Ask Ann Packer! discussion

I loved your Clausen's Pier book because of the voice of Carrie. When writing, how do you write with such a clear sense of voice? Thanks!

Ann, ABSOLUTLY loved, The Dive from Clausen's Pier.

My question is on how you start your process and what steps after that do you take? (Start with an idea and outline it? Seat-o-the-pants?)

Thanks for responding! I get lost in the story, but I am always aware of the narrative. I do slip occasionally, especially with 'you' references in my own writing, but when reading, the narrative doesn't take away from the story for me unless it's grossly misused or if it's second person. That usually feels pompous to me. I love the omnipotence of third person!

I love your work!

Thanks,
Dean

I loved Dive from Clausen's Pier as well. I have just finished listening to Songs without Words. I was so taken by your ability to delve into depression and show how differently it can affect different people. Some people battle with depression all their lives ~ some win and some lose. Other people only experience it because of a situation, and still others only because those they love have to wrestle with it.
How or where did you get the inspiration for this journey?

HI Ann,
I was in your workshop in 2008 at the Napa Valley Writer's conference and learned so much from your thoughtful advice and feedback to the various manuscripts we discussed.

I'm reading your most recent collection, Swim Back to Me, and I absolutely loved Walk for Mankind--the craft, the structure, the beautiful writing, the funny, realistic dialogue, the marvelous similes, and most of all the characters and their stories were so very engaging to me. I read it straight through in one sitting. I was very impressed with your ability to create a credible 13-year-old boy voice in first person. I found myself caring about Richard and his story from the very first page. I was amazed with the way you immediately established a number of very real characters and planted seeds in the first few pages that would pull me into the story and keep me reading. I could see Sasha's family in my mind; I felt like I knew them, almost like I too had experienced this stretch of time with them. I've always been a fan of your work, but I think you're getting better with every story! Your prose are so polished, the kind of descriptive sentences I love to savor--and then model to figure out how you did it. [smile])

You sort of answered this question above, but I was wondering about your process as you wrote WALK. Did you had the story in mind or did you write to discover the story? And how did the elements fall into place for you? For example, did you start with character or setting or premise? Did you ever get stuck in the story, and if so, how did you push through to find the end? (Something I struggle with in my own writing.)

With great respect and love for your work,
Jennifer.

I saw your combined post to: Teri, Taylor, and myself.

Ann wrote: "Hi, everyone--
Teri, Taylor, and Dean, thanks so much for your kind words about The Dive from Clausen's Pier. I began writing that novel over twenty years ago (!), but I can tell you that, as with..."

Although I'm late in answering, I did want to post I heard Carrie's voice through Clausen's Pier. The story was awesome but I really "heard" what she was thinking. I especially was drawn to her when she was in New York.