In Part One of our interview, Jonathan Maberry provided a book list of must-reads for horror readers that would choke Cerberus, showed us what hard work is all about, and made us realize just how important horror fiction really is. In Part Two, he discusses the mechanics of writing, and provides nuggets of gold for those aspiring writers that will turn his recommendations into actions. He also includes a must-read list of authors any horror fan would appreciate.
"Hey, these Dunkaccinos are good," Maberry said, sipping his second cup. Glenor Glenda, the maid, was kind enough to make a sustenance run for us. "You could raise the heat, too, you know. I'm freezing my ass off." He pulled the towel tight around his waist as I turned up the thermostat. "Now where were we?"
What's your formula for writing? Tana leaves tea sipped by moonlight, devil's pact? How do you put pen to paper?
I do this for a living, so I don’t have to worry about the grind of the commute (been there, done that). I usually roll out of bed around 7-ish in the morning and by 7:30 I’m at the computer.
I always work with a minimum daily word count — typically 2,000 words. Once I nail that I generally shift to other work — administrative, editing clients’ work, research for my next book, or I go and meet with writers for whom I do career counseling.
I don’t take days off from writing. Ever. I may have days where by necessity I write a little less, but I always catch up by the end of the week. As a result I can usually do a book, from first word to final draft, in about four months. That’s the journalist in me: set a schedule and a deadline, and git ‘er done.
In my writing process I don’t go through any rituals. I could write anywhere, anytime. I’m not temperamental and I don’t let myself get distracted. Mind you, I prefer a moderately quiet workspace — my office at home with some blues on the CD player, or at my office at the Writers Corner, listening to classic rock, jazz, or classical. Music is great for my process, but I can write without it. All I really need is a keyboard and I’m good to go.
As a writing teacher, what can you tell future writers to help them find their inner voice, or, at least, use fairly good grammar?
Yep, there are some basic things all emerging writers should consider:
First, write every day.
Every single calendar day. No excuses, no procrastination. If you write every day you get better everyday.
Second, pick one project and work on it to completion.
If another project bugs you, then in your spare time take notes on it, but finish what you start.
When you start a draft, don’t stop to rewrite or revise until the first draft is done.
There should be no exceptions to this. When you stop to revise you interrupt the flow and you change the voice. If new ideas come to you, then start a file called “revision notes” and write your ideas down; that way you preserve them and can find them when you rewrite.
Understand what a ‘first draft” is.
All that a first draft has to be — is done. The first draft is the bare bones of the story, and concentrating on telling the story is all that you need to do. It’s not about pretty language, etc. It’s just about the story. Since a first draft will NEVER read like a final draft, don’t drive yourself nuts by trying to make every line perfect. Polishing a work is not the point of this draft and is counterproductive.
The revision phase is all about prettying up the work.
That’s when you concentrate on the mechanics of language — metaphor, allegory, parallel construction, and so on; and that’s when you tighten plot, tweak dialogue, etc.
If you look at it like this, it might help:
- FIRST DRAFT is about gut and heart; it’s intuitive, organic, and it requires freedom and randomness and a fast pace. Storytelling is something we’re born with, so there’s more instinct here and less deliberate control.
- REVISION is about brain and experience and knowledge. This is the part we writers learn, and has little to do with our natural storytelling abilities. This is the craft, not the art. If you try to use the conscious part of the brain at the same time as the instinctive/intuitive part of the brain, it’ll be like trying to wax your car while driving it.
What publications and projects are next on your agenda?
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