My Writing Method

Questions, Steps and General Ideas About Writing

Writing stories starts with imagination. I started writing as a boy—my first story was fiction—and I’ve made writing my career. My essential approach is the same.

My Daily News review of Letters of Ayn Rand quoted on the paperback edition.

To create a story, in any format, whether a teaser, a book review or a novel, one must first choose to think. This means projecting the outcome and, as a corollary, its desired impact in advance. What do I want the writing to express? This is the most important question. Answering requires forethought combined with curiosity, wonder and a sense of wholeness. My other preliminary questions include: how could the writing proceed? What steps are likely to deliver the meaning in accordance with the format, topic and theme? What might the reader gain from the writing—insight, understanding, knowledge, inspiration, a reality check?—and what, if anything, ought he to do with the added value? This last question is not always necessary to answer, though it oft…