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Is there a draft in here?
 By Susan Stephens
At a recent library meeting I was asked how long it takes for me to write a series book. Hmm. The idea for a book springs almost fully formed into my head and then I rush to the keyboard to lay down an outline. When the first draft is completed I take at least another 3/4 full drafts before I feel ready to submit my work to my editor. 50,000 words? More like 200,000 minimum Before I submit the real work is deciding how to weight the various elements of the story, and if I can tell the story better by changing point of view etc Then revisions arrive from my editor, and having completed those I take a final look and work on a final polish. Don’t even ask me how many words we’re up to now! So, how long does it take me to write a book? As they all overlap at various stages it’s almost impossible for me to tell. Three months minimum, but some take twice as long as that- Another question I was asked, was, ‘What do I do if I hit a wall’? In theory I have an outline, so that should never happen. In reality, of course, it does happen. I jolt myself out of the jam by either: 1) Changing point of view - and seeing whether that adds the missing sparkle, or by, 2) Throwing in the most unexpected happening I can think of- Yep, I sometimes go back and edit that one out, but it really gets my creative juices flowing, and quite often I leave the surprise event in. So, here’s our prize-winning question for today:What question would you most to ask an author visiting your library? I’ll choose a winner at random from your suggestions. Looking forward to hearing from you! Susan :-) 29 Responses to “Is there a draft in here?” |
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July 8th, 2008 at 8:01 am
I would ask them how they find time to write. As an aspiring author, I find it hard to work the time into my busy schedule. Of course, I do it by staying up later than my family and giving up some of my weekend activities. LOL
July 8th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Is there a country that you would like to visit/research for a new book setting, that you haven’t visited yet?
July 8th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Patty, I get up at four some mornings, so I know exactly where you’re coming from. And just because I love my writing so much doesn’t mean I’m going to let my family suffer! Well, not too much, anyway
Good luck with your writing. It takes unbelievable discipline, doesn’t it?
Good question, Laurie G - for me that would have to be either Namibia, or a new wildlife lodge just opened in Australia- though a close friend of mine has just been to Rwanda to see the orangutans, and I’d love nothing more than to go there too.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Since your travels have taken you far afield what is your favorite place to spend time relaxing.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I would ask who their favorite authors are. Maybe I’ll discover someone new to me that I love their books.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I just can’t imagine how you guys do it with the pressure — I mean, you have to write this book, with a whole lot of words inside of it that have to make sense, all before a deadline. And like you, some authors write way more than one or two books a year. I mean, there are plenty of authors who have so many books to their name, and there is no way they wrote one a year. I guess there’s a question in there somewhere. . . maybe just how? LOL
Lois
July 8th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I have always wondered in which era an author would have liked to lived and experienced.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I would ask an author if she has any free books she is giving away!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Where do you get you inspiration and energy from in order to create such lovely books.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I would ask what made that author decide they wanted to be a writer? It is not an easy job and I wonder what motivates authors sometimes.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hmmm… I would ask if you had three wishes, what would they be!?!
July 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I love to know what’s on an author’s keeper shelf and why :) And you get up at 4??!! I’m in awe!
July 8th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I would ask an author what they start with? The hero, heroine, setting?
July 8th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I would ask an author who they read.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I would ask what they do in their ‘down’ time.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Ruth, I think the only place I truly relax is at home, but I have met with some wonderful people during my travels who have gone out of their way to make my stay a pleasurable.
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Lois, all I can tell you is that the ideas just keep on coming- it’s the organising of those ideas and the determination and discipline to set them down as well as I can that I find exhausting sometimes, but the passion to write never diminishes.
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Anne, that’s such a great question. I would have loved to experience Elizabethan times here in England, as the Renaissance was such a rich time for music and literature- but I worry about the washing facilities!!! Though Queen Elizabeth the First loved her bath, so perhaps I’d be okay!
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Life, Diane- that’s what inspires me, along with the great people I meet
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I think most authors ‘have’ to write, Cherie. I think it’s their passion, their vocation and a huge part of their life.
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Can I have three wishes, Colleen? As far as my writing goes, they would be no revisions, no revisions and no revisions.
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Fedora, that’s sometimes the way it goes. Particularly if we have family stuff going on like my son’s wife giving birth to twins last Friday- blissed out time for me- and one of my daughter’s celebrating her 21st birthday- another huge big smile on my face. I have to give my dedication and love both to my family and to my work, and so I stretch my day!
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I can only speak for myself, Maureen, but I start with an image in my mind of the hero and heroine’s first meeting- always the dramatic high spot for me when I read romance.
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I read off the wall books, Susan as well as books with a buzz going for them- and I discover some real gems that way. I do like books that make me laugh out loud, as well as thrillers and murder mystery, the classics we all love, and historical, and of course, romance!
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Down time, Estella? No, seriously, I love to spend time with my family. They’re all pretty lively, and of course we have our new arrivals, Chloe and Eloise, who surprised us by arriving 5 weeks early, but thank goodness they were a good weight and allowed to go home after just one week in hospital. If any of you are coming to San Francisco I’ll be travelling with two of my daughters. Again, I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I adore my family and consider myself truly blessed.
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I’m off to bed now, but I’ll be back tomorrow to announce our winner, chosen at random- and will chat some more with you too, I hope
Have a great day, everyone with lots of good things, plenty of love and plenty of smiles.
Sxx
July 8th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I would ask them how they knew that they could be a successful writer.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Hm… I think a question I would have is - “where do you get your ideas from?” Or “what do you do when you get stuck/blocked?” And also “do you have any rituals or procedures you run through before writing?”
Guess I’m nosy.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I’m sure this has been asked, but I would ask what their all time fav book was.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
do u know everthing about books. who is that author that wrote taht.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:15 am
Linda, no one knows that- if you have that passion to work with words you just have to write- whether or not you’re going to be published- in my case publication was never the end game- I wrote stories and poems for my children with no intention of ever sending them to a publisher and always kept a diary as a child- wish I’d kept those diaries! I do have the poems and stories somewhere…
Not nosy Limecello- ideas are all around me and I have an internal filing cabinet in which I keep them! Rituals. When I was on the stage I had more rituals than I do now. I kissed the flat before going on- the flat is the piece of scenery at the side of stage behind which the performers wait for their cue- and I turned three times anti clockwise. I always walked on stage left foot first as that is my strong side- left handed, left footed.
Writing-wise- I check my e-mail and go to work!
Dina I come back to Jane Austen and to the Bronte sisters- and I loved Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina too- such a tragic love story. I suppose I love a good cry as well as a good laugh. And I love Beatrix Potter, Barbar, Noddy and Wind in the Willows too- not forgetting Black Beauty, of course- another two-box-of-tissues book that one!
KH, I think the real joy is that we will never know everything about books as there are always more to discover and more being written as we speak.
Have a good one, ladies- back later today- Wednesday with our prize winner, so there’s still chance for you to take part.
S
July 9th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I would too want to know about favorite books and authors and if the author write series I’d ask about secondary characters and if they will have books of their own.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I would ask : What is the most interesting place she has traveled to research a book?
July 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Good question, Eva. Speaking for myself again, I often bring secondary characters back- mainly because they hang in my mind like an unresolved puzzle- they deserve their own story.
Crystal that’s a good question too, because nothing brings a book to life so much as experiencing the place you’re going to write about
Back soon with our winner- but there’s still time to take part!
S
July 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
So many characters which are always unique. How do you become a part of these individuals lives?
July 9th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Jenna, for myself I spent a long time as an actress and a singer on the stage, so getting into a role is second nature for me. I guess I couple that with the things my imagination tell me and live those characters as they take the roller coaster ride towards love.
Back very soon with our winner!
S
July 9th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Yay! We have a winner. Congratulations to Susan at 14#
Please contact Lee at lee@susanstephens.net
Thank you. And that you all for taking part in our chat today.
See you next month!
Susan
July 9th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Wow! Thank you so much, Susan! :grin:
July 10th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
wtg susan