“I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite know what to do with. That being said, I did want the characters to be changed by the end of the book. But will what they've gone through alter their lives from this point forward, i.e. will they make different (better) choices? Probably not.” PeopleKnowsWantDoeSaidBookDifferentEndsCharacterDiesChoicesGoneChangedResolution Author:Mary J. Miller
“There were definitely scenes I struggled with more than others: the car accident and the thunderstorm are two that come to mind. It's difficult to write about a thunderstorm. There are only so many ways to describe it and our vocabulary is so limited. And the car accident scene required a tense, manic quality that had to be conveyed in the language, as well as the character's dialogue and actions. I was editing these scenes long after I thought I was finished with them.” WayWritingMindWellsLongTwoCharacterActionLanguageDifficultQualityCarSceneFinishedAccidentsDialogueEditingVocabularyTenseManicCar AccidentThunderstorm Author:Mary J. Miller
“It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not. For me, writing has little to do with thinking. I don't want to control the narrative. I listen to the rhythm of the words and dialogue and try to give the characters the space in which to say and do what they want without intervening too much.” ThinkingWayWantGivingWritingTryingLittlesCharacterDifficultSpaceToo MuchDialogueRhythmNarrativeIntervening Author:Mary J. Miller
“I try to think as little as possible, at least while working. I look at some of my early stories and can see the machination behind them, like a gear slowly moving. For example, sticking a dead father into the story to explain a character's sadness and bad decisions, or trying to impress myself with my own cleverness.” ThinkingTryingLooksLittlesCharacterStoriesMovingFatherMy OwnDecisionBehindsSadnessExampleImpressGearsClevernessBad DecisionDead Father Author:Mary J. Miller
“You don't need a dead father to explain a character's sadness. And impressing yourself with wit/cleverness often feels like what it is - authorial intrusion.” NeedsFeelsCharacterFatherSadnessWitImpressClevernessIntrusionDead Father Author:Mary J. Miller