Katie Sise: Writing Process

I love reading about other writers’ writing processes, and I’m always in awe of writers who outline every book and know each plot point before they start writing. I definitely don’t do that! I write like I’m watching a movie: I have a general sense of where characters should go next, but when I throw them all in a scene together, I’m often very surprised by what they do.

Sometimes I think two characters will do something (like become romantically involved) but no matter how many times I put them in a scene together, they won’t do it. That happened while I was writing The Break. I finally gave up on two characters who I thought were going to become romantically involved, and I ended up finding it much more satisfying that they never felt that way about each other. I had to come up with different reasons and motivations for them to do what they eventually did in the novel, and it turned out more layered and satisfying. (At least, in my opinion! And hopefully in the reader’s opinion, too.)

Many readers are surprised to learn that I have no idea who my killer is when I start writing my novels. Or if I think I do, I’m almost always wrong. The Break was so much fun to write, partly because my main character Rowan is a crime novelist, and we share a similar process. I’m open to my characters taking me to where they want to go, and I find that the reason people are often surprised at who my killer is, is because I’m surprised, too. (Rowan also says this about her own writing process in The Break.)

In my previous novel, Open House, I was writing the scene at the very end of the book, when someone else turned up out of nowhere and committed the crime. I snapped my laptop shut and took a little break to really think about it. But it felt right. So I went back during my revisions and made sure to beef up this character and make it believable that he or she would do something so horrible. 

When I say I watch my book unfold like I’m watching a movie, I mean that I have a general sense of who should go where, and when. I can see the location and all the players. But once everyone is there, I let instinct take over and I “watch” them interact and see where they go. I find that when I trust my characters to reveal themselves, they almost always do. And sometimes it feels like I’m just along for the ride, following their leads. 

As far as the nuts and bolts of writing, I try to sit down and write between 500 and 1000 words per day. Sometimes I could have a huge writing day (which would be between two-2 and three3-thousand words) but mostly I find if I set a 500 word count goal, I can meet it. When I can’t sleep and my house is quiet, there’s a sweet spot for getting the most writing done. But most of my writing takes place when my kids are in school. And the fuel? Coffee. Always coffee. 

Happy writing! 

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Katie Sise is a bestselling author of six novels. Her books have been included on best-of lists by Good Morning America, The New York Post, PopSugar, Parade Magazine, and PureWow. Her current novel, The Break, is a Zibby’s Book Club pick for November. Katie is a former TV host and jewelry designer, and lives outside of New York City with her husband, four children, and a golden retriever who has finally calmed down. You can find her on social media @katiesise, or visit her website www.katiesise.com

THE BREAK

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Category: How To and Tips