove in) but I did for The Little Sleep and Disappearance at Devil's Rock.
More Answered Questions
Rachel
asked
Paul Tremblay:
Not a question, but mad props! I loved the book, and read it as an ARC. But I just read an article in which Stephen King refers to 11 of the books he found "scariest", and Head Full Of Ghosts topped the list! I was so happy for you, and "Ghosts", I almost started crying!!!!! Halloween is coming. Can we have more scary and twisted please? Congratulations!!!
Don Elbag jr.
asked
Paul Tremblay:
I recently learned that I loved to write. Two of your books gave me the inspiration to start, Cabin at the End of the World and Growing Things. That being said how do you find the time to write while working a full time job? Do you feel that either of your careers suffers because you focus too much on one or the other? And finally how do you find the time to do anything other than write and plan for classes?
Greg Jones
asked
Paul Tremblay:
Paul, I really enjoyed Head Full of Ghosts. Kind of hard to find a novel especially a horror novel that stands out and stays with you. What advice would you give to an aspiring short story horror writer aside from write what you know and always be reading? Just got my first rejection letter yesterday so I guess I am on my way. Thanks for your time.
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