I've never discovered the idea for my next novel while I was still working on the current novel. Other writers don't suffer this. James Thayer More Quotes by James Thayer More Quotes From James Thayer On opening sentences: "If in the first chapter a hurricane is going to blow down an oak tree which falls through the kitchen roof, there's no need to first describe the kitchen." James Thayer blow writing fall I need time to develop the idea into a plot before I talk about it. James Thayer plot ideas needs None of great sages of China preached the precept of love as a guideline for human behavior. James Thayer sage china behavior My experience is that an original and compelling idea for a novel is a rare thing. James Thayer compelling novel ideas I can only write one novel at a time. The author of the Perry Mason novels, Erle Stanley Gardner, often worked on four novels simultaneously, and produced a million words a year. I'm envious. James Thayer four writing years When I was hired by the University of Washington extension school to teach the one-year fiction writing course - 96 classroom hours - I quickly determined that I knew only about an hour's worth off the top of my head. James Thayer writing years school I researched fiction writing for months before I taught my first class, much of it looking for strong techniques from bestselling authors. James Thayer strong writing class My students - all adults - bring a lot of writing skill to the first class, and they and I get better as the class progresses. James Thayer skills writing class
