Writers' Rituals - John McEvoy
The Mysterious Writing Habits of the World's Top Crime Writers
Oct 12, 2008
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 John McEvoy. John is best known for his horse racing crime novels, two of which feature hero Jack Doyle. He has also written several non-fiction books about horse racing.
Q: How much research and plotting do you do before you're ready to write a book?
A: It depends. My first novel, Blind Switch (2004) took years to come to life. The next two, Riders Down (2006) and Close Call (2008), each took some three months to plot, seven months to write, and another month spent responding my editor's suggestion for improvements.
Q: What hours do you devote to your writing and what time of day do you prefer to write?
A: I work early in the morning, then late afternoon. My goal is at least 500 words a day. I usually match it and often exceed it. I think this obsessiveness, or work habit, is traceable to my many years in the daily newspaper business, where deadlines were an ingrained part of my existence.
Q: Do you take breaks, and if so, what do you do during them?
A: I walk or bike each day, often finding useful plot or character ideas occuring to me during these exercises.
Q: Where do you write?
A: I have an office on the second floor of our house.
Q: What do you write with?
A: Computer. I still own an old Royal and an even older Underwood typewriter. I can't bring myself to toss them out, but I don't miss using them.
Q: ...and why is the computer your preference?
A: Computers have made writing so much more convenient--no carbon copies, no white outs, etc. etc.
Q: What do you like to keep within arm's reach while you're writing.
A: A cup or coffee, a bottle of water, and a dictionary.
Q: What can you see when you look up from your writing.
A: My neighbor's yard across the lane from our house.
Q: What was the first thing you wrote which was published?
A: A magazine article about a major baseball player I grew up with.
Q: What is your latest book?
A: I am working on a yet untitled horse racing novel. As in the case of the other three, I readily arrived at a beginning and an ending. However, I am having more difficulty with this one in creating the complete plot that bridges those two points.
My earlier books were thrillers. This one will be more a mystery. It's taken me awhile, but I am getting there
John McEvoy was born in Kenosha, WI, and now lives and writes in Evanston, IL. He is former Midwest editor and senior correspondent for Daily Racing Form, and the author of five previously published non-fiction books on thoroughbred horse racing, including the award-winning Great Horse Racing Mysteries. He has also published a book of poetry. Find out more about John McEvoy on his website.
Source:
Interview with John McEvoy conducted by E-mail, October 2008
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