Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes and no.
I've written stories, I think, for as long as I could read. The first one that I was really proud of - proud enough to send it out - was about a nightclub where stepping through the door was like stepping into another world. It got rejected, of course, but actually I got a hand written note of encouragement from the editor, and that made me think that maybe I had something.
What is your writing process?
I'm an absolutely obsessive planner. I plan more than anyone else alive. My first step is to write a sentence, maybe two, summarizing the basic plot as I see it in my head. Then I make a structural outline, writing down each of the steps that I want. After that I'll flesh out characters before I write a present tense overview of the whole story. From the overview I write a first draft, which is very loose and sketchy, then if I'm happy with that I'll write a second draft or actually get down to business.
The thing for me is, I hate editing, so all this planning and outlining means that I can edit as I go along. Apart from a few minor corrections, there's no full on editing phase for me.
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