“It is impossible to
explain how a successful—that is readable—book is written,” wrote Patricia Highsmith in Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction. As an alternative, she
offers her own thoughts and experiences from writing her novels. It is not a how-to book; it is
reflections with less experienced writers in mind.
Something that comes
through is that writing is something of an organic process. Books grow from a
seed of an idea to a full plant. The writer must tend its growth, sometimes
pruning, to make it beautiful and fruitful. This isn’t a metaphor Highsmith
uses, but she frequently mentions how she enjoys gardening, so it seems
fitting.
As this suggests,
writing takes time and effort. Highsmith’s normal path involves two drafts and
revisions requested by her editor or publisher. In some cases, she rewrote
parts of a book more than that before it was finished. Even an experienced
writer is unlikely to produce a finished book on the first draft. There will be
things to correct, improve, fill in and cut. It is part of the work.
“I create things out of
boredom with reality and with the awareness of routine and objects around me.
Therefore, I don’t dislike this boredom which encroaches on me every now and
then, and I even troy to create it by routine,” Patricia Highsmith, Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction
One of the few specific
recommendations Highsmith offers is for beginning writers to outline a book
chapter by chapter. This will keep them focused on what will advance the story.
It takes practice to learn to portion out the parts a book and discipline to
make sure every part serves the story. These are skills a new writer may not
have, but can develop.
The book is short and
easy to read. Fans of Highsmith’s novels might enjoy a peak behind the
curtains. Aspiring writers might find some encouragement is seeing that the
things they struggle with are part of the process of writing; they can be
overcome with focus, persistence and humility.
If you’re interested in
this book, you may also be interested in
The Big Thing by Phyllis Korkki
The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by Dennis
O’Neil
Finding Your Writer’s Voice by Thaisa
Frank & Dorothy Wall
Good Naked by Joni B. Cole
How to Write Horror Fiction by William
F. Nolan
How to Write Mysteries by Shannon
OCork
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson
Scott Card
Just Write by Walter Dean Myers
Mastering Fiction Writing by Kit Reed
No Plot? Not
Problem! A Low Stress-High Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty
Reading Like a Writer by Francine
Prose
The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
Shut Up & Write! by Judy
Bridges
Write Naked by Jennifer Probst
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie
Goldberg
Writing for Comics with Peter David
Highsmith, Patricia. Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction.
1983. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1990.
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