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THE
PROCESS OF WRITING
Once I have the idea, I write a synopsis (a summary
of the story) to sell. Hopefully, a publisher buys it and
gives me a deadline (deadlines focus the mind). Now I know
my story will be published, so I don't have to please anybody
but myself. I rarely look at the synopsis again, not unless
something goes badly wrong. I make all kinds of changes
from the original idea and they're usually for the better.
I've
written about thirty books yet, each time, I feel like I'm
reinventing the wheel. If it doesn't feel new, it won't
be worth reading. The best times are when I feel like the
book is writing itself .I'm just there to help it find the
right shape and tone. I particularly enjoy building suspense,
holding back twists and revelations until exactly the right
moment. I'm occasionally self indulgent and sometimes plain
bad, but these things go out in the rewriting. I redraft
endlessly and throw out anything that doesn't feel right.
When I've got as far as I can, at least three drafts down
the line, I show the first printed draft to my partner,
who points out all the weak bits. It's heartbreaking, but
I start again - try to fail better, like Beckett said.
Why not
use the story beginning below to write a story of your own.
If you are a teacher you could use it as part of a class
project.
DEAD
TOURISTS DON'T TALK
Intro
to an unwritten crime novel by David Belbin
The
island was almost as pretty as it looked in the brochure.
Penny got off the ferry and was immediately surrounded.
"Room. Very clean. Good price. I can take you."
"No. Thanks. I've already booked," Penny insisted,
but the pushy young men didn't seem to understand. "Hotel
Marobar," Penny added. The young men all began to laugh.
"Hotel Marobar", said one and pointed at a burnt
out building on a hill above the harbour.
Penny couldn't believe the way this holiday was going. First,
her boyfriend had chucked her the day before they were due
to set off. Then her weekend in Athens had been hot and
horrible. Now this...
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