New York Times Bestselling novelist, screenwriter, editor, namer, critic, movie addict and chocoholic.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Guest Blog, How I Write by Clea Simon
My colleague and friend Clea Simon is guest blogging today. Clea is the author of of Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings (Penguin), Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads (Wiley), The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats (St. Martin's), and the Theda Krakow mysteries, Mew is for Murder, Cattery Row, and Cries and Whiskers (Poisoned Pen Press)and the upcoming Probable Claws! Many thanks, Clea!
How do we get started? Wow, that’s a big topic. But since Caroline and I are both starting new projects (dare I call them “books” yet?), this is what we’ve been chatting about. She’s letting me ramble on a bit – THANK YOU, CAROLINE – and I’m running her thoughts on my blog. How We Do What We Do…
The blank page is a daunting thing. No matter how many great ideas we have in the shower or while driving (always a favorite place for bits of dialogue and plot complications to pop up), when I sit down at the computer and see that blank page, my creative mind goes into hiding. Whatever I write won’t match those daydreams. However I craft a sentence, it won’t be as graceful, as evocative. As good.
So how do I get started? I’ll be honest, I almost forgot. This summer was eaten up by revisions and small projects, and although I’d promised myself that I’d start my next mystery in September, Labor Day came and went with nothing written. But then I was talking to a friend, another writer, who is thinking of recasting her screenplay as a novel, but was having problems. And it just came out: “Think of a scene and write it.”
Simple, huh? But that’s how I do it. Each night, as I make dinner or floss, I try to imagine what happens next. Not in a grand sense, necessarily, of motive or overall theme. But just what would naturally be the next scene. It might be chronological – the characters are going to sleep: Did they dream? Did they wake refreshed? Or do I not care about that and want to jump ahead to the next day at work, when I know someone is going to pick a fight? I don’t know what will happen, or how long that scene will be. Or even if that scene will make it into the next draft! But as long as I have a set up, a conversation, or even something my character has to do – well, I have something to work on the next day, and the page gets filled!
I love this! Great idea you two...and as always, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGina :)
Thanks, Gina! You should check out Caroline's entry today on my blog: http://cleasimon.blogspot.com too.
ReplyDeleteHiya, Clea! And welcome!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leora!
ReplyDeletevalium anxiety valium best anxiety - vertigo medication valium
ReplyDeletegeneric tramadol tramadol dosage 25mg - tramadol dosage 15 lb dog
ReplyDeletegeneric ativan ativan withdrawal 1 mg - ativan withdrawal signs
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol with cod tramadol online us pharmacy - buy tramadol with cod
ReplyDeletetramadol 50mg tramadol 50 mg price streets - tramadol 50 mg online
ReplyDeletebuy klonopin online klonopin dosage for restless leg syndrome - klonopin 3rd trimester
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol drug - tramadol online purchase
ReplyDeletetramadol online tramadol tolerance - tramadol hcl high
ReplyDeleteativan pills uses of ativan 2mg - ativan high how many
ReplyDeletebest buy tramadol order tramadol online no rx - tramadol hcl 50 mg generic ultram
ReplyDeleteklonopin mg klonopin side effects blood pressure - klonopin withdrawal constipation
ReplyDeletetramadol online tramadol with no prescription needed - tramadol overdose antidote
ReplyDeleteativan anxiety ativan zoloft withdrawal - lorazepam 1mg para que serve
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol saturday delivery buy tramadol store - tramadol online apotheke
ReplyDeletetramadol online overnight tramadol pregnancy - buy tramadol cod saturday delivery
ReplyDeletebuy soma online no prescription soma san diego facebook - soma muscle relaxer narcotic
ReplyDeleteambien generic online ambien - ambien cr side effects double vision
ReplyDeletebuy ativan online ativan side effects shaking - ativan sexual side effects
ReplyDeletecan you buy tramadol online tramadol ultram 50 mg tablet - tramadol hydrochloride tablets 100mg
ReplyDeletetramadol buy tramadol 100mg - order tramadol online overnight
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online costco pharmacy ambien cr - ambien cr pharmacy prices
ReplyDeletebuy carisoprodol online soma san diego info - cheap somas online
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online ambien test positive on drug test - ambien cr in generic
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online buy tramadol 6914 - order tramadol next day delivery
ReplyDeleteorder tramadol online mastercard tramadol veterinary - buy cheap tramadol overnight
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol with cod can i order tramadol online legally - buy tramadol in uk
ReplyDeletebuy clonazepam klonopin withdrawal in neonates - can you overdose klonopin
ReplyDeletecheap tramadol buy tramadol order cheap tramadol online - tramadol 325 dosage
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online legally buy brand ambien online - ambien side effects heart palpitations
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol ultram tramadol 60 mg - buy tramadol usa
ReplyDeletebuy generic ambien online buy cheap ambien online no prescription - ambien during klonopin withdrawal
ReplyDeletesoma online soma drug carisoprodol - soma pills dosage
ReplyDeleteorder klonopin no prescription high effects of klonopin - buy generic clonazepam
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol qt interval - tramadol high blood pressure
ReplyDeleteativan online high on ativan - ativan side effects weight loss
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online ambience mall gurgaon attraction - ambien cr 10mg
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online ambien cr now generic - buy ambien online no prescription needed
ReplyDeleteklonopin online high does klonopin get you - klonopin pill colors
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol cod overnight tramadol junkie - purchase of tramadol
ReplyDeleteorder soma soma muscle relaxant drug testing - soma san diego as i lay dying
ReplyDeletebuy generic tramadol online kegunaan tramadol hcl - buy tramadol online in florida
ReplyDeletebuy soma online no prescription soma muscle spasms - soma drug addiction
ReplyDeletebuy sildenafil online buy viagra online cheap with no prescription - is the viagra you buy online real
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online overnight viagra online overnight shipping - buy viagra online australia fast delivery
ReplyDeletetramadol online cod cheap tramadol - tramadol purchase online uk
ReplyDeleteclonazepam online side effects from stopping klonopin - buy clonazepam with mastercard
ReplyDeletediscount ambien ambience mall gurgaon apartments - ambien generic same
ReplyDeletesoma price buy soma online - what do soma pills look like
ReplyDeletecheap ambien no prescription color of ambien pill - taking ambien and alcohol
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol saturday delivery buy tramadol from india - tramadol 800mg
ReplyDeletebuy ambien online ambien over counter medication - ambien side effects loss of appetite
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online viagra online boots - cheap viagra line
ReplyDeletesoma sale buy soma online cod - soma compound
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online cheap tramadol online for cheap - ultram online prescription
ReplyDeleteklonopin online much 2mg klonopin worth - klonopin and alcohol brain damage
ReplyDeleteordering ambien online ambien high dosage - ambien cr 12.5 side effects
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online paypal viagra 200mg - viagra 50mg online
ReplyDeletebuy viagra 100mg order viagra now - order viagra
ReplyDeletecheapest soma soma no prescription saturday delivery - soma 350 mg prescribed
ReplyDeletegeneric clonazepam klonopin 5 htp - buy clonazepam online india
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online buy viagra online nz - viagra online from canada generic
ReplyDeletebuy viagra generic viagra delivered to canada' - safest place buy viagra online
ReplyDeletesoma online pharmacy soma muscle relaxer for menstrual cramps - soma frames
ReplyDeletebuy soma online motels near soma san diego - soma show up drug screen
ReplyDeletebuy viagra can you buy viagra in qatar - generic viagra 150 mg pills
ReplyDeletebuy viagra las vegas generic viagra online australia - can buy viagra canada
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online viagra online france - viagra kidneys
ReplyDeletetramadol online buy tramadol with american express - tramadol for cats
ReplyDeletebuy viagra locally jimmy kimmel viagra for women - buy viagra cheap online no prescription
ReplyDeletegeneric viagra 50mg viagra dosage mg - where can you buy real generic viagra
ReplyDeleteviagra online how can i buy real viagra with no prescription - viagra side effects
ReplyDeletebuy soma online soma medication for migraines - cheap hotels soma bay
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol without a script tramadol hcl 150 - tramadol 50 mg street value
ReplyDeleteorder viagra pills men's health viagra online - cheap viagra women
ReplyDeletetramadol online tramadol overdose seizure - tramadol overdose how many
ReplyDeletelegal buy tramadol online tramadol 200mg er high - buy tramadol online no prescription usa
ReplyDeletebuy cialis no prescription canada can you buy cialis online with no prescription - generic cialis for sale
ReplyDeletetramadol online how is tramadol addiction treated - buy tramadol us
ReplyDeletebuy viagra online next day delivery viagra online trusted - cheap viagra kamagra from the u.k
ReplyDeletecialis online cheap cialis viagra online - purchase cheap cialis soft tabs
ReplyDeletebuy propecia generic propecia will available - cheap generic propecia uk
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg efectos secundarios - tramadol hcl vs.tylenol 3
ReplyDeletebuy viagra pfizer viagra online cheap - order viagra online overnight delivery
ReplyDeleteviagra online generic viagra 100mg price - viagra online quebec
ReplyDeleteorder viagra for women viagra online with paypal - buy viagra online in india
ReplyDeletebuy propecia online propecia results young men - propecia walgreens
ReplyDeletebuy real cialis online cheap cialis from india - free trial cialis coupon
ReplyDeletetramadol overnight shipping order tramadol online prescription - order tramadol online check
ReplyDeletegeneric propecia buy propecia online in the uk - generic finasteride propecia finpecia review
ReplyDeletebuy cheap generic viagra online viagra buy online no prescription uk - buy viagra cialis canada
ReplyDeleteorder tramadol what is tramadol 50mg tablets - tramadol 50 mg high
ReplyDeletebuy viagra safest place to buy generic viagra - cheap viagra 100mg uk
ReplyDeletebuy finasteride online propecia the crack ho - .25 mg propecia side effects
ReplyDeletecheap tramadol no prescription buy tramadol 24x7 - side effects of tramadol 50 mg
ReplyDeletebuy retin-a retin a micro reviews anti aging - retin a cream for wrinkles
ReplyDeletebuy viagra viagra online original - buy viagra online mastercard
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol buy tramadol online in canada - how long does tramadol high last
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol hcl gluten - tramadol hcl 10 mg
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol no prescription tramadol dosage comparison - tramadol online
ReplyDeletecan you buy tramadol online legally tramadol 50 mg for humans - tramadol withdrawal plan
ReplyDeleteorder tramadol overnight cheap tramadol no prescription - tramadol 50mg side effects in dogs
ReplyDeletebuy retin-a online buy retin a 1 gel - retin a cream what is it used for
ReplyDeleteorder tramadol online tramadol withdrawal effects - buy 100mg tramadol online
ReplyDeletetramadol 50 mg buy tramadol cod online - buy tramadol in florida
ReplyDeletetramadol 50mg tramadol cod online pharmacy - tramadol addiction support
ReplyDeletetramadol online pharmacy tramadol addiction - best website buy tramadol
ReplyDeleteretin-a online pharmacy retin a cream 0.05 side effects - buy retin-a online pharmacy
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol with mastercard tramadol hcl gout - tramadol withdrawal long does last
ReplyDeletetramadol 50 mg tramadol dosage 12 pound dog - buy tramadol online next day delivery
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online buy tramadol no prescription mastercard - tramadol overdose emed
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol tramadol generic - tramadol
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol 100mg pills - what is tramadol 50mg tablets for
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol with cod tramadol overdose what to do - tramadol online with cod
ReplyDeletetramadol 50 mg buy tramadol online fedex - buy tramadol in europe
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg high - order tramadol american express
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol dosage 627 - can you buy tramadol online legally
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol 50mg how many to get high - tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg get high
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol buy tramadol no prescription mastercard - buy cheap tramadol cod
ReplyDeletetramadol 50 mg tramadol hcl like vicodin - tramadol hcl blood thinner
ReplyDeletebuy cheap propecia reliable propecia online - propecia vs generic
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online mastercard overnight buy tramadol online no prescription usa - cheap generic tramadol
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online picture of generic tramadol - tramadol 50 mg for ultram
ReplyDeletetramadol online is it ok to take 100mg of tramadol - what are the best sites to buy tramadol online
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol 627 get high - buy tramadol online europe
ReplyDeletegeneric viagra viagra online ratings - cheap viagra without rx
ReplyDeletetramadol online no prescription tramadol for dogs liquid - que es tramadol 50mg
ReplyDeletetramadol online pharmacy tramadol overdose - tramadol 50mg pain
ReplyDeletegeneric cialis buy cialis saudi arabia - viagra or cialis online
ReplyDeletesildenafil citrate allinurl generic-viagra viagra - viagra online us
ReplyDeletecialis online usa buy cialis england - cialis canadian pharmacy
ReplyDeletegeneric viagra generic viagra us suppliers - ok buy viagra online
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription jual viagra online - viagra online us
ReplyDeletecheap viagra viagra for women to buy - viagra age 75
ReplyDeletecialis online no prescription cialis online next day - cialis generic date
ReplyDeletebuy generic cialis no prescription cialis alternative - cialis daily available nhs
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online order tramadol next day delivery - tramadol 50mg hcl high
ReplyDeletebuy viagra cheap viagra next day delivery - order cheapest viagra
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription buy generic viagra us online - cheap viagra soft tabs
ReplyDeletegeneric viagra cialis vs viagra buy online - buy viagra online us pharmacy
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription buy viagra us legally - legal buy viagra online us
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription where to buy viagra reviews - where to buy viagra online forum
ReplyDeletecialis no prescription generic cialis black 800mg - buy generic cialis online usa
ReplyDeletetramadol 100mg uss cheap tramadol - tramadol er maximum dosage
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription how to order viagra from us - generic viagra online review
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol buy tramadol online australia - tramadol online for cheap
ReplyDeletepurchase viagra order viagra online without script - order generic viagra online us
ReplyDeletegeneric cialis generic cialis online usa - is generic cialis bad
ReplyDeleteviagra without prescription cheap viagra 150 mg - cheap viagra online canadian pharmacy
ReplyDeleteorder cialis online no prescription cialis quebec - generic cialis best price
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription viagra buy singapore - can women buy viagra
ReplyDeleteorder viagra online does viagra work for paraplegics - canadian online pharmacy for viagra
ReplyDeletebuy cialis generic cialis rx - generic cialis south africa
ReplyDeleteviagra online without prescription buy viagra mastercard - cheap viagra pills for sale
ReplyDeletecialis 20mg cialis once daily review - buy cialis online india
ReplyDeletecialis professional order cialis online uk - cialis price dubai
ReplyDeletecialis professional cialis reviews daily - cialis pdo 6
ReplyDeletebuy soma online discount soma no prescription - buy somatropin tablets
ReplyDeletegeneric cialis tadalafil cialis discount - buy viagra cialis online
ReplyDeletecialis online pharmacy cialis online is it safe - cialis soft
ReplyDeletecheapest viagra generic viagra online us - can you buy viagra chemist
ReplyDeletebuy cialis cialis soft tabs online - buy cialis online with mastercard
ReplyDeletebuy cialis order cialis online overnight - cialis price uae
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online ordertramadolonline - tramadol hcl 50 mg erowid
ReplyDeletesoma 350 mg soma front closure bras - generic soma names
ReplyDeleteviagra online buy viagra online us paypal - buy viagra legally online
ReplyDeleteviagra online cheap viagra kamagra from the u.k - viagra y diabetes
ReplyDeletesoma online pharmacy cheap restaurants soma - buy soma tramadol
ReplyDeletebuy soma online soma muscle relaxer pregnancy - buy soma puzzle
ReplyDeleteviagra online can you buy viagra in us over the counter - cheap viagra kamagra from the u.k
ReplyDeleteviagra online can i buy generic viagra - viagra online amazon
ReplyDeletebuy soma online discount coupon for soma - soma intimates models
ReplyDeleteorder soma aura-soma online readings - where are soma bras made
ReplyDeletesoma pills buy soma in usa - cheap eats soma san francisco
ReplyDeletesoma medication soma institute - do soma pills expire
ReplyDeletecheap soma online buy soma online cash on delivery - buy soma underwear
ReplyDeletebuy soma online generic soma with v - soma 014a
ReplyDeletebuy soma online no prescription where are soma bras made - pictures of generic soma
ReplyDeletebuy soma how to buy somatropin online - soma drug in brave new world
ReplyDeletebuy soma generic cheap parking soma san francisco - soma 350 mg muscle relaxer
ReplyDeletebuy soma online order soma texas - soma muscle relaxer dogs
ReplyDeletebuy soma online order cheap soma online - generic for soma muscle relaxer
ReplyDeletesoma cheap what does the drug soma look like - soma and alcohol
ReplyDeletesoma online soma sleepwear sale - cheap soma overnight
ReplyDeletebuy soma buy generic soma online no prescription - soma opiate
ReplyDeleteretin a gel retin a micro 8 weeks - retin-a side effects darkening
ReplyDeletesoma generic generic soma online - soma 10 off
ReplyDeletebuy soma soma medication website - soma medication strengths
ReplyDeleteorder tramadol online mastercard buy tramadol online legal - buy tramadol online with a cod
ReplyDeletetramadol online order tramadol online no prescription overnight - buy tramadol online no prescription cheap
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol online tramadol hcl 50 mg weight loss - tramadol hydrochloride buy online
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol cod online tramadol to buy online - buy tramadol online europe
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol 100mg tramadol 50mg for dogs and humans - tramadol hcl 50 mg uses
ReplyDeletebuy tramadol medication order tramadol online 100mg - buy tramadol no prescription overnight
ReplyDeleteretin a gel retin a micro instructions - retin a cream comedogenic
ReplyDeletegeneric cialis cialis online mexico - buy cialis online overnight shipping
ReplyDeletetramadol online overnight tramadol online shipping - tramadol hcl 30 mg
ReplyDelete