Susan May Warren

This question came from Jenn S: I would love to know how you come up with different plots — I mean, how do you make it so that your stories don’t all sound like they’re cut & paste from the same “formula”?

Thanks for your question, Jenn! I think the important part in coming up with new stories is asking myself the question – would I care? Would I want to know about this person/situation/plot/emotional drama, etc. There are SO many stories out there, and I have to spend about four –six months with a story, so I want to write stories that will intrigue me first, and cause me to wonder how they turn out. This is why I write about interesting professions (like a Bush pilot, or a K9 Dog trainer, or even a spy), or interesting locales (Alaska, Russia, Taiwan), or even interesting plots (what would happen if someone attacked the pipeline in Alaska?). And then, if I plot the book according to the characters’ deepest needs and fears (something I talk about in my classes), then I’m creating a plot that is as pure and character-driven as I can.

So, I suppose you can say, a story has to catch my interest before I can write about it. Thank you for the great question!

What would YOU like to ask a writer? This summer, “Ask a Writer Anything!” Go to my website contest page to enter the “Ask an Author Anything!” Contest! and be eligible to win a free book.

From: Deena P
If you could sit down over coffee with any of your characters, who would it be and what would the two of you talk about??

Great question! I think I would chat with Lacey Montgomery. She was the ex-spy/mother on the run from Flee the Night (I also liked Nadia, the Cold War spy from Russia…I guess there is a theme here!). I would really love to pick Lacey’s brain on her past missions and her creativity in tense situations. I am a huge fan of spy novels (I love the entire “secret agent” genre) and love to create characters who can think on their feet and blend into crazy situations. Plus, I could use Lacey’s insights on creating my new character, PJ Sugar, a PI-Assistant who goes undercover to solve crimes in her tiny town in Minnesota. (Look for the book in 2009!)

The male character I’d love to meet would probably be Will Masterson, the hero in Escape to Morning. I love “Wild Will” because he is a hero just trying to do the right thing, and not always getting it right. Or maybe I would chat with Jonah – Joe Michaels, my hero from Happily Ever After. He’s been around the world and is a fellow author, so maybe we’d have a lot in common. And then there is Scottish “Mac” McRae from Expect the Sunrise. Oh boy…too many heroes!!

Okay, really, now people are going to think I’ve lost my mind.

Great Question! Thank you for asking! And be sure to stop by my website contest page to enter the “Ask an Author Anything!” Contest (Even if it makes her sound like she’s gone over the edge!)

Do you think it is possible to write a book while you are holding down a fulltime job at the same time? And if you do, what are one or two major things you must tackle to be successful at it?

Great question! In today’s publishing world, I think most authors hold down a full time job while they are starting to write. Publishing doesn’t pay too well in the early years (authors like Grisham, N. Sparks and S. King are NOT the norm. *g*) so it’s important to have another source of income. However, admittedly it isn’t easy to write while having a full time job, and there are definitely some techniques to help make this an easier task. Since I am a home-schooler, which FEELS like a full time job, here are some of the things I do to carve out productive time.

1. Establish a set time every day, or every other day to write and keep this time sacred. Block it out on your calendar. If you only write “when you can,” then there will always be things that will get in the way…from walking the dog to making chocolate chip cookies… Set a time, and keep that appointment with yourself, telling yourself you are investing in your dreams.

2. Keep a writing Journal and every day log what you have done, and your goals for the next day. You will access different sides of your brain as you are writing than you do when you are working, and instead of always keeping both sides active, if you write down where you were and where you want to go each day, you can let your creative side “rest” while you are at work, knowing you can pick right back up when you return to your writing enclave.

3. Keep a notepad handy. Even though you have made notes for yourself to keep your creative side from overloading, your subconscious will still be working…and I guarantee that you will be right in the middle of a meeting, or an email, or even lunch, and suddenly you will hear/see/dream up your next scene. Quick – grab your notebook before you lose your thought and write down just enough words to trigger the memory again, later. Then, you won’t have lost it, but will have put it into its appropriate place to be pulled out during your writing time.

4. Rest and Recreate! When you have a full time job AND are trying to write, it’s very important to escape from BOTH of those to exercise, or hang out with friends, read a good book, or even watch television. The well of ideas will run dry if you don’t replenish, so make sure you schedule in time for these. BALANCE is the key here, even if you have to cut down on social time, etc. to write. Hermits are only good writers in fiction novels.

It’s not easy to hold down a full-time job and write, but if you carve out specific time, set goals, make notes to capture your creativity and stay well-balanced in the other areas of life, you will find that the writing will spill out of you, and that sooner than later, you will have a finished novel! (or 2 or 3!) Happy Writing!