The Writing Life Eimear McBride's Method
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Jun 17, 2020 Award-winning author Eimear McBride discusses her unique writing style, emphasizing organic character development and discovery-based storytelling. She shares advice on finishing a book and what defines someone as a writer.
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Begin With Free Writing And Heavy Cutting
- Start writing by opening a document and writing the first thing that comes to mind to begin discovery.
- Write ~1,000 words daily, then ruthlessly cut about 850 words and restart from your favourite sentence to find the book's shape.
Discovery Keeps Writing Engaging
- Enjoy the writing process by discovering the book rather than executing a preplanned idea.
- McBride loses interest when she tries to force a known outcome, so discovery sustains her creative engagement.
Let The Ending Reveal Itself
- Avoid planning the ending so the story can unfold organically and allow discovery to drive plot.
- McBride says knowing the end kills her interest; she must discover characters' actions as she writes.