Friday - How She Does It Nancy Henderson

How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific process?


Sometimes I'm not really sure, even after all these years. LOL! Sometimes they just come to me. I'll be somewhere driving or doing housework or be in the shower and a voice will whisper a certain line of dialogue, and I'll think, “Oh, hello. Who are you, and what timeline are you from​​? Other times, characters come with a bit more prodding. Sometimes I have to do outlines, character interviews, and lots and lots of brainstorming.



2. Do your characters come before the plot? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

Usually the characters come before the plot. Almost always. I used to let the characters sketch out my plot. I’d literally begin a story having no idea where it would go. That was exciting but also scary. There was always that fear that maybe I’d write myself in a corner and not be able to figure out the happily ever after. Nowadays, I plot a good deal of the story before I begin. Sometimes I only have a shady idea of how the happily ever after will come, but that’s ok. That’s part of the fun of writing.



3. Do you know how the story will end before you begin? In a general way or a specific one?

Actually, I just answered that in the above question…sorry. But yes, I love a story I’m writing where I know how it will end. I will write a story where I only have a shady idea of the ending, and sometimes I do sweat those plots when writing.



4. Do you choose settings you know or do you have books of settings and plans of houses sitting around?

I have books EVERYWHERE much to my husband’s discouragement. LOL! I love, love, love New York state’s rich colonial history. I’m not sure why. I think perhaps I lived a former life in the 18th century, I’m not sure. I always say, hey I’m going to write a western, or I’m going to set this book in a different time ­period, but I rarely do.



5. Where do you do your research? On line or from books?

Both.



6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why?

 I’m a draft writer. I write the whole thing first then go back. At least this way I have the gratification of knowing the book is written in its entirety. It may not be done but the whole thing is written. It’s out there and waiting to be edited.



Thanks for having me! Please visit my website at: http://www.nancyhendersonauthor.com and my blog at http://nancyhenderson.blogspot.com