Shana Mahaffey author of Sounds Like Crazy
Shana Mahaffey's novel, Sounds Like Crazy, left me in awe. Even knowing what I did about the overall plot of Shana's story from our consultations together, the twist at the end shocked me and at the same time felt exactly right. I recommend this book to any reader ready to be challenged and entertained and any writer eager to examine story structure."
I write extensively about what I see as the primary differences between highly creative right-brained character-driven writers and highly creative left-brained action-driven writers. In my estimation, Shana is classically right-brained, character-driven writer; she has an imagination broader than most writers, humor, creativity, and great compassion. In writing this book she never lost sight of the big picture and the deeper meaning of Sounds Like Crazy.
Shana secured representation from the biggest West Coast literary agency in America and a two-book deal from Penquin Group, the second largest trad book publisher in the world behind Random House. She is now writing book two.
(About the very kind words Shana writes about me, I am humbled by her praise and thrilled for her success.)
Blockbuster Plots [BBP]: How did you go about plotting out your story?
Shana Mahaffey [SM]: With Sounds Like Crazy, I wrote a great deal (almost 50,000 words) without any direction at all. About ten or so years (yes I said years!) into the project, I took this fantastic workshop on plotting a novel. In it, I met the wonderfully kind and patient Martha Alderson of Blockbuster Plot fame who tried to help me find some focus on my book.
Instead of listening to her, I stayed mired in resistance and continued plodding along making a bigger mess out of what was already quite a jumble. Then circumstances in my life were such that I was spurred into action—decisions were taken, deadlines were set—only to trip over the large pile of words that made up my manuscript. I remembered Martha and her ability to whisper the plot out of a rock (my words for her enviable skill) and made a call.
We met twice and Martha adeptly whispered the outline of Sounds Like Crazy right out of me. From my mouth to her ears to the plot planner that hung on the wall of my office so I could consult it at any time during my writing process.
BBP: Are you a pre-plotter or after the fact?
SM: All I can say is hallelujah I learned from writing my first novel, and when I was ready to start my second novel, I immediately made an appointment for some whispering.
From now on, I am a pre-plotter. I find that with my novel plotted out in the beginning, I am writing it at what appears to be warp speed. With any luck, instead of twenty years, I'll finish this one in twenty months.
BBP: What methods did you find particularly useful in plotting out your project?
SM: I tend to write complex novels with several threads that need to be followed from start to finish. By plotting the novel out at the start of the writing process, I can track the progression of the storyline, timeline, theme, each character, and all the subplots. Since I did this after the fact with Sounds Like Crazy, I spent a lot of time going back and making sure everything tracked. I live in hope (and confidence) that I will not have to do much of this the second go around having plotted the novel out before writing.
BBP: Do you consciously develop thematic significance?
SM: My novels always center on a particular theme I want to explore. Therefore, thematic significance is the first thing I develop when writing.
BBP: Are you a character-driven writer or action-driven?
SM: I am definitely a character-driven writer. One of the things I most enjoy about writing is exploring characters, how they overcome obstacles, and how they evolve; or, in some cases don’t. I find people fascinating so I spend a lot of time with my characters, resulting, in (I hope) multifaceted people who are interesting to read about.
BBP: Plot tips to share?
SM: The most important thing you can do to save time and keep you off the Excedrin is to outline your book before you start writing it. Outlines like everything else, can evolve, so it doesn’t matter if the first outline is not the last. My outline for Sounds Like Crazy certainly wasn’t; and the outline Martha and I did together for my second novel has already evolved. Suffice to say, a starting point makes writing so much easier. Aside from this, don’t be afraid to ask for help—get whispered (I highly recommend it!), join a writing group, get people to read your work and give you feedback, etc. There is no shame in asking for and receiving help
Visit Shana Mahaffey's website