False Starts
She talked about when she reads something she thinks the book is going to go in one direction, but shes wrong and it doesn’t end like she thought. She compared writers to Olympic athletes. When the athletes are expecting a course to finish one way, but it finishes a different way is the same as reading a book. She talked about what she learned when she visited a nursing home.
Effect on writing
When writing a story make the ending difference than what you think your readers will expect. Or make a twist in the book, it does not have to be the end. It can be anywhere in the story.
Plot treatment
Some writers write towards a specific scene, not a plot. She talks about her experience with her second book. She had an idea and an image of how it would end, but it did not work. After working on it for over two years, she sent it to her editor and he sent back an email saying the novel just doesn’t work, so he wants her to start over.She was told by her friend to take a month off. After taking the month off she looked over her book and moved the scenes around creating a new plot. In the end, the book was published.
Effect on writing
When writing a story, dont give up when someone doesnt think it is good enough.
How do you know when you’re done?
In her class her students always ask, “how do you know when you’re done?” She responds with that she doesn’t know. You just feel it and know when you’re done. There is things to add, but when you’re done you know that there isn’t anything more to add into the story. She compares finishing your final draft to how addicts recover.
Affect on writing
When you edit your paper for hours and you are exhausted because you keep finding things to change or add, just know that it will be finished.
Looking around
She talks about how writing isn’t all fun and games. She says that writing means you see people suffer and try to find some meaning in it. It requires respect. When you write you need to know yourself. To be a writer you need to be relevant. She suggested to walk with a young kid who sees something and is super amazed
Affect on writing
In order to be a good writer, you need to be true. The more relevant the better the writing. During the process of a book, it wont be fun at the time. But in the end it will be worth it.
The moral point of view
She said that the things we really believe in will probably feel like they are true in all times. We like certain characters because they are good people. Like we want spider man to live and catch the bad guys because Peter Parker is a cool person. We might also be fascinated in the bad guys because they are interesting. As writers. we should write about topics we are interested in and that are important to us.
Abby Larson's Thoughts 