 The Write Reason for Research |
Literary Spotlight: Lois Duncan
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Lois Duncan is the author of 48 books and is best known for her young adult suspense novels. Her books have been chosen as American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. DreamWorks is filming a major motion picture based on her 1971 children’s book, Hotel for Dogs.
Q: What is your writing process?
A: Writing a book without a mental outline would be like making a long road trip without a map. With one exception Who Killed My Daughter, the true story of our family’s investigation of the murder of our teenage daughter - I've never written a book without knowing the beginning, the end, and the major dramatic scenes along the way.
Q: What can writers learn from reading other writers?
A: We can assimilate writing techniques from authors who write better than we do and become inspired to emulate them. We can recognize the faults in the work of poor writers and seek to avoid them. We can keep up to date on current trends in publishing.
Q: What are the rewards of writing for young adults?
A: When I receive e-mail from young readers who say, "I hated to read until my school librarian gave me one of your books. Now I read all the time!," I feel that I've made a real difference in somebody's life.
Q: Why is winning a writing award so important to one’s career?
A: I don't know that it is, unless it's a major award and receives national publicity.
Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact and Touching The Dead, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.
Carlotta Holton has just received her second award for Touching the Dead from the National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest. Click here to purchase the book.
