Writers' Rituals – Rosemary Poole-Carter
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 Rosemary Poole-Carter. The Southern gothic is the common thread running through Rosemary Poole-Carter’s novels and plays. (Her children call her Dark and Twisted Mama or DTM for short!)
How much research and plotting do you do before you're ready to write a book?
Research is a way of life; anything I read, hear, or experience may become material. Both my research and plotting tend to overlap with my writing. An unusual fact can lead to a new plot twist written into a scene-in-progress. Before plunging too deeply into the writing, I try to research and sketch out enough plot to give me confidence to proceed. I like to have some notion of where the novel is going yet stay open to discoveries along the way.
What hours do you devote to your writing and what time of day do you prefer to write?
I prefer to write in the morning but will settle for odd moments, day or night. Just before falling asleep is often a creative time. Having big blocks of regular writing time sounds like paradise to me. As a young mother, I wrote during baby’s naptimes and while the children were in school. Now I try to squeeze in a little time between day-job, chores, and sleep. If only I didn’t need sleep.
Do you take breaks, and if so, what do you do during them?
When I have that treasured time to write, I try to keep going until forced to stop. Of course, a break to walk the dog, pet the cats, or feed the birds can really be a continuation of writing—a little mulling time.
Where do you write?
My favorite places to write are at a long desk made of a door placed over a pair of two-drawer file cabinets or in bed, surrounded by notes and books.
What do you write with?
Usually, I start out scribbling on notepads and various scraps of paper, then transcribe a few rough ideas onto the computer, and the chapters begin to flow. When working on a play, I like to record bits of dialogue, listen, and revise. There was a time when I believed I could only type my already handwritten pages onto the computer but couldn’t compose on it. Now my preference is writing directly on the computer—love that “cut and paste” feature.
...and why is that your preference?
Why? The creation of a novel or play is a long, long process. Working on a computer, I can change my mind, then change it back or change it again, play with the order of scenes and the choice of words—without the exhausting task of re-writing or re-typing the whole manuscript.
Describe what you like to keep within arm's reach while you're writing.
Within arms reach, I keep notebooks of ideas and plot and character sketches, along with research materials, a pot of tea, little sandwiches, walnuts, pecans, and very dark chocolate.
Describe the things you can see when you look up from your writing.
Looking up from writing, I see pansies for thoughts in a tiny vase, a bulletin board of cards and notes from my loved ones, and the treetops outside the window.
What was the first thing you wrote which was published?
This question brings back delightful memories of my children as little ones, playing all around me while I researched and wrote a short story about Tex, the armadillo. “Home to the Armadillo” sold to a small scholastic publication.
What is your latest book?
Women of Magdalene, set in a ladies’ lunatic asylum shortly after the American Civil War, follows the story of an idealistic physician who confronts the mad director of the asylum.
Find out more about Rosemary Poole-Carter and her books, here.
Read about Peter May, Jane Finnis, Ruth Dudley Edwards and many other Writers' Rituals.
Rosemary Poole-Carter
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Women of Magdalene
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