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I'm not one of these 'the characters write themselves; the story just fell out of me' kind of writers. Wish it was like that.

As a matter of writing philosophy, if there is one, I try not to ever plot a story. I try to write it from the character's point of view and see where it goes.

I never plot out my novels in terms of the tone of the book. Hopefully, once a story is begun it reveals itself.

It was a challenge for me to do a plot because I'd been an essayist and a journalist. I had to be vigilant about moving things along and being entertaining.

It's a cliche, and in a way it's a conservative idea about fiction, but I did learn the hard way that plot does need to dictate the story.

I try to trace the connection between the characters and that way a story or plot emerges.

And I do have one surefire plot I have not and probably never will write because of my fear someone will carry it out.

For me, plot always comes out of character, so I had to be sure of my characters.

I'm really quite bad at coming up with plot ideas. I like to create characters and just see what will happen to them when I let them loose!