So they asked me to tell you why I wrote The Good Guy, which is not as easy to explain as, say, why the last car I bought was a Ford.
I wanted to write a story with a runaway-train pace, involving mistaken identity. In the first chapter, the lead, Timothy Carrier, is in fact twice mistaken for the wrong man, putting him in such a harrowing situation that, I hope, the reader is firmly hooked.
In this case, the story hook might more correctly be called the seed. Usually, a writer grows his plot from such a seed. Because I don't outline, I instead concentrate on a swift pace and on growing a character who charms and intrigues me.
By the end of chapter one, I need to have affection for the lead if I'm to let him (or her) take me on a journey. Once the character comes alive, he goes places that I never would have imagined in a sterile plot outline.
From characters grow themes and subtext. I'm not interested in a novel that is about nothing but story. The characters, by their actions and beliefs, because of strengths and weaknesses, soon reveal to me what the novel is about under the surface.
One of the themes of The Good Guy is that the quality of a person's character inevitably shapes his destiny even if he would prefer to retreat from that destiny and lead an eventless life. As Timothy Carrier, says: "Things have a way of happening that force you to be what you are."
To emphasize this truth, I did not use traditional methods of character revelation, no back stories in narration or in dialogue until late in the text. All the characters have secrets. My hope was that readers would warm to the characters based solely on their actions and reactions, and become so delighted with them that the succinct back stories, when they came, would have emotional power.
This is also a book about our ability - or inability - to know evil when we see it, and about how we can be distracted from genuine threats by false fears. This is a book about the importance of living every day as though it is the most important day of your life. As Albert Camus said: "I shall tell you a great secret, my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment, it takes place every day."
That is why I began to write The Good Guy. After two chapters, I continued to write because the twists and turns, the surprises, the love story, and the comic moments kept me entertained. I have a low boredom threshold, and I have been known to throw away a half-completed novel manuscript if it doesn't grip me. I sob a lot, but I throw it away.
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Comments: 97
TIC-TOC... do it again...
I have most of your books and love most of them too! Thanks for giving us this gift of yours to touch us with your writing!
Thoroughly enjoyed the back story on how this novel originated...and what promises to be an intriguing plot!
I am looking forward to readng The Good Guy. But then, I was even before this.
I write the same way - no dry outlines for me - I let Gus LeGarde and his family show me what's next, so-to-speak. And I love my characters as if they were real, those people who invade my dreams and let me guide them through our parallel universe... Of course, I'm a series writer, so they become more deeply entrenched in my phyche and soul as I write more and more books.
Thanks for this insight into your writing inspiration - I loved it!!
Thanks for sharing the insight into your writing processes. It's nice when the established writers give out from their experiences. It's both encouraging and inspiring. I look forward to reading the book.
Thanks so much.
Best of Luck.
You are, in my opinion, the greatest writer who lives today. Your stories are constantly suprising and thrilling me. My favorite book so far was 'By the Light of the Moon. How many hours a day do you spend writing? Do you use a computer, word processor, or typewriter? Do you work on the weekends? Do you have any children, if so, have any of them been bitten by the writing book? Does your wife help you with your plot ideas or story lines? I am utterly fascinated by the sheer amount of, as well as the excellent quality and variety of your books. How do you come up with your ideas? How did you come up with the idea for "By the Light of the Moon" for example? I think that would make a GREAT movie, a blockbuster in my opinion. I'll be buying "The Good Guy" tommorrow. I know it's a great book because it was written by the ultimate "Good Guy", Dean Koontz! Keep up the great work! Love ya, man. Your friend whom you've never met, Andy Anderson.
I was also one of the Gather folks chosen to receive a signed copy and to do a review. Thanks for coming on Gather and giving us all an opportunity to hear about your writing process. I thoroughly enjoyed The Good Guy and have a special affection for the Odd Thomas series. It was your book Watchers (remember that one?) that made so clear your love of dogs.
There is a quote from the first Odd Thomas book that is taped to my monitor. "Writing isn't a source of pain. It's psychic chemotherapy. It reduces your psychological tumors and relieves your pain." Such a true statement to found in a work of fiction.
Thanks again.
Namaste, Wayne
I love your novels because of your characters. Watchers is still my favorite. Einstein is quite a character. My daughter got almost to the end of Watchers and was sobbing when she believed that he was dead.
I have a copy of your latest book, though I won't get to read it for a while. My daughter saw it as I came home, and snagged it for herself. I was in the middle of another book at the time.
It's an honor to be able to speak to you.
writerlover
It delights me to hear your concept of how story can be developed. It pretty much agrees with my own thinking.
My first novel is ballooning in the way you described because I focus on character as well. Combine the right mix of people together in the situation-boiling-pot, and theme and subtext seem to take care of themselves.
Thank you for confessing that you don't outline. It is a cardinal rule, you know.
I can't wait to meet The Good Guy.
..
U wishing you laughter
I look forward to more!
George Vreeland Hill
I picked up The Good Guy yesterday and was hooked with the simple beauty of your opening lines. You tell fantastic stories, and I'm looking forward to reading this one!
I'm quite thrilled to find you on Gather!
You are one of my absolute favorite writers. My dad and I squabble over who gets to read the next one first. He usually wins. Darn it. But then again, he usually is the one who buys the book...that's his argument anyway.
Thanks for posting. I'm agog over here...and I love a smart ass man...so no wonder I'm agog...
I have to be honest, I am not big on the type of books you write, I have lived in darkness enough to not want to read about it. My friend commented above, and I had to tell her when I saw you on here, because she has always talked about your books. I have to admit, after reading your article, and your comments, I DO like the style of your writing, if not the subject matter of your books. Missy and I have always agreed on that, we both love the sarcasm when in the hands of a master!
How many hours a day do I write? Ten hours a day, often six days a week, except sometimes in the final chapters, when adrenalin is squirting out of my ears, and then I can easily put in 12 hours, because I'm afraid that one morning soon I'll wake up as George Clooney, leaving the book unfinished due to the pressures of my acting career. No, Gerda, my wife, doesn't help me with plots or story ideas, but she is my first reader, when the script is done and I can't make it any better. I respect her opinion.
''The book is good another STANDARD CLASSIC...''
;-)
Dean, welcome to the gather community! If, after your well-written 6/12 assertion, you somehow prove NOT to be Dean Koontz, I propose we vote to make you an "Honorary Dean Koontz."
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Have to say that Watchers is one of my all time favorite reads.
If this new book is as fast paced as Intensity, I'll definitely have to check it out.
I really appreciate that you write much as I do..by letting the characters drive the plot. My sweetie(Bill's Spirit..above) and I have had numerous conversations about plot driving devices, and my theory is that stories write themselves, if the characters have developed fully. I rarely know how a story will turn out until I write it.
But from the excerpt hmmm.... Ok I better buy the BOOK. To give my unbiased World Ranking as if... hahaha.
Nice mood...
It is a different kind from the destined Man to beat and to other would be great to beat...
P.S. I'm really me too.
keep up the good work/fun.
I've read a few of your books over the years, and I can't recall a time I ever laid one down and said, "Well that sucked." :P Now, from reading this thread, I must say you rawk, not only because you obviously have a passion for what you do (beyond the money), but because you are very well-spoken, witty, and personable.
You have no idea (well, you probably do, actually) how many "diva" authors there are in the romance genre. I'm sure they're everywhere, in every genre, the authors who must have the limelight, who believe their books are better than sliced bread, who are indignant and rude when they get a poor review, etc. You seem quite the opposite of that, and it's very refreshing to see a big name author who is so down to earth.
And one other thing. You prompted people to buy your *EBOOK* in your article. Righteous. For that, I could hug you. I'm an electronically published author who is just now moving into the print world. How wonderful it is to see some kind of validation for eBooks from a famous author, because lemme tell ya, more often than not, us e-published authors are looked down upon as the red-headed step-child, if you know what I mean. :P
Write on,
~~Becka
http://www.RebeccaGoings.com
I have an impertinent question: I just pulled "The Face of Fear" out of my bookcase and see that it was originally published under the pseudonym 'Brian Coffey'. My question is, is this a "trunk book"? I had a couple of those published after I became established and I know many other authors who have taken advantage of current stature to pull out their not-quite-good-enough work and re-publish under their now-famous names. Just curious if this was the case with this title.
As an aside, although I write non-fiction, I completely understand the 'character possession' phenomenon, having attempted a couple of novels that never got off the ground, primarily because I couldn't get my characters out of the bedroom. (Damn sluts!)
I have a question for you. I always wished to be a writer since childhood and am still wishing. However, when I start writing, all my thoughts come rushing in all at once and I am so overwhelmed that I can't write anymore. Does this ever happen to you? If so, how do you motivate yourself to keep writing?
Excellent reasoning, and perhaps an explanation of why I can't be rich, at least monetarily!
Mr. Koontz: I have enjoyed your works for so long that I can't honestly remember the first book I picked up of yours. My mother, rest her soul, introduced us, and you've tagged along to the beach, work, and my bedroom for quite some time. I especially enjoy your strong female characters and have often wondered who provides you with their inspiration! Thanks so much for sharing your craft with the world!
I've very much enjoyed reading this article, and your comments, as well.
Keep writing, I'll keep reading.
My all time writing hero is Chuck Palahniuk who is quoted in a Powell's interview saying "On the page you can do things that are impossible in the world, because the world is so regulated and structured anymore. On the page you can make those mistakes and have those adventures. I just get a little worried that I'll stop having those adventures in the world. And I won't even bother with the physical world because the fake world is so much nicer, so much more satisfying."
Can you relate to the idea that this fantasy life on the page can be so much more exciting and fulfilling than real life can ever ever ever be?
Stay tuned, we will be publishing Part 2 of the interview on Friday.
It's great to have you on Gather interacting with us. It makes you more real than a name on a book. In my younger days I associated with some famous poets and writers and want-a-be's and found the majority to be a bunch of snobs. Thanks.
Maybe if you cut your hair different, put in some grey highlights and combed it back in a fasionable way, and don't forget the cleft chin, you might be a George Clooney look alike.
marty
Thank you for your extremely accessible description of how you develop characters and ultimately a book. I teach language arts to 8th graders, and one of my greatest challenges is teaching how and why author's make the choices they do. I'm looking forward to sharing your original post with my students and am confident that your words will help me teach them a skill necessary for their success.
Deb
Yes, I have read a few of your books. They are weird but good. This is the first time I have actually written to a well known author. I've always wanted to but was always to afraid to. I'm glad you have joined Gather. It is an interesting site.
How your characters emerge is fascinating. Tradition always says there must be an outline or some such structure to build upon. It seems from your post you let the characters take you. That to me is why I write. Someone in there has something to say and I am just the channel.
I loved your final statement, "I have a low boredom threshold, and I have been known to throw away a half-completed novel manuscript if it doesn't grip me. I sob a lot, but I throw it away."
I have a few I've sobbed over ... I love your work. It's inspiring for us wannabee's :O)
Thanks for posting here!
I have my first novel entered in the Amazon.com fiction contest.
The only reason I would consider using an outline would be if the event was true, or I was using a time line in history to fit the story. I don't run into this much because most of what I write is contemporary romance and some general fiction. I'm just beginning in my own career as a writer and someday hope to be able to captivate my readers as you do. Thanks for taking the time in talking about why you do what you do, and what inspires you.
I love your response about not writing just for money. I have so many ideas that celebrities could do to raise money for those who really need it....come on, do people really need $500 jeans, $300 sunglasses, or $200 shoes when there are people who have nothing? I've always been a fan of your books and am now very glad to learn about your desire to help others as much as you can. Thank you!!
I covered a recent lecture by award-winning author John J. Clayton, and he said: "To be there in the scene, in the moment, in the language, is almost to be in a religious place." At the end of the lecture, he asked us to close our eyes and envision stand outside the front door of a childhood house. He walked us through each detail, down to my mother's apron, until we arrived at a point when we could write a sentence that would be used as the first sentence in the first paragraph of a book.
I was so moved that tears came to my eyes (it brought fonder memories of my mother, who has Alzheimer's). I wrote, "Tears streamed down my cheeks as the present exploded with the past."
There is much to learn from you and other published writers ; D