Connie Wisniewski
asked
Lisa See:
I have read everyone of your books. They are wonderful. I watch and wait for a new one, and recommend them to all my friends. You are a real treasure to readers out there. Thank you. Where do you come up with the themes?
Lisa See
Oh, Connie, You must think I'm the most awful person for taking such a long time to write back when you wrote me such a lovely note. My excuse: I've been working really hard to finish the next novel by the deadline. I just turned it in last Friday.
So first, THANK YOU for your very kind words about my books.
Now to answer your question. Themes are very interesting to me. As I wrote to someone earlier, I always start with character and emotion. What's the relationship I want to write about? What's the main emotion I want to write about? But even deeper than that is the theme. I wish I knew where they came from. I think it mostly has to do with where I am in my life RIGHT NOW. We change so much through our lives, and we think about the world so differently as we go through the different stages of life. So I guess they emerge out of personal evolution. Gosh. That's sounds pretty highfalutin, but it's my most honest answer.
So first, THANK YOU for your very kind words about my books.
Now to answer your question. Themes are very interesting to me. As I wrote to someone earlier, I always start with character and emotion. What's the relationship I want to write about? What's the main emotion I want to write about? But even deeper than that is the theme. I wish I knew where they came from. I think it mostly has to do with where I am in my life RIGHT NOW. We change so much through our lives, and we think about the world so differently as we go through the different stages of life. So I guess they emerge out of personal evolution. Gosh. That's sounds pretty highfalutin, but it's my most honest answer.
More Answered Questions
Martina
asked
Lisa See:
Hi Lisa, I just wanted to say hi and share that The Island of Sea Women was the most powerful book I read in 2022. Over the past few years, I've become very picky with what I like, so when I found myself completely immersed in this book, feeling the story in my bones, I felt incredibly grateful. My question is: how do you choose the time period of the storylines you want to write about?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more