Courtney
Courtney asked Gail Carson Levine:

Ella Enchanted brought my reluctant reading self out of the depths of literary darkness and into the light of stories and words. I was curious, when you begin developing your stories, is there a particular way you do it, or how it comes to you? What inspires you to tell the stories you tell? (Also..Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It is absolutely hilarious and thank you for sharing that treasure!)

Gail Carson Levine Thanks for letting me know! I love when one of my books helps a person's inner reader blossom! And I'm glad FORGIVE ME, I MEANT TO DO IT made you laugh!

I always start with an idea, rather than a character, but the process is unclear even to me. I think most of the action is subconscious. I often go to fairy tales, because the structure of an established story structure helps me work out my plots.

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