An Interview with Twist Phelan

Twist Phelan is a crime writer who started her career as a plaintiff’s trial lawyer. She quickly found success and retired in her early thirties to begin a writing career. When Twist Phelan isn’t writing, she’s enjoying endurance sports like the Ironman triathlon, rock climbing, canoeing, skate skiing, and more.

How did you get into writing? At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Boredom and Playboy magazine got me into writing. While I was in Finland at a month-long ski-training camp, someone stole the bag of books I had brought to read. The only English-language material available was a stack of well-thumbed Playboy magazines. I read them all—the articles really are good—then decided if there weren't any books to read, I'd write one. So I skied during the days (which were only a few hours long at that latitude) and typed when it was dark. Four weeks later I had a draft of HEIR APPARENT, the first Pinnacle Peak mystery.

What was your first book or story that you completed? Did you ever get it published?

“For the Good of the Game.” It was published in Red Herring Mystery Magazine and The Mystery Review.

How did you finally get published? When were you able to write on a full time basis? Please explain your success story?

About the same time I sold my first book, my second book, FAMILY CLAIMS, won a writing contest and was published by Poisoned Pen Press. I have always written on a full-time basis.

How do you stay motivated to finish a novel? How do you stay focused?

I show up every morning at the computer.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you write in the mornings, evenings, and for how long?

I like to write early in the morning, stopping around midday to do something athletic. If I am deep into the book, more often than not I go back to it again in the evening.

How do you get your ideas? What is your method for remembering them?

Plot ideas come to me mostly from personal experience and things I see or read in the media. Once I have an idea, I put my imagination to work at the "what if this had happened?" game. If the result grabs me, I start thinking about characters, focusing first on creating a protagonist who would be challenged by the situation.

Every idea gets written down. That is why I am never without paper and pen.

If you get writer’s block, how do you get over it?

I don’t believe in writer’s block.

What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a writer? What is a good starting point for them?

Write every day, even if it is just a paragraph.

The barriers to entry are there, but they're not insurmountable. Start out by writing the best book you can. Develop your character, make sure your story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Remember that rewriting hones your ability—it's like exercising a muscle: the more you work it, the stronger it becomes. Don't rush—good writing takes time. After you've written the best book you can, write a top-flight synopsis and query letter and send them to agents. Attend conferences that offer a pitch meeting with an agent. Be persistent.

To find out more about Twist Phelan and her work check out Twist Phelan's website.