TNBBC Presents - The Christopher Moore Author Q&A discussion

This thread is for any questions about the writing process -in general- that you would like Christopher Moore to answer.

For example:

What made you become a writer?
Who or what are your main influences?

Christopher,

What book would you recommend a new reader to start with? Is there a particular order you feel your novels are best read in?

I started with The Stupidest Angel, and then moved on to A Dirty Job. Followed that up with Bloodsucking Fiends, and You Suck, then rounded things up with Lamb.

I loved how the characters from one assumed a walk-on role in another, and it sort of became a fun game for me to try and link up the casts....

How do you come up with such unique story lines and characters?

Christopher,

How long does it take you to write a book, from the moment you determine the story line to the manuscript being submitted for editing?

Which was your book was your favorite to write? Which characters have stayed with you, if any?

When you start a new book, do you have a detailed outline to work from, or do you just have a general idea of the characters and story and start writing?

Do you have a set schedule when you sit down and write every day?

Lori wrote: "This thread is for any questions about the writing process -in general- that you would like Christopher Moore to answer.

For example:

What made you become a writer?
Who or what are your m..."

I was good at it.

Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Douglas Adams, and John Steinbeck

Lisa wrote: "When you start a new book, do you have a detailed outline to work from, or do you just have a general idea of the characters and story and start writing?

Do you have a set schedule when you sit do..."


I tend to have more of an outline than I used to because I have deadlines. I did my first five books without outlines, but now I have a lot of notes. Not really a scene by scene outline, because I like to let the story and characters grow organically, and I want to be able to incorporate new ideas I have while writing, but I have more or less a roadmap of the big events in the book that need to happen.

When I'm working on a manuscript I write every day, usually when I first get up in the morning, but sometimes, if I have other stuff going on, I'll write in the evening instead. But every day if I can.

Jackie wrote: "How do you come up with such unique story lines and characters? "

I just try to come up with original ideas. Usually by following something I find interesting, but it's not by accident. I try to put together unusual, unexpected stories.

Jo wrote: "Who inspired you to become a writer? And what books did you read that made you want to write? "

Strangely enough, there was no single influence that made me want to be a writer. I just liked reading, and stories of the fantastic were what I liked to write.

Lori wrote: "Christopher,

What book would you recommend a new reader to start with? Is there a particular order you feel your novels are best read in?

I started with The Stupidest Angel, and then moved on..."

If you're going to read them all, then I'd read them in order, which is:

Practical Demonkeeping
Coyote Blue
Bloodsucking Fiends
The Island of the Sequined Love Nun
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
Lamb
Fluke
The Stupidest Angel
A Dirty Job
You Suck: A Love Story
Fool
and coming next year:
Bite Me: A Love Story

But you can read Love Nun, Lamb, Fluke, or Fool, or A Dirty Job out of order and still enjoy them. If you haven't read my stuff, I think A Dirty Job or Lamb might be the best gateway books. Perhaps others on the forum could better answer your question.

Lori wrote: "Christopher,

How long does it take you to write a book, from the moment you determine the story line to the manuscript being submitted for editing?"

From the moment I have the idea, it can be as long as four years. Usually a big book takes me about two years, a smaller book about a year, but often I have the idea for several years before I'm able to start work on a book. I'm always working on a book, so I can't just stop and start another one when I have an idea.

Kathryn wrote: "Which was your book was your favorite to write? Which characters have stayed with you, if any?"

I think Bloodsucking Fiends was the most fun. It was my first book where there were two smartasses on stage. I'm not sure that "fun to write" is always the best gauge for a book. Sometimes the research for a book can be awesome, as in the case of hanging out with whale researchers for Fluke, but writing the book can be really hard and stressful (same book -- I had to figure out a way to make evolutionary-biology funny. Try it. It's hard.)

As for characters who have stayed with me, probably my tricksters, Biff from Lamb, Coyote from Coyote Blue, and Pocket, from Fool.

Mr. Moore -- What kinds of things do you do when you get stuck during the writing process. I hate that point where I grind to a halt and don't know where to go next!

Also, I'm curious as to what you do to stay focused on your current work. I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head that I often have five or six projects going at once. Do you have any tips on how to buckle down to give that one work all of your focus & energy to make it the very best effort you have?

One more question, if I could! How many drafts do you usually go through before you get to your final story?

Thank you again for spending some time answering our questions! It's wonderful to be able to pick the brain of such a witty, entertaining author!

What does your writing area look like?
Do you free-hand write or go right for the computer?
Do you listen to music or prefer a quiet room while working?

Following on from Stacie's questions, where is your favourite place to write?

Do you ever just go away somewhere secluded for a while and write?

Christopher,

Many authors write about people and places they know. Some authors write themselves into their story as a character.

Is there any one character you have written that is MOST like you on purpose? Or perhaps one that you would like to BE?

Katie wrote: "Mr. Moore -- What kinds of things do you do when you get stuck during the writing process. I hate that point where I grind to a halt and don't know where to go next!

Also, I'm curious as to what ..."

When I get stuck I have to just keep going at it from different angles until I get unstuck. This is what I do. I don't have the luxury of not moving forward.Sometimes you have to write a few pages of crap to figure out what you really need to write.


I only write one book at a time. Beginning to end. If I have other ideas I'll definitely keep notes, and I can research one book while writing another, but I have to finish one before starting another. I learned early on, no one cares about your awesome chapter one. You have to finish books or they aren't real.

Usually I only do one draft of a story. I mean, I go through when I'm finished and fix a few things, but I don't really rewrite. My first drafts are basically what you read.

Stacie wrote: "What does your writing area look like?
Do you free-hand write or go right for the computer?
Do you listen to music or prefer a quiet room while working?"

My writing area is a disaster area. I have two big desks with two big monitors on them and both desks are completely covered with crap -- from books to paper clips to receipts to coffee cups to aspirin bottles -- just crap. And if I clean them off, in two days there's stuff all over them again. I'm starting to accept that's just the way I work.

I tend to do the actual manuscript all on a computer now, but most of my research, brainstorming, and any planning and outlining is done with pen or pencil and paper. I always have a notebook with me. I can't depend on remembering an idea I may have on the bus or at the gym. The book I'm working on is always in my head. When it's going well, I wake up in the book and fall asleep in the book. I may not always be at the computer, but I'm always working on the book.

I usually work in a fairly quiet room or I listen to some slow groove music or acid jazz, stuff without words. I can't write when music with words is playing. I start typing the lyrics into the book. (really).

Mandy wrote: "Following on from Stacie's questions, where is your favourite place to write?

Do you ever just go away somewhere secluded for a while and write?"

I have an office where I write, with a comfy chair and desk I put my feet up on. (Since I wrote Love Nun back in '96, and my back went out to the point where I couldn't walk, I always work with my feet up on the desk. I haven't had any back problems since.

Occasionally I do like to get away to a cabin or hotel room and just work on the book. Nothing else. No TV, no internet. I haven't done that since Lamb, really, but I've wanted to. Sometimes people forget that you still have to work, even if you work at home. They think you can always go out and goof around, or entertain them when they're in town, and if I were off in a cabin somewhere I wouldn't have to make excuses.

Christopher,
When did you realise... hey! I can write! I have something here that other people might like, and want more of!

What was the very first story you wrote as you were becoming an author?

Christopher, I work at home as well and I know absolutely what you mean about "Sometimes people forget that you still have to work, even if you work at home". Just because I work at home does not mean I can have a long chat on the phone in the middle of the day with you or have you over for coffee! Yep, I know what you're saying there.

So if you could get completely away in some gorgeous cabin where would it be?

Lori wrote: "Christopher,
When did you realise... hey! I can write! I have something here that other people might like, and want more of!

What was the very first story you wrote as you were becoming an aut..."

I didn't really call myself a writer until my third book was in print.

That said, I wrote my first book when I was 12. It was about 14 pages long and was about frogs taking over the world. I liked me some frogs.

Mandy wrote: "Christopher, I work at home as well and I know absolutely what you mean about "Sometimes people forget that you still have to work, even if you work at home". Just because I work at home does not ..."

If I didn't have to worry about travel, probably somewhere in Southern France. Since I do have to worry about that, probably somewhere in Marin or Sonoma county.

Have you ever considered writing a screenplay? or been approached by a producer to write a screenplay?

And which, if any of your books do you think would translate the best into a movie version?

Bridgit wrote: "Have you ever considered writing a screenplay? or been approached by a producer to write a screenplay?

And which, if any of your books do you think would translate the best into a movie version? "

I have written screenplays, but not for hire. I've been hired to create a TV show, but that didn't work out. I really don't like the process for scripts. Too many people telling you what to do. I have problems with authority. I can't even have a personal trainer because I hate being told what to do.

I'd love to see A Dirty Job and the Vampire books as films. I don't want to write the scripts, but I'd love to see the movies.

I'd love to see A Dirty Job and the Vampire books as films. I don't want to write the scripts, but I'd love to see the movies.

If you aren't writing the screenplay, how much say would you want to have? I ask since Hollywood often takes HUGE liberties with books-to-movies. Would you retain some control over the content?

Stacie wrote: "I'd love to see A Dirty Job and the Vampire books as films. I don't want to write the scripts, but I'd love to see the movies.

If you aren't writing the screenplay, how much say would you want t..."

You can't really dictate creative control. Everyone outside of the business thinks it's logical and that it happens all of the time, but the truth is, the involvement of the author is usually up to the graciousness of the producer or director, and the studios just won't sign it away in a contract. An author has the choice of giving up control, or never getting the movie made. I'd like to keep enough control to keep the script and performances from sucking, but that's never going to happen, and since I can't negotiate that, I simply let it go and go on to the next book, hoping that they'll make a good movie.

We'll see.