1) What am I working on?
I’m currently redrafting my most recent novel, a sequel to my dystopia World-Mart, and the process has been painstaking. I’m also working on a dramatic horror novella series, for which I’ve completed two installments.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My work differs from most other horror stories in its literary slant. While literary horror is not entirely rare, I think what I write is particularly loyal to the style. I want my work to be artful without being pretentious, to send chills down my readers’ spines while also leaving them with important questions in mind—haunt them with provocative language portraying frightening concepts and imagery, but also haunt them with disturbing put pertinent issues seeded between the lines.
3) Why do I write what I do?
I write what I do because I have so much I want to say, so much I need to share, and writing is the only way I really know how to express it all. I’m the stereotypical introvert: I’m at my most comfortable sitting behind a keyboard; I feel awkward conveying my thoughts in person; and I am often at my happiest during times of silent reflection. Said reflection often results in observations I feel the need to share, and so I do it in the best way I know how. How clichéd is that? ;-)
4) How does my writing process work?
It usually begins with that big what if?—a thought or question that refuses to leave me. From there, I start seeing scenes in my mind’s eye, and with that, characters begin to emerge. Language begins to swirl through my thoughts until I’m left with a whirlwind that will only continue to grow in momentum until I face it, which of course requires that I address the intrusion and appease the muse imposing it. I move on to the next big questions: How does this issue affect these characters? What horrors might result from them? Are there any monsters of greater evils that might represent this horror? What can they do to fight it? Is said fight fruitful or futile? Why it all of that so important, and how does it relate to the world as we know it? From all of that, a story begins to emerge.
I begin writing character sketches—a page on each of my main players specifying name, age, profession, likes, dislikes, personal quirks, interpersonal relationships, and a brief history. I also write a basic outline, which is really a skeleton for the story that merely places an order to the main plot points, hidden bits of personal agenda, and literary devices I will cover. When I begin the actual writing, I tend to jump head first into the deep end. I let the muses decide upon the tone and how the story first unfolds.
From there, I write mini-outlines for chapters I know will be especially complicated while opting to let the story tell itself in others. Often, the muses will take the storyline in an unexpected direction, which requires I revise my outline accordingly and do my best to continue moving forward. I think it’s a good system. It works for me. For more about my personal process, see my previous blog posts “Building a Novel” and “We Write What We Will.”
Thanks so much for stopping by! Look forward to the next authors to participate in this blog hop on February 23:
Allison M. Dickson