Learning from the best

I watched a video interview with Sandra Brown on goodreads.com the other day. I had to watch it a second time to take notes. The interview covered the movie recently aired on TNT that was based on her novel, Ricochet. I haven't read that one yet, but that's not why I watched the video. I mostly watched it because she is an amazing author with over sixty best-sellers. She is obviously doing something right. Sandra and the host discussed various details concerning the movie, but she also gave some insight as to how she writes her novels. Here's what I learned:

1. Sandra begins each story idea by writing a 12-15 page synopsis.
2. She writes the first draft just to get the story down on paper.
3. The second draft is where she goes through the story scene by scene, developing the characters and the plot as best she can.
4. Pacing is the main focus of the third draft. If she gets bored reading it, more than likely so will her readers.
5. Finally, the fourth and final draft is when she polishes the story, assuring herself that everything is as it should be.

http://www.goodreads.com/videos/show/18975-goodreads-live-with-sandra-brown