In the comments section, David asked: "When you start to write a book, how do you come up with the general theme? As you write, do all your awesome, crazy, twisted, plot ideas just kinda happen? Or do you know how the story is going to end and have every bit of it planned out?"
First of all, thanks, David, for the word "awesome."
Here's how it usually works for me: Before I start writing a book, I have a general idea of who the major players are and what they are trying to accomplish. I know why they are good or bad. I usually (but not always) have an idea of what the crime is, who committed it, and why. I know how John Marlin will get involved in investigating the crime.
Also....
I generally know how the book will begin and end. If I'm lucky, I'll have some very concrete specifics about the ending. Here's an example....don't read any further unless you want to see a spoiler about Buck Fever...
In Buck Fever, I knew that the climactic scene would take place on Roy Swank's ranch on opening day. I knew that someone would start to field-dress a deer and find drugs. I DIDN'T know exactly how I would arrive at that scene, but I knew I'd get there somehow.
Minor characters are usually invented along the way.
When I pitch a new book to my publisher, it generally takes the form of a three- or four-page synopsis that describes everything above, and maybe just a little more. But not much more. In other words, I don't write any sort of lengthy outline, I just know the general gist of the story and I dive right into, letting it take me to unexpected places as I drive toward the conclusion.
Thanks for the question, David.
|
