Affirmed!

I had the pleasure of hearing Hank Phillippi Ryan speak about writing yesterday. She’s an engaging, animated speaker as well as an excellent thriller writer. She discussed writing in general, as well as her experience of writing The Other Woman in particular. I left affirmed and encouraged by some of her comments.
First, she doesn’t write from an outline. I don’t either! I felt extremely encouraged by her sharing of this fact. Secondly, she doesn’t know how everything will turn out when she begins writing. She has an idea and a first sentence – and it all proceeds from that point.
Actually, Hank’s one step ahead of me there. I usually continue to struggle with opening sentences as my manuscripts evolve. But – I do start out with an idea, and the story developes from that point. However, my first sentence for Seeker changed several times. Actually, my opening chapter changed several times!
I didn’t realize that Ryan was from Indianapolis – actually she lived in the same neighborhood as my protagonist, Sarah Forbes/Sister Lucie did in her days as a newlywed.
I can’t wait to read The Other Woman – it is on the top of my TBR stack.