Friday's How She Does It featuring Emma Leigh Reed

We all know there are six elements of fiction. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. I believe the first five lead to the sixth which for me is plot. What's your take on this?

 

All six definitely make up the plot.  Without even one of them you have plot holes that are impossible to fill.

 

 

1.      How do you create your characters? Do you have a specific method?

 

I don't have a specific method for creating characters.  They really just seem to come to me.  As the book progresses, the characters become more fleshed out.

 

 

2. Do your characters come before the plot?

 

Its really kind of a toss up.  I have a very loose plot, and when I say loose I mean probably about a sentence of what the plot is, and then the characters come to mind.  As the characters develop, the plot develops.

 

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

 

I have a very general idea of where the story will end before I start.  However, because I don't typically plot out the story in terms of being a plotter, the ending can change here or there to a degree.

 

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

 

The Maine coastline for me has always been a place to de-stress and my favorite place to be.  All my books thus far have been set on the Maine coastline.

 

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

 

I do my research mostly online, but do use books and people to gather information also.

 

6. Are you a draft writer or do you revise as you go along and why? Do you sketch out your plot or do you let the characters develop the route to the end?

I definitely am a draft writer.  I write a very loose draft, skeleton really, and then go back and fill details. I don't plot out my books and the characters can really change my focus of the way I thought the book was going to do.  I have learned to let the characters drive it as the words will flow so much easier if I stop fighting them.

Emma Leigh Reed

FTHRW, President

www.emmaleighreed.com

WHERE BROKEN TRUST IS HEALED BY THE POWER OF LOVE

Crashing Hearts, released January 2012
Mirrored Deception, September 2012

Trusting Love, December 2013