Kirsti Kristoffersen
asked
Ingvild H. Rishøi:
Hi Ingvild! How do you get the ideas to your wonderful books? And can you say something about how you build your characters?
Ingvild H. Rishøi
Hi Kirsti!
Thank you so much for your kind words - they made me happy!
I generally get my ideas when I'm outside, walking around, at the gym, or when I'm in public transport, listening to people. On buses it's easy to take notes, but at the gym, I think it's embarrassing, so I often have to hide in the stretching area with my notebook (I tend to forget the ideas if I don't write them down immediately). I think I get ideas these places because this is where I meet people I don't know, and I'm interested in strangers. I'm also fascinated by how people show who they are in their way of speaking.
An example: A couple of days ago, I walked through the schoolyard close to where I live in Oslo, and there I passed some seven year olds, quarreling.
Then I heard one girl scream to another: "It isn't ALLOWED to call other people "chicken nuggets"!"
And I stopped. that went straight down into my notebook. I didn't know "chicken nugget" was a bad thing to be called! But of course it is, when you're seven years old (only slightly bigger than a nugget) - this girl showed her exact age and emotions through her way of speaking.
A for the characters, I don't really feel that I'm building them! I know many authors put down their characters' weaknesses, wishes, and so on, before they start writing. But to me, the fun about writing is NOT knowing what I'm going to write. It's like being a kid (chicken nugget) playing - kids have no plans for plot or characters, but they're having fun! So generally, I just start of with a voice in my head - sometimes a kid's voice, like in Brightly Shining, sometimes a grown up voice, and then I see things in my head and take notes of everything I see.
Of course, this only makes the very, very first (and bad) draft. After that comes the endless editing. But that's another question, for another day!
Thank you so much for your kind words - they made me happy!
I generally get my ideas when I'm outside, walking around, at the gym, or when I'm in public transport, listening to people. On buses it's easy to take notes, but at the gym, I think it's embarrassing, so I often have to hide in the stretching area with my notebook (I tend to forget the ideas if I don't write them down immediately). I think I get ideas these places because this is where I meet people I don't know, and I'm interested in strangers. I'm also fascinated by how people show who they are in their way of speaking.
An example: A couple of days ago, I walked through the schoolyard close to where I live in Oslo, and there I passed some seven year olds, quarreling.
Then I heard one girl scream to another: "It isn't ALLOWED to call other people "chicken nuggets"!"
And I stopped. that went straight down into my notebook. I didn't know "chicken nugget" was a bad thing to be called! But of course it is, when you're seven years old (only slightly bigger than a nugget) - this girl showed her exact age and emotions through her way of speaking.
A for the characters, I don't really feel that I'm building them! I know many authors put down their characters' weaknesses, wishes, and so on, before they start writing. But to me, the fun about writing is NOT knowing what I'm going to write. It's like being a kid (chicken nugget) playing - kids have no plans for plot or characters, but they're having fun! So generally, I just start of with a voice in my head - sometimes a kid's voice, like in Brightly Shining, sometimes a grown up voice, and then I see things in my head and take notes of everything I see.
Of course, this only makes the very, very first (and bad) draft. After that comes the endless editing. But that's another question, for another day!
More Answered Questions
S B
asked
Ingvild H. Rishøi:
Hi Ingvild. Having read through your catalogue (multiple times), I just wanted to express that you are among my favourite all-time authors! As a big fan of the short story in particular, I was wondering if you have ever considered returning to the genre in some capacity? Your style of writing always stood out as unique and creative, but also very intentional, and I selfishly admit it would have made me very happy! :)
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