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 How
I Write
Most of my books start with an idea that comes out of nowhere,
when I'm thinking about something else - like peeling the
potatoes or sitting in a school concert. I don't get a whole
story, but just a little snippet of an idea. It might be
a character, or a place, or a tiny little scene, but whatever
it is, it hits me - WHAM. I think, 'I've got to know what
that's all about.'
Often, the story involves something I'm really ignorant
about, like Siberia, or elephants, or playing in a rock
band. So I might start by doing quite a lot of reading,
to feel my way into the background. I don't usually get
ideas directly from the research I do, but it builds up
my confidence and helps me to imagine.
When I actually begin writing the story, I probably don't
know a great deal about it. I have to know how it starts,
and who the main characters are, and I have a sort of idea
of what's going to happen at the end, but the middle is
a complete mystery. I find out about it by asking myself
lots of questions (what if . . . what would that really
be like . . . how would I feel . . . ?) and I tell myself
the story, writing it down as I go. If it gets boring, I
throw the boring bit away (and sometimes some of the unboring
bits too) and start again.
By the time I get to the end, it's usually a real mess,
because I've changed my mind about things while I'm writing.
I sort it out by re-writing it, three or four times - or
as many times as it takes. That may sound boring, but it's
my favourite bit. I love to feel the story coming right,
and I love the way that changing one or two sentences can
affect the whole thing. I work harder and harder each time
I re-write.
And the moment I finish, I'm desperate for another idea,
if I haven't had one already, because writing is so great.
But I can't force ideas to come. I have to wait...
Beginnings
When Sarah came home from school, there was a huge parcel
on the doorstep. It was as big as she was - and it was floating
half a metre above the ground...
'No!' Andrew shouted. 'No, I won't do it! You can't make
me - '
The other boys just laughed and pushed him across the playground...
I have always found it lonely, being three metres tall...
It was Kate who saw the poster stuck on the old oak tree.
The Great Cake Challenge, it said. Underneath was a picture
of a man with the biggest moustache she'd ever seen...
Stephen was halfway down the alley when he saw the figure
standing in the shadows. He was just going to run away,
when the music began...
Endings
...and I stood there, not knowing which path to take.
...when the sun came up, the whole place was gleaming with
new white paint. If you didn't know what had happened, you
would never have guessed.
...'I'm here!' Paul yelled, standing on the rock and waving
frantically. 'Lauren! Look, John! I'm here!'
...Just as long as I never have to eat another banana!
...I looked at the photograph for the last time. A long,
long look. And then I tore it into tiny little pieces.
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