Lois Gresh's new novel,
Nightfall, is a New Adult Paranormal
Romance. Here she talk about her writing career and what she's learned about crafting good stories (oh, and a few words about
Nightfall, too!)
When
I first learned how to read, I instantly loved books. I actually
remember the moment. I spent a lot of time at the library and reading
an ancient (1930s!) set of encyclopedias that my mother kept in the
hallway outside my bedroom. At 9, I wrote a 55-page science fiction
story; at 12, a 220-page “report” about ancient Egypt; at 16, a 250-page
book about poverty; at 22, a 500-page novel; at 23, a 400-page novel;
and during college classes, I wrote horror stories featuring my
professors. In
my early twenties, I wrote two full-length mystery novels that twisted
themselves into dark comedies. I switched to dark fiction, what's called
weird fiction -- a blend of fantasy, paranormals, science fiction, and
psychological horror -- and sold a bunch of stories. I ended up writing a
thriller novel for Ballantine/Del Rey, then went on to write a fleet of
pop culture books while continuing to work on my novels and short
stories.
I usually have a pre-planned idea of how the
story will end, but does it end that way? Very rarely. Typically, the
characters take on lives of their own and twist my endings for me. I don’t get writer’s block (knock on wood, etc.) I always have too many
stories floating in my mind that I want to tell for the amount of time
I’m able to write. As for where I write, anything
will distract me. So I write in a secluded environment, and I even
blast a white noise machine to drown out household noises.
The most important elements of good writing are the
triad of character, plot, and theme. You need characters with real
emotions and needs. Your characters require conflicts to overcome. One
or more themes -- such as “be good to other people” or “it’s not cool to
lie to somebody who loves you” or “love can overcome anything” or “love
is more important than where you live or what you have” -- provides
your story with emotional impact.
