One of the world's most successful authors, Diana Gabaldon's works have left a lasting impression on millions of fans around the world. The Outlander series she created way back in 1991 now has nine books - with one more on the way - and an incredibly popular TV show.
With over 20 million books sold worldwide, the prolific writer is now writing both the final novel in the series and a prequel involving the parents of one of her main characters, Jamie Fraser. And she's opened up more about what it takes to write and create such a successful series by offering a peek behind the curtain at her writing process.
A fascinating character herself – did you know she holds a Master's degree in Marine Biology and a PHD in ecology? Diana has never been shy about letting those who are interested, know about what her world is really like, both on the page and in real life.
Outlander
Incredibly, Outlander was supposed to be her "practice" novel. Speaking with Collider, she revealed: “I began writing Outlander for practice. I knew I was supposed to be a novelist, but I didn’t know how, and I decided the way to learn was to actually write a novel. So, Outlander was my practice book.
“I was never going to show it to anyone, so it didn’t matter what I did with it. It didn’t have to have a genre, so I used anything that I like. And I’ve been reading since I was three years old. I like a lot of stuff, and I used it all.”
Diana's writing routine
Publisher of the Outlander books in the US, Penguin Random House, previously asked her several questions for their website to give readers a glimpse into the working habits of the PRH authors.
Speaking about what she eats and drinks throughout the writing days, Diana revealed that Diet Coke and water usually get her through but joked that she "more or less mainlines Diet Coke" when she's in the "final frenzy" of finishing a book.
And speaking on her blog, she added that there is a tonne of research involved, meaning she has to read several books before she can even start moulding the story. Something that was vitally important for accuracy with Outlander's three main settings and time periods in Scotland, France and the colonies in North America.
She said: “Doing any kind of research is like grabbing the end of a long piece of yarn and pulling— you don’t know what the other end is attached to, and you may end up in convoluted tangles—but you can be sure there’s something there."
But that doesn't mean she has everything planned out as she takes a more organic approach to craft stories.
“I don’t write in a straight line," she said. "And I don’t plan stories out ahead of time. I, in fact, don’t actually know what’s going to happen in a book."
Her time to sit down to write can also be a little unusual, her life was so hectic while writing the early books, what with two full-time jobs and three kids under the age of six, that she often now writes at night meaning she can be working right through until at least 4 am.
She joked that she does write at other times of the day, but the wee small hours are the only time "people leave her alone".
Dealing with Writer's Block
And she doesn't have time for writer's block either.
Speaking about the problem that plagues many writers, she wrote: "I just learned to work on multiple projects at once. When one 'sticks' (and they all do, now and then), I just switch to another that seems easier at the moment, and work 'til that one sticks—then switch back, and—if the first piece was still stuck, start another scene."
She added that there is plenty of housekeeping such as interviews, workshops, commentary, book reviews, and social media posts to work on if that fails.
However, her advice to other writers dealing with a block is to not give up.
She added: "The most important thing—as always—is to keep putting words on the page. But they don’t always have to be the words you intended to write when you sat down."
Don't miss the top culture and heritage stories from around Scotland. Sign up to our twice weekly Scotland Now newsletter here.
READ MORE:
Outlander's Sam Heughan hints at potential Jamie Fraser death
Diana Gabaldon reveals new book might be the last for Jamie and Claire
First images of Graham McTavish in action as he trades Outlander for new Game of Thrones show
