I’m pleased to say we have a first drafter again this week. Today we welcome D S Nelson into the hot seat.
D S Nelson’s introduction to murder came from Agatha Christie. Her inquisitive Miss Marple, of St Mary Mead, and very Belgian Poirot, with his ‘little grey cells’, captured her imagination from a young age.
With a passion for the crime genre, her writing includes cosy crime novelettes and short stories. She is currently working on the Blake Hetherington mystery series, the first of which, ‘Hats Off To Murder’ is now available on Kindle.
When you decide to write something new, what is the first thing you do?
It’s normally just one idea that captures my imagination. It could be an interesting behavior, a picture or a nursery rhyme, as in the case of ‘One For The Rook’. From that, usually comes the first murder. I write this down in my ‘Planning’ stage, notebook and then it just grows from there. Normally into a spider diagram with different events, back stories and characters leading off it.
Do you have a set routine approaching it?
I wouldn’t call it a routine necessarily but things definitely seem to happen in the same way each time. It’s more of an organic process than a routine. The idea for the first murder grows into two or three more and then the theme for the book emerges and the plot is gradually built up from there.
Pen and paper or straight to the keyboard?
Pen and paper; the initial notes are kept in a notebook I have for planning. I always have a notebook with me wherever I go, so I’m ready if inspiration strikes. These notes then get transferred to the ‘Planning’ notebook. Once I have a vague structure then I start writing the story on the computer. I only write story on pen and paper if I find myself struggling with where to go next. I find returning to where it all began helps me overcome the dreaded block.
How important is research to you?
I recently wrote a post about this subject. I love research and I want to get it right, I want my tale to be authentic. I don’t want people screaming at the page because I got something badly wrong. Of course there’s artistic licence and I do wield that to my full advantage, however there is an element of truth in the saying that fiction has to make sense, life does not.
How do you go about researching?
Books mainly. Library books, second-hand, new and in e-book format. You can see all the books I’m reading for research on Goodreads.
As well as reading I love a good field trip. It really puts me in touch with the feel of a place and how my characters fit into it. I often drag along a reluctant husband with the promise of a pint. He normally relents. Perhaps this is why my stories always feature a village pub?
How do you store everything; ideas, research, images that catch your eye?
I have a large A4 black book, which is divided into sections:
- Character Profiles
- Motives
- Weapons
- Police Procedures
- Evidence and Forensics
- Storylines
Everything I think off or that catches my eye as an idea goes in here. This helps me to keep track of the ideas I have used and ones I want to use. I have the basic ideas for the plots of about six Blake Hetherington mysteries in this book. If it’s way too random to fit into any of these categories then I also have a small red notebook for ‘Random Thoughts’.
I also use Pinterest so that readers can see how the ideas for plots take shape and how characters develop. You can see these boards Here.
Tell us how that first draft takes shape?
I use the plans I have made in the ‘Planning’ notebook to build the skeleton of each chapter and then I flesh it out. I normally write a chapter a day, depending on the length of the chapters. The chapters in ‘One For The Rook’ are between 2000 and 3000 words long, so the first draft was approximately, one chapter a day.
Are there any rituals you have to do or items you must have with you while writing that draft?
I have a writing mug. It normally involves the theme of the story I am writing at the time. For ‘Hats Off To Murder’ I had a mug with bowler hats on it. For ‘One For The Rook’ I had a mug with a retro advert for a village fete on it. It helps me to focus on what I’m doing.
Does the outside world exist or are you lost to us for a period of time as the magic works?
It does and it doesn’t. I’m terrible for being distracted so I have to shut out the world when I’m writing. If I get dragged into something else, I’m likely to lose my train of thought. Unless I know who it is, I don’t answer the door or the phone. Facebook or Twitter also too easily distracts me, so I’ve taken to not logging in at all until I have completed the writing I want to for that day. So really it’s self-discipline. I know the world’s there and I’m really interested in it, that’s where my ideas come from, but I need to put the blinkers on when I’m writing.
What does your work space look like?
I have recently redecorated the study and it has become a cosy crime cave. It reminds me of all my heroes and provides me with a comfortable and focused place to write.
Edit as you go or just keep getting words out?
I write a chapter and then do a quick initial edit on it before moving on to the next one. It’s just how I work; I just can’t leave things alone until I’ve finished the whole of the first draft.
I see many writers counting words in a day. Word counter or other method of keeping track of progression?
I decide about how long I want each chapter to be, and how many chapters there will be in total. I find it helps me to have something to aim for. This is not a rigid figure just a guide. I keep track of this on with the word counter on Word. The initial guide I set myself for ‘One For The Rook’ was a 24,000 word novella consisting of twelve chapters at about 2000 words each. It ended up being just over 32,000 and thirteen chapters long.
So, that first draft is down. Roughly how long did it take? And what shape is it in?
It depends on the length of the book. ‘One For The Rook’ took me about fifteen days in total but I was also working at the time so it took me more like two months.
The first draft is littered with typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. It is sometimes dialogue heavy and needs expanding to explain character motivation. A lot of the time I know why something has happened in my head but I haven’t explained it properly. I need to go back and do that.
In what format do you like to read it through, ereader, paper or the computer screen?
I use a mixture of paper and computer screen, depending on how fed up I am at sitting at the desk. When I’ve had enough of staring at the screen I’ll take a paper copy and sit on the sofa, in front of the fire.
What happens now that first draft is done?
First of all I read through and correct obvious mistakes and clumsy lines or things that don’t make sense. Then I read it out loud to myself and make more corrections to the plot and story. Then I give it to my husband to read. Every writer should have a pedant in his or her life and he’s my pedant. He’s a great editor and really helps me to develop the storyline. He has an annoying habit of demanding explanations for characters actions and events. He’ll spot a plot hole at thirty paces and he is fundamental in helping me to translate my story. Then it goes to the proofreaders. I have about six people who have previous proofreading experience or are very good at grammar. They don’t all read it at once but they help me to iron out the creases, spelling mistakes and grammar.
Thanks for digging into the depths of the first draft. It’s been a pleasure having you.
You can contact D S Nelson by e-mail at info@dsnelson.co.uk , on Twitter or at on Facebook.
Catch up with the previous First drafters Here. If you want to feature in a forthcoming Friday Q&A, just let me know.
DJ Kirkby says
I was interested to read that you make use of Pintrest. It is nice that your husband is happy to read and critique your work. Your study is gorgeous!
writerdsnelson says
Thank you, DJ Kirkby, I am very lucky to have such a supportive husband and one hat’s very good at grammar!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Cozy crime cave – funny.
Like the idea of the notebook of ideas.
writerdsnelson says
Thank you Alex, seemed like the natural thing to call it :oD
Margot Kinberg says
Thanks, Rebecca, for introducing us to D.S.
D.S. – You and I have a lot in common: a love for Agatha Christie; a tendency to start with just one idea; and an appreciation of the importance of research. I wish you much success.
writerdsnelson says
Good to hear from you Margot. I’ll be checking out your blog immediately! ;o)
writerdsnelson says
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my first draft with people Rebecca. I’ve reblogged and facebooked it. Happy writing!
writerdsnelson says
Reblogged this on Hat Paint, Ladders and Wonky Pooh and commented:
I had great fun with this interview and there were some great questions. To read the rest of my interview with fellow crime writing Rebecca Bradley, click on ‘read more’ to take you to her blog!
Jacqui Murray says
I saw my first Ms. Marple (haven’t read them) on a BBC show. It was wonderful. Now I have to go red all the books.
Yours–btw– sounds spot on to that style of writing.
writerdsnelson says
Thank you Jacqui. Agatha is the irrefutable queen of cosy crime and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. I’m flattered by the comparison, thank you :o)
Annalisa Crawford says
One day I’m going to learn the self-discipline of turning off the internet. I love the little pictures on your wall.
writerdsnelson says
Thank you, they came from spoonflower.com they are fabric wall decals. It’s a little guilty luxury really ;o)
cheriereich says
What a great process! Loved learning more about your first drafts, DS!
writerdsnelson says
Thank you!
nancyrae4 says
Thanks for sharing your first draft details. Like you, my husband is my rough draft reader. Brave man! Like yours, he listens, comments, and is completely honest in his reactions. We’re lucky to have such a great sounding boards. Happy writing:)
writerdsnelson says
We are certainly are Nancy and happy writing to you too :o)