The 15-Minute Interview: Susan Lyons

—by Sheri Radford

Susan answers 15 questions about writing, books, and more, all in 15 minutes.

1. Which comes first when you're starting to write a new book: character, setting, plot, or theme?

That depends on the book. With my Awesome Foursome series, once I had the first book then I knew that the three following books would feature another one of the Foursome, so those started with character (and by the end of book 1, I had a pretty good idea of the other three girls' personalities). But if it's a stand-alone book and not a series, often it starts with a situation, incident, idea -- e.g., two people who meet in a particular circumstance, two types of people who meet, a person who is facing a particular issue in her/his life.

2. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants?

Once I have that initial idea or scene, the book pretty much unfolds on its own. As I get to know the characters and they get to know each other, they create the story. No, I don't plot, at least not in the sense of starting out with an idea of all the scenes in the book, or how the story's going to go. Often I have a sense of one scene ahead, or maybe something that's going to happen later, but it's pretty vague. I do revise as I go, as I learn more about the characters. And I stop and do a scene chart periodically, using different coloured post-it notes for different types of scenes (e.g., heroine and hero scenes, girlfriend scenes, family or work "issue" scenes, heroine or hero alone scenes), jotting a brief note about the scene and using a different colour ink depending on whether it's his or her POV. This way, as I'm writing the book, a scene chart is developing alongside it. This gives me a visual image of the structure of what I've written, which helps me make sure I've got a good balance of the different kinds of scenes, etc. It's a great tool for when I'm feeling stuck. I bring the scene chart up to date, then typically realize I've had a bunch of X type of scenes and now I really need a Y type.

3. How do you write the first draft? (longhand, typewriter, Alphasmart, computer)

Always computer, unless there's no computer available. I find the ideas flow more freely when I type, because I can type much faster, and more easily and comfortably, than I hand-write. My hand cramps up when I hand-write and it feels like I'm cramping the ideas as well. I don't own an Alphie. I tried one out and find the tiny screen frustrating. I often go back to check things, edit, etc., and I want the easy ability to do that.

4. How long does it take you to write a first draft?

Depends on how much time I have and how well the story is flowing. Also, I don't really write a first draft. I write a scene or a few scenes, maybe a chapter, then read back over it and edit. I send that second draft to my critique group and move ahead with the next bit. When I meet with my critique group and get their comments, I usually edit that part again (so it's now in 3rd draft) while I'm still writing and editing the next parts. By the time I've reached the end of what is a mix of 2nd and 3rd draft and send the last section to my critique group, it's usually 2 to 3 months.

5. How many drafts do you usually end up writing?

After the edits based on critique group input (my 3rd draft), I do another edit, based on all the ideas that have come up as I worked on the book and reached the end of it. That takes a week or two. Then I print the whole thing out in book format (single-spaced etc., so it looks more like a book than a manuscript) and read it out loud to myself. I mark additional changes, input them, and then it's done. If things go well, a book takes 3-4 months.

6. Out of all the books you've written, which one is your favourite?

Tough question. I love Champagne Rules because it was the first that sold, and I really like that it's an interracial couple who don't see major problems with having that kind of relationship. I love Hot in Here because my heroine, Jenny, is so feisty and confused and such a mix of "out there" versus inhibited. Her dilemma of trying to honour her old-world family while still living a new-world life is so typical of many young women in Vancouver today. And then there's an unsold manuscript that's a Mary Stewart style of romantic suspense set in Crete that I totally love. Sure hope it sells one day!

 

7. What's the best book you've ever read?

To Kill a Mockingbird. I love Scout's voice, the characters, the issues, the strength of character exhibited by Atticus, and the lessons he teaches his kids. Atticus Finch isn't a perfect human being but he's a wonderful one. I think maybe I studied law because I wanted to be Atticus Finch <g>.

8. What's the most useful book on writing you've ever read?

The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFeber and Sue Viders. Once I have a general idea of my characters' personality, it helps me get to know them better. And no, it's not about stereotyping, it's about finding patterns and thinking about where personality traits come from and how they're expressed -- and how two people with different personalities will interrelate.

9. What's the most useful writing advice anyone has ever given you?

There are two. First, that the people who succeed in this business are the ones who persist. Second, fellow writer Dani Collins' "spaghetti against the wall" advice -- which basically means, don't spend too much time trying to figure out which editor, line, contest etc. is going to be right for which manuscript of yours; just keep sending the stuff out, more or less scattershot, and eventually one piece of spaghetti will stick.

10. Which character do you wish you had created?

Atticus Finch <g>. Also, Dick Francis's heroes. Mostly, I love them (well, they're Atticus Finch all over again <g>). To me these guys are the true alpha males -- i.e., leaders; the kind of men whose genes you want to be replicated. They're not arrogant, not blustery, would never bully a woman. They're understated and modest -- and yet when it's crunch time, they're always the ones who come through and save the day.

11. What prize or award would you most like to win?

Hmm. That's the first question that's really stopped me. Obviously the RITA would be very cool. Or any prize that paid big money! But the thing that really counts for me is getting positive feedback from readers.

12. If you hadn't become a writer, what might you have become instead?

Well, I tried being an anthropologist, a sociologist, a government administrator, a lawyer, a researcher, a legal publisher, a perennial student, a counsellor and lots of other things. They didn't take. It took me a long time to find writing, and realize it was what I was meant to do. So it's hard to conceive of any other career that would feel right to me.

13. What's the nicest compliment someone could give you about one of your books?

Three immediately spring to mind, thinking of the emails and reviews I've received. First, I love it when a reader talks about my characters as if they really exist and she cares about them. Second, when someone tells me I got it right -- e.g., when a woman in an interracial relationship tells me I nailed it. Third, when I touch someone's heart and their mind -- i.e., when I make them both care, and think (e.g., maybe become a bit more tolerant and understanding of people who are different from her).

14. What's the worst thing about being a writer?

Constant insecurity and stress.

15. What's the best thing about being a writer?

Being able to bring people and worlds to life, explore issues that interest me, and touch readers' hearts and minds.

 

Sheri Radford is the author of Penelope and the Monsters, Penelope and the Humongous Burp, and other upcoming books in the Penelope series. Visit Sheri on the web at www.sheriradford.com.

 

 
"));