When I started out writing and seeking to get published, I had a list of authors I wanted to be when I grew up. Susan Andersen was one of them. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be “hanging out” with her in my very own jungle! She had me at Baby, Don’t Go! and I know she will again with her August release, Cutting Loose. She’s had me at her blog, Running with Quills and I’m excited to host her here! Even more excited to find out our minds … our writing minds … are very similar! Curious? Read on …
A Non-Craft Craft Talk
When Carly invited me to do a craft blog, I wracked my brain for something to write about. I mean, I used to be crafty—I baked and made my kid batik t-shirts. I did decoupage and needlework and all kinds of things. I haven’t done much along those lines lately, though. I’m a fairly decent knitter, but I set that aside when my cats were kittens and never got back to it.
Then Carly sent me some examples of previous craft blogs.
Ohhhhhh. Craft, not crafts. And isn’t she a sweetheart? When I wrote her something along the above lines, she didn’t say, “Susan. Genius. We’re writers–why the hay-ell would we want to know about your knitting tribulations?” Of course, as anyone who knows me knows, I require no help when it comes to embarrassing myself. So. . .ahem. Is my face red. I’m relieved, though, cuz like I said, I have no chops these days when it comes to the crafts stuff.
But I still have a problem. I’m a seat of the pants type writer. (I heard that snicker, Miz Kelly!) I do tons more upfront plotting than I once did because I want an advance check and editors aren’t crazy about hearing, “I’ve got this cool character and I’ve almost got a handle on the perfect heroine to take him for the ride of his life. I’m thinking the story should start out kinda like this, and that it will end up—duh–happily ever after. Something happens in the middle, too; I’m just not sure what yet.”
So, yeah, I plot. . .just enough to sell my book. But that makes me practical, not analytical. You will find no complicated chart or note-card systems in this kid’s office. No character interviews, no twenty things that could happen. Characters simply start itching in the back of my brain until I put together a story for them.
I also write largely by correction. I find a skimpy premise for my characters to hang their hats on and I run with it, writing and rewriting until it’s no longer so scanty. My first pass through a chapter is usually just establishing the bones. Then I do what I call a print and polish—I print my chapter and begin fleshing it out. I plug in the corrections, print it up again, then go back again and again if I have to until I’ve got the heart, the nervous system, and the soul layered in. It may take me anywhere from one to a dozen P&Ps before I’m happy with the result and ready to move on to the next chapter.
For the longest time I thought that meant I wasn’t a real writer. Because real writers, I was certain, always knew exactly where they were going in their stories. Me, I was just stumbling along, totally amazed when my various layers actually formed compelling characters and believable situations in the end.
I’ve long since accepted that’s my process. I still believe there’s an element of magic to writing, since I can plot(with much help from Caroline Cross, my brainstorming partner) until my ears bleed, but until I plant my butt in the chair I honestly don’t have a clue what’s going to emerge from my brain.
Cutting Loose, which–yay!–will be out on Tuesday, swerved a bit from my usual method. I actually plotted way more of it upfront then usual because it’s the first of a trilogy that I’m calling The Sisterhood Diaries about three best friends who inherit an old mansion. I had this grandiose plan of having an overriding suspense arc that would span all three books and not be solved until the end of the third one. That would be cool, yes?
Except I’m a slow writer. And both my agent and my editor took one look at my proposal and said, “Are you freaking nuts? NO one wants to wait three years to find out whodunit!”
Hmmm. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but they had a point. I’d been so caught up in new book excitement as I’d kicked around plans for the Sisterhood with Caro that I hadn’t really thought about the time issue. I would kill to be one of those writers who has her trilogy out in three consecutive months, but in the universe I actually live in? That’s never going to happen.
So I’ve accepted my process for what it is. My characters take me in directions I never visualized when I first developed their story, my plots eventually work out and I’m always going to have to write and rewrite until I find the words I seek to tell the story I want to tell.
It’s not a pretty process and God knows it’s not quick or tidy. But as long as I can do it, I’ll produce a book that I’m proud of —even if it is only one a year. This year it’s Cutting Loose.
Did I mention what it’s about? Probably. So I’ll keep it brief.
Really brief.
Jane craves stability. Devlin’s footloose. Yet their attraction is burning-down-the-house hot.
Add a bad guy with serious envy issues and a loan shark on his ass, setting his sights on the mansion full of priceless collections that Jane and her two best friends inherited.
And things are about to cut loose.
What about you all? How do you write? Do we have more plotters here? More pantsers? Or are we split pretty much down the middle? And you readers—do you prefer books that are heavy on character or lean more toward plot? Inquiring minds wanna know, bay-bee!
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LUCKY US! Susan is giving away a signed ARC of CUTTING LOOSE! Jungle goers know the drill! Post a comment and check back tomorrow to see who won!
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Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
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Once Upon A Valentine
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Usually, I am a plotter. Even if it’s just a vague sketch of characters and story, I have to have something written down that I can use as a jump-off point. I like details, what can I say?
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Welcome to the jungle….Man, Guns & Roses is going to be running through my head all morining now.
So far, my process has been very similar to yours but I’m trying really hard to make it faster. I’ve used “First Draft in 30 Days” to get a general idea of where I’m going and how to get there. I’m using a storyboard and 3-act structure combination to make sure I stay on track and don’t wander too far off course.
I’m a NASCAR fan and the crew chief will often tell the driver, “Make sure you hit your marks.” That’s kind of what the storyboard/3 Act structure chart do for me, makes sure I hit my marks.
The pantster in me really isn’t happy about this process and throws lots of reasons up as to why it can’t/won’t work, but I keep pushing forward and persisting. Hopefully over time the pantster will see the value in this and the two sides will learn to live in harmony. I sure hope so!!
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Good morning jungle friends and my beloved :monkey :monkey :monkey :monkey,
Welcome to the Jungle Ms. Andersen…I just wanted to swing by and say hello before I left for the airport…I will check in again later…it is good to have you here…I have been dying to learn more about you because I have seen some of you books and they intrigue me…
Your blog is so funny…as a reader I like books that are a good mix…both plot and character driven…there are some books though, like Victorian lit, that I prefer as more heavy on character rather than plot…I also love JD Robb’s in Death series because they are heavy on character, imo…if it wasn’t for Eve and Roarke and how the plot impacts their characters, I would not be so into them…I probably would not have glommed onto JD Robb otherwise…I didn’t find out she was Nora until I was on book number 3…
I can’t wait to see you guys at RWA…I will swing by later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Hi Susan, It’s great to see you here in the jungle. I enjoyed your post even though I’m only a reader, especially the first part. I can imagine you are wonderful to hang out with. As for what I enjoy in books, they need to have characters that click with each other and the plot is important but a good mix of both is what gets me enjoying a book. Sometimes it also depends on what kind of book it is too. I expect more plot when it comes to a Romantic Suspense but the characters have to still have some substance to keep me buying that Authors books.
Your new book sounds like a story that I would like a lot. Have a great day, Dena
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Welcome to the jungle, Ms. Anderson! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your books. I’ve been a fan since I read Present Danger–I’ve read it twice! Great characters, they really yanked me in and I hung on for the ride. I still remember scenes from that book, I can picture your hero and heroine in my head.
My process: I do a little mind-mapping. No, it’s not painful. :giggle: I jot down one word ideas along with my character’s names on a big sheet of paper and circle them. Then I draw some lines connecting the ideas with my characters. I keep doing this until I gain some kind of direction for my story and my characters.
Then I make a few pages of notes on backstory, figure out the GMC–this is a total of 5 or 6 tops for both the hero and heroine combined. Usually before I start writing, scenes will already be popping into my head and I know where the book should start. The process of writing makes other ideas I didn’t think of initially percolate and I add them or discard them as I go along.
When I first started writing, a hundred or so years ago, I tried every method I heard about and from there developed a process that works for me. For the life of me I still can’t do character charts, character interviews and all that stuff. I tried doing a story board recently and I realized quickly that it just doesn’t work for me.
Thanks again for swinging through the jungle with us today!
Cher
http://www.chergorman.com
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I have never read Susan ANderson before but I just picked up a book of hers the other day. Can’t wait to start it.
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Welcome Susan. Enjoyed your cute and informative posting. I think a good story has to have a mix of interesting characters and plot, sometimes more heavy on one side than the other. I have read books that are mainly focused around the hero/heroine and others around a certain plot and enjoyed each of them. To me, a interesting story is a good combination of both and will leave me with a smile on my face and a satisfaction of having spent enjoyable hours reading the book.
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Hi, Susan!
It’s hard to choose between a strong plot and greatly-developed characters – why can’t I just have both?
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I have the book so please dont put me in for the draw. It is on my tbr.
But I like both – deep plot and good character development.
Good luck everyone in winning the book.
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Well i have to admit im more of a pot driven book, as long as theres a good hero and heroine involved… as someone who has recently started writing thier first work, im relieved to know im not the only one out there writing by the seat of my pants.. i had visions of all authors having the perfect story all plotted out and written in days.. whew.. what a relief..lol..
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SUSAN! WELCOME!!
Don’t worry, I never trash-talk Jungle guests.
And I have a secret for you…I’m a pantser too. SHH.
Thanks so much for being here!
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Susan, I’m curious! Do you have a critique partner? Someone you work with and/or read stuff?? Welcome, again and thanks for hanging in the jungle~
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Heavy on character or plot. . . well, actually, I’m not all that sure, but I think I just like what I pick up and enjoy. If it happens to be more character, okay, but if happens to have more plot, okay too. I’m not picky, just as long as it’s good, something I enjoy and all that good stuff!
Lois
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Susan,
I’m not a writer but I love to read…alot! And I really love to read your books…alot! I love the romance but I especially love the laugh out loud comedy that you add to all your story lines. I’ve pre-ordered Cutting Loose and I can’t wait to read it.
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This one looks really good! I have read couple of Susan’s books and they were good. I hope I get the chance to win a copy of this.
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Hey Susan! I can’t wait for Cutting Loose to come out. I don’t know if I prefer books that are heavy on character or lean more toward plot. I’m with Carly, Do you have a critique partner? Someone you work with and/or read stuff??
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I am a pantser, who is also a puzzler(in other words, I write out of order, then assemble later). That element adds to the fun.
I do some prewriting though-character interviews and backstory. I write down events I want to take place in the WIP, but then I let the characters do the leading.
LindaC
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I am a pantser, who is also a puzzler(in other words, I write out of order, then assemble later). That element adds to the fun.
I do some prewriting though-character interviews and backstory. I write down events I want to take place in the WIP, but then I let the characters do the leading.
I find discussions about everyone’s different process to be really interested. There’s always some interesting tidbit you can pick up.
LindaC
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Good morning everyone! (well, it’s still morning in the Pacific NW, anyhow)
Thank you so much to Carly and the rest of the Plotmonkeys for having me here today. Let me see if I can type some coherent messages while my cat Mojo sticks his nose under my hand and tries to flip my hand over his head to pet him as I type. (I just let him in and my boys require attention after a night out.) At least Boo is still outside. He’s a keyboard walker.
Hey lookie here, Miz Kelly–I found my own sword!
:darth: And you’re a panster, too? You poser! Nah, actually, I get it–sometimes you gotta use artistic license to complete a project and I’m actually quite relieved to know you’re not on the Dark Side.
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I am a reader… I love a book that has characters that grab hold of you and pull you into their world… Books that have emotions jump out at you… a great story that I want to read over and over! :flower4you:
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:wave: Good Saturday to you!, I’m probably more on the characters if I’m not able to get a good feel of knowing the characters it’s hard for me to get drawn in to the story because i can’t grasp to who i’m picuring that person to be or their personalities. The plot is a big part of the story and is what keeps it going, but reading to me and what the makes the story enjoyable is feeling like i know the characters. wonderful blog! I would love to be the winner of Cutting Loose!!
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Whoops. Hit submit comment too soon. Meant haven’t given IN to the Dark Side.
Okay, as to character vs plot. You all are right, of course. There has to be both. I simply find myself more forgiving of stories whose plots might be sketchy if the characters grab me by the throat. I’m less forgiving if a hero or heroine are bland or suddenly do something completely out of the character they’ve been portrayed to be up to that point.
I think one of the reasons Nora/JD is such a popular writer is she DOES do both with incredible skill but her characters are particularly compelling. I’m with Paula on the In Death books. But it’s the portrayal of Eve and Roarke and Peabody et al, that transcends the books above just another police procedural.
ANNNND…I’m stepping off my soapbox now. Because like reading taste in general this is completely subjective. We like what we like.
Can I have an Amen?
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OMG! I have been waiting for the next Susan Anderson book! I just watched the trailer on her website! Oh I cannot wait! I just love the summer! So many great reads!
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Cher, I love, love, love readers who get my books!! :lips:
Jody, I’d be interested to know down the line if you’re able to mesh the panster with the 30 day thing in the long term. And if it affects the way your creativity. I know some pantser who simply can’t plot things out ahead of time because it sucks all the joy out of their process. I’m not one of those, but that’s the fascinating thing about individual process. Everybody finds what works for them.
Carly, I do have a critique partner. Caroline Cross and I started out just hashing out specific plot points or scenes that were hanging us up. We progressed from there to brainstorming plots for books. Now we send each other our chapters. It’s amazing how easy it is to see where someone else is going south in a story. It must be that can’t see the forest for the trees thing –you’re just too close with your own work.
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Welcome to the Jungle, Susan, and you have an “AMEN, SISTER!” from me. I want to be Nora/JD as a writer “when I grow up”.
I’m a…centrist, for lack of a better term. By the time I put fingers to keyboard, I know my main characters. I know their history and I know their futures. I know that I’m starting at Point A and I’m going to end up at Point B. However, that being said, my writing often gets hijacked by secondary characters or my main characters get a wild hair and start dragging me off in a completely different direction. Does that make me a pantplotter?
After competing in National Novel Writing Month for several years, I’ve finally broken myself of the habit of getting bogged down in editing rather than writing. I’m never satisfied. Even after six or seven edits, I find something I want to change or tweak no matter how tight the writing is at that point. Now I push through the first draft, edit it, and then my critique partner and I sit down over email or IM and pick it apart. I’m lucky in that I’m married to the greatest plotter/idea comer-up-with in the world. I can bounce ideas off him when I get stuck and he gets me back on track.
Looking forward to reading “Cutting Loose”! *pases canned air to clean keyboard* What is it about
s and keyboards? Mine camps out on mine! And time to get back to it. Last chapter on the current project *yay*… 
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Oh, Dena, Dena, Dena. There is no such thing as ONLY a reader! You are what keeps our butts planted in our chairs, the reason that we write! Never undervalue your part in the process. :heart1:
And Carol R, Maureen, Phoebe and Lorrie B, thanks for the kind words re my books! :heart1: AND :lips: to you guys!
LindaC I find that “puzzling” fascinating. For me the scene I’m writing today is a natural extension and result of the one I wrote yesterday. (Or in my case more realistically last week :) But whatever works, right?
Colleen, thanks for the flower and Lori, Good Saturday to you, too!
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Silver, I hear you on the characters taking you in places you never expected. That’s why a synopsis is only a selling tool for me. I may think I know where I’m going when I set out. But then one of my characters decides she wants a bigger role or my hero has issues beyond what I planned for him, and I’m off in another direction.
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I like a great plot and great characters in a story. I think as long as it is well written is the main thing.
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I agree with several of the readers who look for a great plot and well
developed characters. Although I do lean a little more heavily toward
those characters that just completely envelop the reader into their
story, making them part of the story!
Pat Cochran
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Welcome Susan! I am a huge fan of your writing and am really looking forward to Cutting Loose.
As just a reader…I like to actually have both. I love getting to know the characters but it is great to have an action filled plot!
I am keeping my fingers crossed and I hope that everyone has a great weekend.
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Welcome to the Jungle Susan. Thanks for coming to visit us.
I am strictly a reader & one that loves your books. Since I am not good at analyzing what makes a book work for me I’m not sure if it is character or plot. I just know that a book that grabs me the first couple of pages, makes me want to keep reading, makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me cheer for the underdog, & makes me sorry the book ended is the best!! And don’t forget makes me sigh over the HEA!! Every time I read a book that makes me want to read more by that author I know that I am so grateful for all the talented authors out there that keep writing. I am looking forward to Cutting Loose & hopefully seeing you at the RWA book signing. Can’t wait! :wave:
Everyone enjoy your Saturday.
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I tend to prefer books that are heavy in plot, but not at the expense of the characters. I like getting to know about the characters in a book. I just want the best of both worlds. Good luck at the RITA awards, Susan.
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I tend to write, then rewrite, write, then rewrite…I haven’t quite gotten the hang of just writing and revising after I’m done. I thought I was the only one, but now I know you guys have similar habits.
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I tend to outline and then pants my way through to the end. I like having the framework and seeing where my characters take me. It’s always a surprise! :grin1:
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I love your books and cannot wait to read Cutting Loose, it sounds great.
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Good Afternoon and Happy Saturday! I’m just a reader and despite the thousands of books I love, I could not tell you what makes a book work for me. In some cases it’s the characters- like Kenyon’s Dark Hunters and Brockmann’s Seal Teams. I have some authors that I will read no matter what the book is about- maybe I like the overall style or something. Sometimes it’s the genre- who knows. I guess I just love a good book- and I will definitely be adding Cutting Loose to my list!! Plot Monkeys has really helped me find new authors to check out and keep up with new releases. I’m sure my husband will love it when I say I need some more books
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The plot has to be interesting a make sense, but my favorite reads tend to be about well written characters.
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Anna D, LOL. I hear you on the husband loving it (not!) wehn you add more books to the budget.
Kris, Lori T and Donna, smoochies to you for the kind words on my writing–I LOVE readers who love my work. You are, in fact, the reason I write. :flower4you:
Beth, I love love to have an outline to pantz from. That sounds like the best of both worlds.
Charlotte, wouldn’t it be great to just zoom through? If only.
Quilt lady and Pat, I’m with you on wanting both character development and plot. I just want more of the characters. :)
Jane THANK you for the good luck wishes on the RITA. I’m truly thrilled to be nominated. It’s been such a kick. Especially getting to know the other nominees through our silly trash talk video.
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Jeeze I should edit my posts. Beth I meant to say I’d love. Not I love love.
Sigh.
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Welcome to the jungle!
My favorite reads are ones that require me to invest my emotions in the characters. However, I do like a substantial, well-written plot to go along with that.
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love your books, good luck at RWA. and all you lovely ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:party:
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I love your books, Susan!
Characters and plot are both very important to me, but if I don’t care about the characters then IMO the plot is wasted.
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Okay, I wrote something else (thus the LOSER icon…SORRY!!!) I am the loser!
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A friend loaned me “Hot and Bothered” recently. It’s the first book of yours that I have had the pleasure of reading and I am loving it so far. I’m almost done – hope to finish tonight! Can’t wait to read more of your work! :wave:
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I’m happy with just about anything, without you writers, I would not have anything fun to read.
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Thanks, Kim H and Cheryl C. And thank you again to the Women of the Jungle for inviting me to visit. I had a great time.
~Susan
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Welcome to the Blog Susan!
Can’t wait to read your new book! I have enjoyed all of your books!!