FAQs Archive - Abigail Johnson

Q: How many books have you written that aren't published?

If I Fix You was the first book I wrote start to finish (I started and quickly abandoned an adult novel prior to that). While I was querying If I Fix You I drafted Every Other Weekend and Girl on the Run . I then wrote The First to Know followed by Even If I Fall . I have the wonderful privilege of being able to sell books on proposal now (a proposal is a synopsis and usually three sample chapters), so I don't fully write books unless they have been sold. So, every book I've fully written has been published.

Q: Are you a planner (outline before drafting) or a pantser (drafting without knowing what will happen)?

I used to be a diehard pantser. I wrote my first book, If I Fix You , without any idea where the story or characters would end up and it took me FOREVER! When something significant needed to be changed I had to re-write half the book. Plus, there’d be days where I wasted so much time just trying to figure out what to write that I’d barely write at all. I was kind of forced into becoming a plotter when I needed to submit a book proposal (synopsis and the first three chapters) to my publisher for what became my sophomore novel, The First to Know . I’d written a synopsis before, but never prior to completing the first draft so this was an entirely new experience for me and it changed everything! I was able to write my entire story in ten pages or so and then when something needed to be changed, it was as simple as rewriting a few pages instead of a few hundred. I was able to work out my story/character issues before I started drafting and I had a roadmap to follow once I did start drafting. No more wasted time! I can write a full book now, start to finish including edits, in six months versus six years! I now write a ten or so page synopsis before I begin drafting. It contains the main storyline but still leaves me with the freedom to develop secondary storylines and characters so I never feel too constrained.

Q: Where can I get signed copies of your books?

I love this question! You can order signed copies of my books from Changing Hands Bookstore . Add any personalization details to the comments section when you check out.