Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George
Susan Elizabeth George is an American writer of mystery novels set in Great Britain...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth26 February 1949
CountryUnited States of America
adolescent characters deals issue novels plot pov whatever written
While I've written in the POV (point of view) of adolescent characters before... I never have had to create novels in which those characters not only drive the plot, but also are instrumental in resolving whatever issue the plot deals with.
aim aiming alive art brought canvas characters designed develop form good grow instead life literature lofty novels putting setting wish
Novels were designed to entertain, and those of us who wish to keep the art form alive need to keep this in mind. To aim for lofty literature instead of aiming for a good story with real characters who grow and develop and a setting that's brought to life is... like putting the varnish on the canvas first.
character our-actions habit
Our actions, habits, character, and future are most definitely affected by our thoughts.
character emotional atmosphere
The English tradition offers the great tapestry novel, where you have the emotional aspect of a detective's personal life, the circumstances of the crime and, most important, the atmosphere of the English countryside that functions as another character.
character writing stories
Plotting is difficult for me, and always has been. I do that before I actually start writing, but I always do characters, and the arc of the story, first... You can't do anything without a story arc. Where is it going to begin, where will it end.
character dark men
I'm interested in the dark side of man. I'm interested in taboos, and murder is the greatest taboo. Characters are fascinating in their extremity, not in their happiness.
character people shapes
I have to know the killer, the victim and the motive when I begin. Then I start to create the characters and see how the novel takes shape based on what these people are like.
character plot challenging-the-status-quo
Essentially and most simply put, plot is what the characters do to deal with the situation they are in. It is a logical sequence of events that grow from an initial incident that alters the status quo of the characters.
character creating creative
Creating the characters is the most creative part of the novel except for the language itself. There I am, sitting in front of my computer in right-brain mode, typing the things that come to mind - which become the seeds of plot. It's scary, though, because I always wonder: Is it going to be there this time?
character decision choices
Little choices determine habit; Habit carves and molds character. Which makes the big decisions.
inspiration character ideas
But if you don't understand that story is character and not just idea, you will not be able to breathe life into even the most intriguing flash of inspiration.
art familiar
The art of writing is what you get to do once to do become familiar with the craft.
believe curse fashion fiction gift human ludicrous paper passion poetry soul suggest words
No one can give another human being the soul of an artist, the sensibility of a writer, or the passion to put words on paper that is the gift and the curse of those who fashion poetry and prose. But it's ludicrous to suggest and short- sighted to believe that the fundamentals of fiction can't be taught.
computer except five minimum pages
When I start a book, I write a minimum of five pages every day, except weekends. If I'm going on a ski trip, I take my computer with me, get up at six, do my five pages, and then go skiing.