My answer to the question I posed for fiction writers reading this: For me, characters always come before plots.
I’ve got very successful writer friends who see this a bit differently than I. But I always have some oddballed (usually) character pop into my head, either when I’m talking to someone or observing people in public, and I go from there. I general ask myself something like, “How would this guy react” or “What would this guy do” if … and then away I go.
With a lot of work and a bit of luck, my oddballed character(s) will lead me down the path to an interesting plot and worthwhile story.
I’ll ask again — how about you? What works for you when you’re writing a story or novel? Leave a comment and let us know.
A question for all you fiction writers out there: Which comes first in your writing process, characters or plot?
I’ve got remnants of five novels buried under the dust somewhere in this messy old hard drive of mine, and I’ve not yet finished one. I was inspired by an episode of the “Today Show” today and determined to pull these little gems out of storage in hopes of finding a jewel among them that will rocket me to fame and fortune as the newest John Grisham.
(Okay, really, I’ll happily settle for the fortune, heck with the fame.)
I’ve asked the question above in months past and never gotten much response. I know what happens for me, but I’d be very interested in YOUR answer(s) to this “chicken or egg” writing question — characters or plot? How does the process work for you when you want to write a short-story or novel? Or is the process different for you if the project is a short story or a novel?
Leave us a comment and share your thoughts and work process if you would, please.
Writers should always be readers — so what are you reading right now? (Besides this post, I mean.)
I usually have at least one non-fiction book and one novel that I’m reading at any given time. (I won’t tell you where I do much of my daily reading. I think you can figure it out just from that remark. HINT: I read there a lot of an early morning.)
Seriously, what are you reading right now? How do you think it helps in your writing? Do you read only fiction or only non-fiction? Why?
Personally, I’m just finishing “American Prince,” a memoir by one of my favorite childhood movie stars, Tony Curtis. It is filled with the sort of fun stories about Hollywood’s earlier days and earlier stars, as well as interesting anecdotes about many of Curtis’ movies. (My favorites are “Houdini,” “The Great Race,” and “Trapeze.” If you aren’t familiar with them, check them out on DVD.)
I’m in the middle of reading one of James Patterson’s recent string of suspense/mystery novels, “Run for Your Life,” and then will start “Eifelheim,” by Michael Flynn. The Flynn novel is one I found browsing the recent fiction shelf at my local public library and the title and jacket copy caught my attention. It looks interesting.
So — what are you reading? And what are you writing?
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