Writers' Rituals- Kathleen Delaney
The Mysterious Writing Habits of the World's Top Crime Writers
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 Kathleen Delaney, author of the The Ellen McKenzie mysteries.
Q: How much research and plotting do you do before you're ready to write a book?
A: I do a lot of plotting. I need to get the characters firmly fixed in my mind, who they are, why they do what they do, and what happens next. Only, it doesn't always come out the way I planned.
One time I had the wrong murderer and couldn't figure out why I was stuck. When the person I had picked finally got through to me and screamed - "listen, I didn't do it" - everything fell right into place.
My books are amateur sleuths, so my research isn't very technical. It runs more to exploring places, like wineries, and bakeries and horse shows.
However, one time I needed to know about exit wounds. I didn't want the blood spreading from the wrong side of the body. So, I called our local police department and asked. After quit a long pause and several "who did you say you are?" an amused voice gave me the answer I needed.
Q: What hours do you devote to your writing and what time of day do you prefer to write?
A: I try to write in the morning and use the afternoon for other things, but if I'm on a roll, I just keep writing. I'll often go back in the evening to fix something that's been nagging me. The number of hours vary, but I write every day.
Q: Do you take breaks, and if so, what do you do during them?
A: Often I just get up and walk around and stare at stuff, the dogs the yard, the laundry that needs to go into the machine, while I work out a passage or plot point. Gardening also helps. I used to iron, but I gave that up.
Q: Where do you write?
A: I have a bedroom that I have turned into an office. It has a high ceiling, two deep windows, and is filled with books, dog beds, and a rocking chair.
Q: What do you write with?
A: Computer
Q: ...and why is that your preference?
A: I used to sit up in bed with a legal pad, a pen and a cup of coffee. But I kept spilling the coffee and couldn't read what I'd written because of all the cross-outs. The delete button is great.
Q: What do you like to keep within arm's reach while you're writing?
A: A cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and the dogs.
Q: What can you see when you look up from your writing?
A: I live in the historical district of my little town, which means old houses and old trees. I can look out my window and watch the seasons change.
Q: What was the first thing you wrote which was published?
A: An article about my children's adventures in Four H, entitled Four H Blues, to Family Fun, a Disney family magazine.
Q: What is your latest book?
A: Murder Half Baked (coming soon from Poisoned Pen Press).
Born in Glendale, CA, Kathleen Delaney now lives in Gaffney, SC. Find out more from her website.
Read about Peter May, Jane Finnis, Ruth Dudley Edwards and many other Writers' Rituals
And Murder for Dessert
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Give First Place to Murder
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Kathleen Delaney
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