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Writerly Interview . . . Sort Of
Jul. 14th, 2015 07:53 pmOK, so Brent Kellmer posted this little questionnaire/interview for writers/novelists up on Facebook and tagged me to answer it. I figured I'd just make it a general interview post and then everyone can see/find it if they're interested. So here we go:
A short survey for the authors out there (well, at least the novelists):
1. How much time do you tend to spend on preparations for your novel before you actually start writing it? (By preparations, I mean preparatory research, plotting, outlining, etc. -- whatever you do)
I do very little preparation ahead of time. I'm a pantser or organic writer, meaning that I might write a plot synopsis to get my publisher to buy the book before I write it, but once I sit down to write I don't refer to the plot synopsis, don't outline, and simply write. This generally means I have a few guideposts in the plot in my head--perhaps a few key moments of the book that I know of ahead of time--but how the characters end up at those guideposts is unknown to me and comes out as I write. Basically, I sit down and start writing. No real prep time at all.
2. How much time do you generally take for your initial draft?
My initial draft usually takes 8 to 12 months to write, keeping in mind that my day job interferes with how much output I can get. If I didn't have the day job . . . I'd probably write the initial draft in about 6 months. Just a guess there.
3. How many drafts after the first do you generally do before sending it out for readers? (By drafts, I include complete rewrites and significant edit passes, but not minor editing passes.
After this first draft, I will do essentially three more drafts. The second draft is my own personal revision of that first draft based on things I know need to be changed and possibly on some feedback from friends is someone else has read it along the way. (I have a few beta readers, but not many.) This is the draft I will then send to my agent, Joshua Bilmes. He will then generally have a bunch of things that he feels need to be fixed before we can send it to the editor. So I'll do another draft based on his feedback. After this, he generally feels that it still needs more work, but we send it to my editor, Sheila Gilbert at DAW, so that she can give me her thoughts and I do another heavy duty revision based on her input and whatever else my agent thinks needs more work. So one revision for me, one for my agent, and one for my editor.
4. How many drafts (including the first) do you generally do prior to sending it to your editor/agent?
Oops, answered this one already in the previous question. One revision for me, then off to my agent.
5. Do you have a daily word count or specific amount of time set aside for writing? If so, how many words (or how long)?
When I'm working the day job, my daily goal is 1000 words, usually squeezed into an afternoon writing session. (I teach at a college and try to schedule all of my courses and office hours in the morning.) When I'm on break from the day job, I shoot for 2000 words, with a small writing session in the morning (if I can) and a longer one in the afternoon.
And now a gratuitous shot of my cover art for Shattering the Ley, out now in paperback!
A short survey for the authors out there (well, at least the novelists):
1. How much time do you tend to spend on preparations for your novel before you actually start writing it? (By preparations, I mean preparatory research, plotting, outlining, etc. -- whatever you do)
I do very little preparation ahead of time. I'm a pantser or organic writer, meaning that I might write a plot synopsis to get my publisher to buy the book before I write it, but once I sit down to write I don't refer to the plot synopsis, don't outline, and simply write. This generally means I have a few guideposts in the plot in my head--perhaps a few key moments of the book that I know of ahead of time--but how the characters end up at those guideposts is unknown to me and comes out as I write. Basically, I sit down and start writing. No real prep time at all.
2. How much time do you generally take for your initial draft?
My initial draft usually takes 8 to 12 months to write, keeping in mind that my day job interferes with how much output I can get. If I didn't have the day job . . . I'd probably write the initial draft in about 6 months. Just a guess there.
3. How many drafts after the first do you generally do before sending it out for readers? (By drafts, I include complete rewrites and significant edit passes, but not minor editing passes.
After this first draft, I will do essentially three more drafts. The second draft is my own personal revision of that first draft based on things I know need to be changed and possibly on some feedback from friends is someone else has read it along the way. (I have a few beta readers, but not many.) This is the draft I will then send to my agent, Joshua Bilmes. He will then generally have a bunch of things that he feels need to be fixed before we can send it to the editor. So I'll do another draft based on his feedback. After this, he generally feels that it still needs more work, but we send it to my editor, Sheila Gilbert at DAW, so that she can give me her thoughts and I do another heavy duty revision based on her input and whatever else my agent thinks needs more work. So one revision for me, one for my agent, and one for my editor.
4. How many drafts (including the first) do you generally do prior to sending it to your editor/agent?
Oops, answered this one already in the previous question. One revision for me, then off to my agent.
5. Do you have a daily word count or specific amount of time set aside for writing? If so, how many words (or how long)?
When I'm working the day job, my daily goal is 1000 words, usually squeezed into an afternoon writing session. (I teach at a college and try to schedule all of my courses and office hours in the morning.) When I'm on break from the day job, I shoot for 2000 words, with a small writing session in the morning (if I can) and a longer one in the afternoon.
And now a gratuitous shot of my cover art for Shattering the Ley, out now in paperback!
