This is so interesting. I'm definitely a plotter so I don't know how Lisa does it without having a bit of plot in place beforehand, especially as her books are quite twisty. I've just done a masterclass with Lee Child and he has the opening idea or question and an image. That's it! He says it's terrifying, like standing on top of a tall building every day. Lee also says he doesn't allow himself to go back and edit to make the plot work, he's just got to make it work given what he's already written. Mind blowing! About to look at your masterclass now JoJo!
Hi Yasmin, I've just started. I read Killing Floor and I absolutely love the Amazon Reacher series. Very sad I've now seen all the seasons. I can recommend Lee Child's BBC Masterclass. It's reasonably priced and I learned so much about his technique.
Fascinating thanks JoJo! As a pantser trying to become a plotter, this was incredibly satisfying to read. I've been trying to switch because I convinced myself that it was a stupid way to write crime, but if it's good enough for Lisa Jewell, then it's good enough for anyone!
I'm going to go back and read my copy of Writing Into The Dark by Dean Wesley Smith and maybe embrace my inner pantser again.
Such a great interview! Lisa’s method is so inspiring. I always try to plan my books, but I tend to veer away from the plan very quickly and end up pantsing my way through the back half. As Lisa suggests, it can be a painful, but very rewarding process.
Great interview. I'm definitely a pantser! If I tried to plot, then my writing just feels prescriptive and lacking. I like to discover my story in real-time with my characters.
What fascinating interview. As a pantser I've struggled to understand and explain how it all works. But Lisa's explanations had me nodding away. Sometimes I've wondered if it's a sensible way to write crime, but it's great to know others work in similar ways.
Fascinating. I may need to get a copy of The House We Grew Up In as I’m currently decluttering my house (and writing about it on here!) and helping my mum do the same with hers ahead of moving. I love this though - the difference between planning and pantsing - or character led work versus plot led. I think I plan the basics and love world building, then let the characters evolve as I go. But I’m just starting out. Thank you for this 💚
Fascinating to read how other writers work. I'm a pantser, but I have a bit more of an arc in mind when I start than Lisa does. Whenever I try to plan more than that, though, I end up going in a diffrent direction anyway, so I've decided to embrace how I write and not waste time on that.
What an inspiring interview. I sit on the fence between pantser and plotter. I need some creative leeway. I sometimes sit down to write a chapter and it turns out different as I write it. Like it’s writing itself, so I get where Lisa is coming from, but the whole book - wow!
I find this fascinating. I’ve only ever written as it comes to me and I hated it at school when writing an essay we had to show our plan.
In my view I just get the best results when I just run with what enters my head.
When I belonged to a writing group of expats around a farmhouse table… we would write for 3 minutes with four or five random words picked from a book on a shelf. We would then read aloud what we’d come up with in three minutes. Always incredible… no planning but the genesis of fascinating stories. We would then flesh out a character by describing them as a piece of furniture or a car…. But strangely the six of us much preferred to just run with our unstructured thoughts and revel in our amazing imaginations.
This is so interesting. I'm definitely a plotter so I don't know how Lisa does it without having a bit of plot in place beforehand, especially as her books are quite twisty. I've just done a masterclass with Lee Child and he has the opening idea or question and an image. That's it! He says it's terrifying, like standing on top of a tall building every day. Lee also says he doesn't allow himself to go back and edit to make the plot work, he's just got to make it work given what he's already written. Mind blowing! About to look at your masterclass now JoJo!
I’m reading the Reacher series at the moment. Want to learn more about Lee Child’s work.
Hi Yasmin, I've just started. I read Killing Floor and I absolutely love the Amazon Reacher series. Very sad I've now seen all the seasons. I can recommend Lee Child's BBC Masterclass. It's reasonably priced and I learned so much about his technique.
Good to know about the masterclass Sanjida. Thanks.
Fascinating thanks JoJo! As a pantser trying to become a plotter, this was incredibly satisfying to read. I've been trying to switch because I convinced myself that it was a stupid way to write crime, but if it's good enough for Lisa Jewell, then it's good enough for anyone!
I'm going to go back and read my copy of Writing Into The Dark by Dean Wesley Smith and maybe embrace my inner pantser again.
I love it - embrace your inner pantser!
Thanks for mentioning this book - just bought it in the hope that it can lift me out of plotting paralysis!
loved this. So helpful. And reassuring. The firing neurons! No! AI can't touch firing neurons!
What an enchanting conversation. I am a pantser and love it when the characters appear! Hats off!
Such a great interview! Lisa’s method is so inspiring. I always try to plan my books, but I tend to veer away from the plan very quickly and end up pantsing my way through the back half. As Lisa suggests, it can be a painful, but very rewarding process.
Great interview. I'm definitely a pantser! If I tried to plot, then my writing just feels prescriptive and lacking. I like to discover my story in real-time with my characters.
What fascinating interview. As a pantser I've struggled to understand and explain how it all works. But Lisa's explanations had me nodding away. Sometimes I've wondered if it's a sensible way to write crime, but it's great to know others work in similar ways.
Fascinating. I may need to get a copy of The House We Grew Up In as I’m currently decluttering my house (and writing about it on here!) and helping my mum do the same with hers ahead of moving. I love this though - the difference between planning and pantsing - or character led work versus plot led. I think I plan the basics and love world building, then let the characters evolve as I go. But I’m just starting out. Thank you for this 💚
Lisa’s method of writing is truly terrifying - it’s a good job she’s a genius!
Fascinating to read how other writers work. I'm a pantser, but I have a bit more of an arc in mind when I start than Lisa does. Whenever I try to plan more than that, though, I end up going in a diffrent direction anyway, so I've decided to embrace how I write and not waste time on that.
What an inspiring interview. I sit on the fence between pantser and plotter. I need some creative leeway. I sometimes sit down to write a chapter and it turns out different as I write it. Like it’s writing itself, so I get where Lisa is coming from, but the whole book - wow!
Such a great conversation! I might enjoy Lisa’s books even more now I know how organic they are. Wow!
I LOVED this, what a generous, inspiring and surprising conversation. Lisa's novels feel so stylish and so deliberate, so this has blown my mind.
I find this fascinating. I’ve only ever written as it comes to me and I hated it at school when writing an essay we had to show our plan.
In my view I just get the best results when I just run with what enters my head.
When I belonged to a writing group of expats around a farmhouse table… we would write for 3 minutes with four or five random words picked from a book on a shelf. We would then read aloud what we’d come up with in three minutes. Always incredible… no planning but the genesis of fascinating stories. We would then flesh out a character by describing them as a piece of furniture or a car…. But strangely the six of us much preferred to just run with our unstructured thoughts and revel in our amazing imaginations.
What lovely exercises.
I love Lisa Jewell, but never expected she would be a pantser. As a pantser myself this is fabulous news!
Ha! Love this! So fascinating. 🫶🏻