Carolyn McBride
asked
G.S. Jennsen:
Do you have a specific method of working that allows you to be so prolific?
G.S. Jennsen
Let me first say that the biggest contributor to the number of books I've published is being able to write full-time. I am in awe of people who are able to write and publish books around work and child-rearing.
As for my process, I'm a big proponent of outlining. In fact, I *must* know how the story ends before I can begin. The end of the book, the end of a trilogy, even the end of a 9-book series ;). Working from a solid outline means a book rarely goes sideways during the writing. Sure, I need to change smaller events and chapter order all the time, but the thread of the larger storyline and purpose holds everything together well.
This was hard to psyche myself into at first, but I've made peace with a first draft being full of pretty crappy writing. I've learned not to get frozen in horror at how bad, bland and boring the words are and just keep writing them. This has the added benefit of making me very eager to dive into editing and spruce them up once they're written!
Beyond that, it's about being disciplined and remembering that just because working for yourself, wherever you want, is the greatest way to work in the world, you still have to work. When I'm writing a first draft, absent life interruptions I'll write 6 days a week. Once I'm editing, it's usually 7 days a week (1/2 day on Sunday ;) ). When I'm not actively working, I'm thinking about the story - it's what happens when your passion becomes your profession.
As for my process, I'm a big proponent of outlining. In fact, I *must* know how the story ends before I can begin. The end of the book, the end of a trilogy, even the end of a 9-book series ;). Working from a solid outline means a book rarely goes sideways during the writing. Sure, I need to change smaller events and chapter order all the time, but the thread of the larger storyline and purpose holds everything together well.
This was hard to psyche myself into at first, but I've made peace with a first draft being full of pretty crappy writing. I've learned not to get frozen in horror at how bad, bland and boring the words are and just keep writing them. This has the added benefit of making me very eager to dive into editing and spruce them up once they're written!
Beyond that, it's about being disciplined and remembering that just because working for yourself, wherever you want, is the greatest way to work in the world, you still have to work. When I'm writing a first draft, absent life interruptions I'll write 6 days a week. Once I'm editing, it's usually 7 days a week (1/2 day on Sunday ;) ). When I'm not actively working, I'm thinking about the story - it's what happens when your passion becomes your profession.
More Answered Questions
Deepak Menon
asked
G.S. Jennsen:
Good to be connected with you G.S. - Would a Bell Measurement of a Quantum Particle affect an entangled particle spontaneously across the Universe without violating the constraints of Eisenstein's constraints regarding the velocity of light, considering that 'information' would necessarily have to be sent to the entangled particle after the Bell measurement was done?
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