Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Mahon  Mark,
Thanks to you and Amanda for a really interesting interview. It was great to meet her at the joint signing you did in Banbury when Imperial Assassin and The Poisoned Crown came out, and this interview really fills in some gaps.  There are two further things I'd be really interested to know, next time Amanda is passing:
(1) which tends to come first - the core of the plot, or the idea for the characters? Or does this vary from book to book?
(2) does Amanda still write short fiction, or does she focus exclusively on novel-length stories?
Thanks,
Patrick. |
1) I would say theme comes first, rather than plot or character, both of which tend to just grow - or you hope they do! - as you go along. I have an overview of the book before I start but I like to leave lots of room for it to develop. Then I dive in and see what happens.
I'll make plot and chapter notes as I go, maybe 3 or 4 chapters ahead, then as my ideas firm I'll do a sketch plan that goes all the way to the end. But that doesn't usually happen until I'm about half way through. However, this modus operandi varies according to the type of fiction you're writing. A whodunit, for instance, has to be plotted from scratch (I haven't written any, but that's how I'd do it if I did. Christie is still the model for us all). With my romantic comedies, I lay out a scenario rather than a plot-line, and then just let the characters get on with it. Fantasy, as I said, is theme-based. You get to know the characters as you go. If you're doing it right, you'll know because they have their own identity and they take over by themselves.
2) I don't do much short fiction, if you mean short stories and so on - it doesn't pay! Also, I tend to think long. But I'd like an excuse to do a few more shorts. Comedy, horror, ghost stories and erotica all lend themselves to a concise format. I'd really like to try doing some of those. Might pass on the erotica, though you never know. As long asI don't end up a candidate for the Bad Sex Award...