The Mind's Eye

by Charlaine Harris

It’s almost impossible to explain my creative process in words, which is kind of ironic, really. I feel pretentious even using the phrase “my creative process,” as if it were kind of gaudy or artsy of me to tell people I have one. But after so many books, I can’t deny that writing is a product of skill and talent, and using that particular skill and talent is a process. Must be.

I see things in my mind’s eye.

 
When I am writing from the point of view of the protagonist, I AM the protagonist. I’m right inside her but aware of her, very much like a video game controller. When she answers the door, I answer the door.

In my mind. It would be pretty weird and time-consuming to do that literally. Plus, think of the flies.

So here I am, silently walking around inside one of my heroines. I only wish I could burn calories that way, with all this silent walking and running and house cleaning and bedroom activity. Wouldn’t that be cool?

 
While I’m having this out-of-body experience, I’m figuring out what will happen next. Who will I find when I dig up the body in my woods? I’ve opened a grave three or four times to find out who’s inside. If it wasn’t someone amusing, I fill the grave in and then dig again.

I walk through this inside my noggin every working day. My brain is a busy place, full of flashing lights and alternate plot lines. It’s no wonder I have trouble remembering names and birthdays, what with all the other activity inside. I don’t know if other writers do this, but it does make my work life entertaining. And that’s what it’s all about. If I can entertain a few other people along the way . . . yahoo.

Charlaine Harris

Comments

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Yes, CHarlaine, I totally get this. I do the same thing. It's almost like--method acting.

And isn't it amazing when what happens surprises ou? I mean--how can that be?

[Donna Andrews]

I've been known to act out dialogue. I've learned not to do it in public--particularly not in the car.

[Charlaine Harris]

I'm always surprised when I answer the door at Sookie's house. I don't know, Hank; the mind is mysterious. Which is appropriate. Donna, I got my karate class to act out fight scenes, years ago when I was a Machine of Death.

[Donna Andrews]

My kenpo instructor was going to teach me and his other student (very small class, that) how to do some moves with belts. Since I rarely wore belts, I asked it these moves would work well with a long-strapped shoulder bag. My instructor was inspired, and had me bring an old purse--one I didn't care if we broke--for our next lesson. I think he taught some of variations he developed the next time he gave a session at a kenpo gathering, and for me--well, that's where I got the Purse Fu that appears in Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon.