People often ask me how I write. I have been writing non-fiction for a living for over 25 years now. Gentlemen's Game is the first published novel, but it is by no means the first foray into fiction. I find that the processes for fiction and non-fiction are similar. For Gentlemen's Game I had to do a lot of research into luxury yachts for example, and I spent a good day and a sturdy notebook doing that. I didn't use every tidbit I found, but knowing some detail allowed me to write confidently about the boat, its interior, speed. I actually needed to know what such a boat would cost so that I would know whether my protagonist could afford to own it. Research is I think a part of every good novel, just as it has to happen for non-fiction.
Typical questions:
Do you write daily? Well, yes. Pretty much. Not because I have to, but because for me writing is like breathing. If I am not physically putting words on paper, I am working on marketing.
Do you write an outline first? For non-fiction always. For fiction, no. Many fiction writers do write and follow an outline, but a minority find that doesn't work and I am one of those. I tend to be, rather, very character-driven. I have to form a character in my head first. By the time I start writing I know this character's background, personality, preferences, fears, joys. The stronger and deeper the character is the better I write. I find that a strong character tells the story to me and I write it down.
One interesting aspect of working in this fashion is that sometimes characters do things I don't want them to. Those who have read Gentlemen's Game will be interested to know that I had no idea what was going to happen in Chapter 14 until about Chapter 7. I woke up one morning and knew what would happen, and wrote 14. This is one of the few times I wrote out of chronological order. I also did not know what would happen in Chapter 21 - the last chapter of the book. I was in the middle of it when The Scene started (those familiar with the book know what scene I mean!) - I thought "Greyson what are you doing?" I was horrified.
But this is the thing: if I try to force my characters into an action or direction that they don't want to go naturally, my writing stinks. I have to give them a long leash and stay out of their way. A few different famous writers have discussed this phenomenon - that of the character taking over. Most memorably Stephen King wrote a short story about a character coming after the author with a vengeance - Johnny Depp starred in the film.
Has anyone written a strong character that then wanted to tell a story? I would love to hear about your experience!
Typical questions:
Do you write daily?
Well, yes. Pretty much. Not because I have to, but because for me writing is like breathing. If I am not physically putting words on paper, I am working on marketing.
Do you write an outline first?
For non-fiction always. For fiction, no. Many fiction writers do write and follow an outline, but a minority find that doesn't work and I am one of those. I tend to be, rather, very character-driven. I have to form a character in my head first. By the time I start writing I know this character's background, personality, preferences, fears, joys. The stronger and deeper the character is the better I write. I find that a strong character tells the story to me and I write it down.
One interesting aspect of working in this fashion is that sometimes characters do things I don't want them to. Those who have read Gentlemen's Game will be interested to know that I had no idea what was going to happen in Chapter 14 until about Chapter 7. I woke up one morning and knew what would happen, and wrote 14. This is one of the few times I wrote out of chronological order. I also did not know what would happen in Chapter 21 - the last chapter of the book. I was in the middle of it when The Scene started (those familiar with the book know what scene I mean!) - I thought "Greyson what are you doing?" I was horrified.
But this is the thing: if I try to force my characters into an action or direction that they don't want to go naturally, my writing stinks. I have to give them a long leash and stay out of their way. A few different famous writers have discussed this phenomenon - that of the character taking over. Most memorably Stephen King wrote a short story about a character coming after the author with a vengeance - Johnny Depp starred in the film.
Has anyone written a strong character that then wanted to tell a story? I would love to hear about your experience!