Coming up with questions...

 

HALLIE EPHRON: One of my favorite things that, from time to time, I get invited to do is moderate a panel of authors whose work I admire. I admit, I love being in charge. (Jerry's nearly daily request of me was "Stop being so directive." As if I ever could.)

But also I'm fascinated by how different each of our writing processes is, AND how amazing it is that any of us actually writes a publishable novel. It's SO hard.

Yesterday, we posted the video of the wonderful panel of authors (Lucy Burdette, Elise Hart Kipess, and Sarah Stewart Taylor) talking and me moderating, talking about the ins and outs, the challenges and joys of writing a mystery.

The audience (full house at the Milton Public Library) was completely rapt from the first moment. It worked so well because these authors were wonderfully open and honest, articulate and smart. Also because their novels are so different from one other.

I can also take some credit for the evening's success. First of course I was on home turf. Then I did not hijack the discssion by talking about my books.

And finally I'd PLANNED, done my research, and come up with some really juicy questions that dug into the processes that these writers follow to write their books.

Today I thought I'd share some of those questions... and maybe next time you go to an author talk (which I hope will be often!) you will have ideas for questions you might ask near the end of the event when it opens up for questions."

QUESTIONS

• Was your published book's Page One the first thing you wrote, and how did it change from first draft to published book?
• What was the hardest thing for you about writing your first crime novel? And what about now after (how many?) books?
• Where would you categorize your latest book on the spectrum of crime fiction (cozy? thriller? hardboiled??), and do you think about the expectations of THAT audience when you're writing?
• How does who YOU are and your experiences shape your protagonist?
• How did you meet the challenge of making the reader believe that your main character would do all the dangerous things they do in order to solve the crime?
• Do you plan out the story or just sit down at the computer, pull the cord, and let 'er rip?
• What's your writing day like?
• Which part of a book is the most challenging for you to write? And which part do you enjoy most?
  
  I could go on and on but it was absolutely fascinating to hear Lucy, Elise, and Sarah address questions like these. If you missed it, go to yesterday's blog and watch the video.
  
  What kinds of questions do you like to hear answered at author talks??