Always Take Notes #42: Ian Rankin, novelist
9 snips
Nov 6, 2018 Ian Rankin, bestselling Scottish crime novelist and creator of Inspector John Rebus, reflects on his rise from struggling writer to multi‑award success. He talks about Rebus as a way to explore Edinburgh, crime fiction’s shift toward literary themes, plotting surprises, odd part‑time jobs, and adaptations of his work. Short, candid, and full of memorable storytelling moments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Choose Publishing With Tradeoffs In Mind
- Decide publishing routes based on current market realities; Rankin offers no single answer between self-publishing and traditional deals.
- Use festivals and branding wisely because they consume time that otherwise would be for writing.
Odd Jobs And The Drunken Pig Story
- Rankin worked many odd jobs—vineyard swineherd, tax man, hi-fi journalist—while writing nights and weekends.
- He accidentally killed a pig by feeding it fermented grape leftovers after a drinking session in France.
Write Forward And Let The Book Reveal Itself
- Rankin writes forward rather than plotting every twist; the book often reveals its own shape while drafting.
- He lets characters and the manuscript surprise him, sometimes discovering the killer late in drafting.
