Ask the Author: Mike Wells
Answered Questions (11)
Mike Wells
Hi Amishi, thanks for asking, and glad you've read all the other books in the series and enjoyed them. I have been trying to finish #15 for a long time, was half done when the pandemic hit and suddenly had full time childcare on my hands. I've been back on it and hope to be done around New Year's, but anything could happen with these restrictions and slow me down again. Sorry for the delay. Also in case you're not it, please join my VIP Reader List so you'll know when it comes out - click here -
Mike Wells
Very good question, Quinesia. First, when you say that you’re not good at plotting, the first thing that comes to mind is that maybe you shouldn’t worry about this so much in the first place. There are tons of commercial bestsellers and probably even more literary fiction that have extremely simple plots. After all, plot is just one of many aspects of a story. One such book (and movie) that immediately popped into my mind was Accidental Tourist. The plot was: a married couple breaks up and husband finds new girlfriend. Period. That’s it. Yet I was engaged by that beautifully written book from Page 1 all the way to the end, and so were millions of other readers.
So, one answer could be for you to just focus on the aspects of a story that are naturally good at and don’t worry about coming up with a spectacular plot. Keeping readers pinned to the story with the question of “How will this turn out� is all that matters. In the book I mentioned, the main question was would this man go back to his wife, or not? And it worked.
Having said all that, I believe that if you set your mind to learning how to come up with good plots, you can do that as well. You’ve already taken the first step by seeking more information on this. There are many books, blogs and websites that have extensive material on how to create good plots, plot twists, etc. Just Google that and you’ll find them. A good place to start is with articles that say there are only seven (or nine, or ten, etc.) basic plots and that every book that’s ever been written follows one of those plots (Rags to Riches, Man Against the System, and so on)
Some practical advice: one thing I do, and I’m not ashamed to admit it, is “lift� plots, usually from movies or TV series. As Picasso said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.� What I think he meant is that every great artist builds his/her work on the work of others—we all have influences—and that a painting (or story) that appears “original� in fact has probably been done before, and usually many times—it’s just been disguised and used in a different context, which is the only original part. I don’t usually copy whole plots, just pieces of a plot, or a subplot, and then I change it around to the point where no one would ever recognize it. I don’t do this because I’m lazy—sometimes I just see a movie or TV episode and think, “Wow, what a great plot line—I love it! I’m going to use that sometime!� And I write it down—I actually keep a Plot Ideas file that is full of these notes, along with ideas I get on my own, ideas from the news, from some anecdote I hear, all kinds of different sources. Again, if you want to become good at plotting and have plots be one of the better aspects of your books, you can do it—I fully believe it CAN be learned.
I hope that helps!
So, one answer could be for you to just focus on the aspects of a story that are naturally good at and don’t worry about coming up with a spectacular plot. Keeping readers pinned to the story with the question of “How will this turn out� is all that matters. In the book I mentioned, the main question was would this man go back to his wife, or not? And it worked.
Having said all that, I believe that if you set your mind to learning how to come up with good plots, you can do that as well. You’ve already taken the first step by seeking more information on this. There are many books, blogs and websites that have extensive material on how to create good plots, plot twists, etc. Just Google that and you’ll find them. A good place to start is with articles that say there are only seven (or nine, or ten, etc.) basic plots and that every book that’s ever been written follows one of those plots (Rags to Riches, Man Against the System, and so on)
Some practical advice: one thing I do, and I’m not ashamed to admit it, is “lift� plots, usually from movies or TV series. As Picasso said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.� What I think he meant is that every great artist builds his/her work on the work of others—we all have influences—and that a painting (or story) that appears “original� in fact has probably been done before, and usually many times—it’s just been disguised and used in a different context, which is the only original part. I don’t usually copy whole plots, just pieces of a plot, or a subplot, and then I change it around to the point where no one would ever recognize it. I don’t do this because I’m lazy—sometimes I just see a movie or TV episode and think, “Wow, what a great plot line—I love it! I’m going to use that sometime!� And I write it down—I actually keep a Plot Ideas file that is full of these notes, along with ideas I get on my own, ideas from the news, from some anecdote I hear, all kinds of different sources. Again, if you want to become good at plotting and have plots be one of the better aspects of your books, you can do it—I fully believe it CAN be learned.
I hope that helps!
Mike Wells
Hi Kenna, thanks for connecting. No I haven’t read any books by that author. Is she good?
Mike Wells
I don't have one of those, Alan, but thanks for the question. I love a lot of different books by different authors, including those by Stephen King, Sidney Sheldon, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Thomas Harris, Nora Ephron, etc., etc., way too many to name.
Mike Wells
Not sure what you're talking about. Lust, Money & Murder Book 2? If so you can download from all the usual retail ebook sites, see this page -
Mike Wells
Sorry for the delay, David, did not see this question. That's probably because I have been immersed writing Book 6. It's a little behind schedule but should not be too long. Spring ends June 21 and I clearly will not make that deadline, but I am spending every available moment on it. Thanks for the message and more inspiration!
Mike Wells
Good question. One of the main things of course his awesome, out of nowhere, twist endings, where your perspective is totally turned upside down, like in the classic "Eye of the Beholder." Also his focus on human drama, and the conflicts between characters, in his science fiction, rather than on science. And theme--his stories always make a statement on the paradoxes of life and the human condition. And you?
Mike Wells
Sandy, the only hard copies of my books are of other titles, not the Lust, Money & Murder series. I am moving exclusively to ebooks for many reasons, including economic ones (for myself and for my readers). I think if you want to keep reading my books you have to adapt to ebooks, sorry, the demand is just too small to justify paper and the higher prices paper require. By the way, you don't have to buy a new Kindle--just get a Kindle app for your smartphone, tablet, or PC. Also, you say you can't afford to replace your physical Kindle, but Kindles pay for themselves pretty fast because ebooks are generally cheaper than paper, and after that point it starts saving you money. I do all my reading on a tablet now, have not bought a paper book in years, don't miss them much anymore, have gotten used to ebooks..
Mike Wells
Well Katheryn I am about to release Wild Child Book 3, which will complete the first Wild Child trilogy. I am also working on Lust, Money & Murder Book 6, which will complete the 2nd Lust, Money & Murder trilogy. I'm equally exited about both. Hope you like them!
Mike Wells
Sherrie, for me, that's like asking a father which is his favorite child. They are all my "babies", each with their unique characteristics, could not possibly make a choice like that.
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