Writing exercises abound. But if they feel disconnected from me or my project, I sometimes struggle to get into them thoroughly enough to produce anything worthwhile.
Sitting in the audience at a literary festival, Le Livre sur les Quais in Morges, Switzerland, an idea came to me. I was listening to authors share so much detail about their works (click here for writing tips from published authors), and I found myself wondering, how would I answer these questions about my own work in progress? It sparked this idea for a different writing exercise similar to one used for character development.
Character interviews give me the creeps
If you’ve been writing fiction for a while, you’ve no doubt heard that one of the best ways to make sure you are writing well-rounded characters is to know them well. How can you get to know a character you’ve dreamed up in your imagination? Interview them. Google the question and you’ll get 41.8 million suggestions for how to do it.
Imagining myself interviewing an imaginary character, though, reminded me too much of the time I stumbled through the improv section of the only acting class I ever took. *shivers*
Because I, the author, am part of the scene with my fictional characters, the illusion shatters and I just can’t interview my characters with any success.
A writing exercise that involves you, the author
But, I thought during that lit fest, what if that were me on stage? What if my book was completed, bound, its cover propped on end in front of me at the table? What if I was the one being interviewed?
I somehow found it easier to create questions and answers as both interviewer and interviewee. And the helpful part is that those questions can be about anything.
Think of all the writing courses and workshops where you’ve heard authors speak, all the author interviews you’ve read. Topics range from inspiration to editing process and everything in between.
For this writing exercise, just turn the tables.
Writing Exercise: Tips for your interview
Write the questions first, so you don’t get too bogged down in the answers.
Find inspiration in author interviews such as this one of Ruth Ware talking about her myster, In a Dark Dark.
What’s the question you hope the moderator won’t ask because the answer is so hard for you to distill into a sentence or two?
Why did you choose this subplot and why was it important to weave this into your main plot as you did?
Through what process did you discover the theme of ____ in your book and how did you work to develop it more?
What one thing do you hope readers take from your book?
What was your inspiration for this piece and why tell this story now?
How to answer your writing exercise interview
Take some time to ponder the answers. Writing them down in a journal may help you solidify them as well as help remind you where your story focus was or what inspired you to write this piece in the first place.
You can delve into any aspect of the book that is tripping you up, character, theme, plots and subplots, structure, voice, anything. If you struggle to develop your own questions, just google some questions about the topic and put them in the form of an interview for yourself.
Experiment. If you like to act, or practice giving talks, record yourself on your phone. If you’re really brave (I say brave because this one would freak me out) ask a friend or critique group partner to read the interview questions to you as if you’re really on a panel.
This twist on a common writing exercise may give you the new angle you need to get at the issue that have been holding you back.
What is your take on writing exercises? Are there any that have really helped you? Let’s hear it in the comments.
