My writing schedule has become more structured over the years.

On a technical level, I think I've improved my literary style, and some aspects of writing come easier. In what other ways, if any, has your writing process or style changed over the years? I don't think about the film potential at all. My sole intention is to write the best novel possible. Since your novels began to make the transition into movies, do you notice that you've begun to write with the eyes of a filmmaker as much as that of a novelist? After that, my role reverts to what it usually is. I've also written screenplays myself, and in those instances, I work with the producers and directors to craft the best screenplay possible. I have no involvement with casting, budgets, locations, directing, or editing. I might visit the set once or twice, go to the premiere, and help promote the movie. Generally, I'm involved only in the editorial process, once a screenplay draft has been turned in by the screenwriter. How involved are you in the process of translating a novel to a screenplay, and then into film? Several of your novels have been made into movies. I've learned to keep my mind open to ideas from any source. The question I always seek to answer first has to do with the primary conflict (what keeps the characters apart). From where do you draw inspiration for your stories?įrom events in my life, from people I know, from articles that I read, or conversations I overhear. You're a prolific writer who has a wealth of story ideas. Then I weigh in on the editing process by revising the manuscript in accordance with their notes - this process usually involves a few days of work. Editing a novel may take an additional two months, but for the vast majority of that time, my agent, editor, or copy editor is doing the markup. At this pace, I finish a novel in four to five months, and the editing process is usually straightforward. Sometimes, writing may take three hours, sometimes seven or eight hours. I write 2,000 words a day, three to four days per week, usually between the hours of 10:00 a.m. Can you describe your process for writing a novel?Īfter I decide on a story, the process is relatively straightforward.

The notebook sparks