Writers' Rituals – Janis Susan May
The Mysterious Writing Habits of Writers From Around the World
Are writers obsessive-compulsive? Overly superstitious? Or do habits and rituals provide security for writers who never know where the next idea, or the words to write it, will come from?
Searching for clues to the secrets of writing, Suite 101 has an exclusive interview with Janis Susan May. Under the name of Janis Susan May she writes romance and romantic mysteries, but she now has plans to write mysteries under the name of Janis Patterson.
How much research and plotting do you do before you're ready to write a book?
It depends. Other than a skeleton of an idea, I don’t do much plotting – I find it kills the book to over-plot. Research – as needed. Research can easily become a real time-sink.
What hours do you devote to your writing and what time of day do you prefer to write?
I write every day – most days – but the number of hours varies according to what else is going on in my life. Being nocturnal, ideally I would write all night, but The Husband is a day creature, so I must adapt to his schedule. Both times he was deployed to Iraq I went days without seeing daylight.
Do you take breaks, and if so, what do you do during them?
Yes, I take breaks, during which I do wonderfully frivolous things like laundry and cooking.
Where do you write?
In our second library. The nominal office is much too full of The Husband’s stuff, the old library is part of the den and far too open, and the third library isn’t finished yet.
What do you write with?
A computer – specifically a 17” laptop with the addition of a separate ergonomic keyboard and a wireless mouse. When I am out and about and have a few minutes, I use my purse computer – an ancient NEC 790, the great-great grandfather of today’s mini computers.
...and why is that your preference?
I wrote my first few books on a manual typewriter. Comparatively, a computer is heaven. I tried to use a tape recorder, but being an ex-performer, I kept concentrating too much on how I was saying things rather than what I was saying. Beyond a signature I regard handwriting as cruel and unusual punishment.
Describe what you like to keep within arm's reach while you're writing.
Diet Dr. Pepper!! Kleenex. Noise-canceling headphones. In the winter, a comforter to cocoon in. In the summer, an electric fan. Lip balm and hand cream. Mints. If I’m being wicked, some cookies.
Describe the things you can see when you look up from your writing.
Four walls of books that are overflowing into drifts onto the floor. Two neurotic cats sleeping in opposite corners of the room. A wing chair full of laundry waiting to be folded. A desk clock with an Ancient Egyptian theme.
What was the first thing you wrote which was published?
Oh law, that was so long ago I don’t remember. Freelance, I think it was a confession story, written in my teens. Salaried, I was writing ad copy for my family’s agency when I was 9 or 10. My first book was a romantic mystery/adventure published by Dell in 1979 – WHERE SHADOWS LINGER.
What is your latest book?
There are three within the last couple of months – SECOND CHANCE – AweStruck Ebooks; ECHOES IN THE DARK – Vintage Romance Publishing - paper; THE OTHER HALF OF YOUR HEART – Red Rose Publishing – paper and electronic.
Find out more about Janis Susan May and her books, here.
Read about Peter May, Jane Finnis, Ruth Dudley Edwards and many other Writers' Rituals.
Janis Susan May
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Echoes in the dark by Janis Susan May
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The Second Chance by Janis Susan May
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The Other Half of Your Heart by Janis Susan May
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