Ask the Author: Lizzie Lane
Answered Questions (8)
Lizzie Lane
We all have our own way of approaching or work. I definitely fly by the seat of my pants. I am the characters, especially the protagonist. Story is king and to me defines structure.
Lizzie Lane
Two different projects, yes, but not two texts for the same project. I do go over the same work again and again. I get to about thirty thousand words then go back to the beginning and go through it again. By the time I've finished I've got 50 or 60,000 words. It's as though the first thirty thousand is a template of where the story is going. The next sixty thousand is a more detailed template; structure, character and plot are more defined. It's at this latter stage that I know where I'm going - or think I do. Then I get to 100,000 words AND ....go back to the beginning, though not without giving myself some space - say about two weeks at least. Does that make sense?
Lizzie Lane
What's that?
Sorry, I'm being factitious. If I'm not sure where the story should go next, I take a break, scrub the floor, clear out clothes I don't want, do the ironing. They're all things I can catch up on and at the same time think about what happens next. It's nothing to worry about. It's normal.
Sorry, I'm being factitious. If I'm not sure where the story should go next, I take a break, scrub the floor, clear out clothes I don't want, do the ironing. They're all things I can catch up on and at the same time think about what happens next. It's nothing to worry about. It's normal.
Lizzie Lane
Giving pleasure. The first rule of a writer/storyteller, is to entertain. Actually it was P D James I first heard say that and she was right. Don't try to be clever with words. Remember you're an entertainer.
On top of that I am doing something I love. As my father once said to me if you are working at something you love you will never do another day's work in your life - that's how it seems.
On top of that I am doing something I love. As my father once said to me if you are working at something you love you will never do another day's work in your life - that's how it seems.
Lizzie Lane
Read. Read a lot. Don't worry that you haven't got a degree in English or anything else for that matter. Be like the old tellers of Nordic sagas, the Illiad or any other great sagas. TELL the story. And be disciplined. Nobody said it would be easy. Oh, and take the advice of people who know what they're talking about.
Lizzie Lane
I'm currently working on War Dog, publication of which will follow on from War Orphans. It's about a child escaping from Germany, an English secret agent and a dog who founded a dynasty.
Lizzie Lane
Ever since I was a child I had told stories what my agent insists is a natural born story teller. I just can't help it. Even when I'm working on one book the idea for another - or more than one - is already circulating in my head. I suppose to some extent my stories are the world I would prefer to live in, probably because I'm in control of everything that happens. More complicated in real life.
Lizzie Lane
Home Sweet Home which was published at the end of December was the third in a trilogy so there were certain things that had to happen. Based the earlier two Frances just HAD to find her mother - an experience that wasn't as happy as she'd thought it would be.
My next book, hardback and ebook coming out May, paperback in September, is War Orphans, the story of an orphan girl and an abandoned puppy. It was inspired by the horrific fact that a government directive suggested euthanising all pets at the beginning of WW2. 350,000 were put down during the first week. If you liked Goodnight Mr Tom you'll like this.
My next book, hardback and ebook coming out May, paperback in September, is War Orphans, the story of an orphan girl and an abandoned puppy. It was inspired by the horrific fact that a government directive suggested euthanising all pets at the beginning of WW2. 350,000 were put down during the first week. If you liked Goodnight Mr Tom you'll like this.
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