John Grisham’s Writing Process

John Grisham, author of famous legal thriller books like “The Firm” and “A Time to Kill” has a very interesting, specific writing routine. He’s been writing for a long time, and so he has a methodical process with details that have been well thought out.

One thing I thought was interesting was his schedule for writing- he says that he always tries to start a book on January 1st, with the goal of writing it in 6 months and usually being done by July. I don’t know if I could hold myself to that rigid of a schedule, and he says that he’s been doing it for at least 20 years. That’s a method that works for him, and I’m impressed that he’s been doing the same thing for so long- and with success.

Something about writing that we have common is that we don’t write the first scene until we know the last scene. I personally can’t begin writing a book without knowing what the ending of the book is going to be, what it’s leading up to and at least some idea of how it’s going to get there. Otherwise, how are you supposed to know how to start? He says he does that so that when he starts the book, he knows how it’s going to go, and once he does start writing, “there aren’t many down days.” I personally struggle with writer’s block and lack of time to write even when I know most of the plot points, the ending and the beginning, so that’s crazy to me as well.

All in all, his process is very well planned out, and it seems to work well for him. I don’t think I could be that crazy-scheduled; I need at least a little bit of spontaneity. But good for him that he’s been holding to a structured pattern for that long, and written so many successful books with it.